Legal Group Offers Nationwide Pro Bono Consultation for Small Businesses

By Brendan Menapace

Legal nonprofit Lawyers for Good Government Foundation (L4GG) announced last week that it is launching a program called the Small Business Remote Legal Clinic, which will provide pro bono legal consultations for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group, which is made up of more than 125,000 legal professionals in the U.S., will provide small-business owners with information regarding the upcoming stimulus package, and loan and grant programs that they might be eligible for.

Businesses with 25 or fewer employees can participate in 45-minute meetings with attorneys who will answer questions regarding financial opportunities and provide guidance for the next steps into the future.

The program will begin with an initial launch in New York City this week, and will expand in the weeks ahead.

“Hundreds of thousands of small-business owners, many of whom already operate on very narrow margins, are struggling with questions about how their businesses will survive the COVID-19 pandemic,” said L4GG executive director Traci Feit Love. “This small business legal clinic can help them navigate this unanticipated economic crisis, and provide them with guidance they desperately need at this time.”

As we outlined in our stimulus package report, the bill includes a $349 billion allotment for loans under the Small Business Act and $10 billion for emergency relief grants. There are also provisions for advances up to $10,000 to cover things like paid sick leave, payroll maintenance, increased costs, rent/mortgage payments and more.

“Almost out of the blue, small businesses are suddenly struggling for their very survival,” said Jacqueline Haberfeld, pro bono counsel at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, one of the participating law firms. “It is the professional duty of the legal community to come together to offer advice and guidance to them so that they can continue to provide incomes for their employees, and goods and services to their communities.”

Small businesses can check out the L4GG homepage for information on the program.