Course Information

8189.08 - Entrepreneurial Business Clinic

Professor: Charles Lee Thomason
Semester: 2013 Spring

Second Writing Requirement? No
Seminar? No
Professional Responsibility? No
Prerequisites: None

Course Description

The EBLC offers a mix of clinical work with start-up businesses and early-stage entrepreneurs, and an academic component about transactional and business law topics. Students practice preparedness to form a legal entity after interviewing the client, reviewing their business model, and in-class collaboration; then, preparedness to address the primary legal needs of new businesses, issues pertinent to web-based commerce, intellectual property ownership and licensing, operating agreements and governance, capitalization and finance, and related transactional work. Risk assessments, appropriately communicating recommendations to clients, and professionalism are also emphasized.

At each phase of the new business lifecycle, time is devoted to the ethical considerations of joint representation, dealing with unrepresented persons, alternative fee arrangements, conflicts, and other concerns that can arise when the client first are founders, then a newly-formed, then a growing business with investors. Clients for the clinic are those who call in seeking assistance, others are referred by attorney, or come from business incubators, business plan competitions, or who have pending patent applications. Grading is based on self-assessment and improvement, work product and effort, as well as written work judged against professional norms.

The course materials listed above are for informational purposes only and should not be considered final. Students must check with the Registrar for a current list of closed courses.