Entrepreneurial Law Clinic - Information for Students

I particularly liked the fact that the attorneys stepped back and let the students be the primary point of contact with the client, but at the same time, were available for questions and were very helpful and dedicated in making sure that we were getting it right. 

-Nathaniel Parker, Class of 2007

What’s Unique about ELC?

ELC is a business transactions and counseling clinic. We use a pioneering model developed by Professor Sean O’Connor that combines aspects of a traditional law school clinic with a supervised externship.  We do not represent clients in any kind of active disputes.

Students work in teams supervised by attorneys from major local Seattle firms and businesses. In most cases, teams will include students and supervisors in each of three areas relevant to entrepreneurial ventures: intellectual property (IP); corporate/securities/commercial law; and tax.  Most teams will also include an MBA or joint JD-MBA student who provides business planning and management advice.  The multi-disciplinary teams model the environment in which professional service providers operate when serving business clients.  Students accepted into the Clinic should think of themselves as specialist lawyers working together in a single general practice firm to seamlessly meet the needs of the firm’s clients.  Each student works with at least four different businesses throughout the year and may participate in presentations to the community regarding various business law topics.

Because the clinic model relies on local outside practitioners to supervise students instead of relying solely on a clinic director, ELC is able to provide access to legal and business services to a greater number of entrepreneurs while exposing students to a wider array of skills, perspectives, and experiences.  Students appreciate the value of working with a variety of clients and issues as well as building relationships with attorneys at firms where they may wish to work one day.

Substantive Practice Area
The ELC approaches each entrepreneur holistically by practicing within three main substantive areas: (1) Transactional Business Law (2) IP Law (3) Tax Law

Typical cases

Provide advice to small businesses, high-tech businesses, nonprofits, and/or UW or ITHS faculty researchers regarding:

• entity selection
• licensing
• securities regulations
• federal, state and local tax issues
• intellectual property protection
• commercial contracts
• employees and independent contractors
• business dissolution

Skills Focus

• Client interviewing and counseling
• Legal research
• Drafting client memos, contracts, business formation, and regulatory compliance documents
• Managing ethical issues, particularly conflict of interest
• Cross-cultural competency

Benefits of the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic

• See the BIG picture by performing a comprehensive legal analysis and strategy within the team that is often reserved for senior associates and partners at law firms
• Experience the beginning of a new venture and aid in its development
• Apply knowledge of IP and business transaction strategies to the real world under the direction of the Faculty Director and supervising attorneys. 

For more information, please contact the ELC at 206-336-5616 or email .