WVU College of Law: Entrepreneurship Law Clinic

Today the West Virginia State Bar announced a new project at the West Virginia University College of Law to provide legal assistance to technology start-ups, existing small business and nonprofits.

The Entrepreneurship Law Clinic will be directed by Professor Michael V. Risch and staffed by current law students. The Clinic will provide supervised legal counsel to small businesses and start-ups in a clinical setting by offering no cost or low cost assistance.

The Clinic will provide services to clients who are unable to find or afford legal representation. Initial services will include: preformation counseling; choosing and forming a business entity; financing and investing; drafting Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, LLC Articles and Operating Agreements, etc.; filing for tax-exempt recognition; drafting and negotiating contracts; protecting and licensing intellectual property and forming employment policies.

Congratulations to Professor Risch for starting the new clinic program which will be valuable to the growing creative community looking to stay and invest in West Virginia. The program not only assists those with new ideas or businesses but also provide real life training to law students who will gain invaluable skills to help out lawyers like myself upon graduation.