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SKILL SHARPENER
Big impact on a small scale: The George Washington University Law School’s Small Business Clinic [by Erica Winter] Starting a small business or nonprofit organization is a challenge no matter where you are, let alone in the busy and highly competitive nation’s capital. Since 1977, The George Washington University Law School’s Small Business Clinic has extended a helping hand to Washington, DC’s entrepreneurs, offering free legal help to turn ideas into reality.
shop in the terminals.
The clinic’s goal is to help people who cannot
would involve deciding what kind of business
afford to hire a lawyer to start and main-
to set up (e.g., an LLC or an S-Corporation),
tain their small businesses, which, in turn,
dealing with contract matters, and handling
William Gist is a client of the small business
contribute to the community as a whole by
trademark and copyright processes.
clinic who is trying to open a Maui Wowie franchise in Dulles International Airport,
revitalizing city neighborhoods, says Susan Jones, Professor of Clinical Law at George
For an existing business, the clinic might
outside of Washington, DC. Maui Wowie sells
Washington University Law School and
help with lease reviews or expansion plans.
smoothies and coffee. Gist currently has
supervising attorney of the small business
For nonprofits, law students will do the
three Maui Wowie kiosks in the DC Conven-
clinic. Eight George Washington law students
necessary work to establish the organization
tion Center downtown and would like to
per semester work with clinic clients.
as a nonprofit group, including obtaining the
expand his business to Dulles.
federal tax exemption status needed for a There are roughly 15 small business clinics
group to accept contributions.
at law schools around the country, says
Gist came to the George Washington clinic for help because he had come to it in the past
Jones. George Washington’s is one of the
One tool at the clinic’s disposal is determin-
when establishing a valet-parking business
oldest, however. The clinic got its start as the
ing whether a client’s business qualifies for
with a partner a few years ago. The clinic’s
local DC legal center for the Small Business
a federal or state Disadvantaged Business
students helped them set up contracts with
Administration’s Small Business Develop-
Enterprise (DBE) Program. Those who qualify
city restaurants and establish an operating
ment Program and developed from there.
can get preferential treatment in setting up
agreement. Now, although the students have
businesses—in lease considerations, for
changed, the “established relationship with
The Small Business Development Program
example. Programs on both the federal and
Professor Jones” brought him back, Gist
still refers many clients to the clinic, says
state levels require that a business owner
says.
Jones. Other referrals come from neigh-
be a minority as defined by federal law and
borhood groups in DC, such as Shaw Main
be both socially and economically disadvan-
Now George Washington law students—un-
Streets and the Georgia Avenue Business
taged. For example, notes Jones, former
der Jones’s supervision—are going through
Resource Center. Clients are owners of (or
NBA star Michael Jordan would not qualify
the 100-page lease from Dulles for Gist and
would like to launch) “micro businesses,”
since he meets the first requirement, but
helping him review contracts. So far, things
which usually have one to five employees and
definitely not the second. Students at the
are “going well!” says Gist; and with his
less than $35,000 in start-up capital—such
George Washington clinic can help clients
planned expansion, the smoothie business
as a small construction contractor, a hair sa-
apply for DBE status and ensure that the
“is looking pretty promising.”
lon owner, or a small consulting firm. Small
program receives the proper business details
nonprofit organizations can also seek help
and client background information.
Gist is a “classic entrepreneur,” says third-year law student Joe Swanson, who
from the clinic. Specifically, to receive federal financial as-
is working at the small business clinic
Law students work on a wide variety of is-
sistance, airports must comply with a U.S.
this semester. “I have a lot of respect for
sues with clients, says Jones. When a client
Department of Transportation regulation
entrepreneurs,” Swanson says. “They are the
is accepted to the clinic, there is an initial
requiring them to set up DBE programs. At
backbone of the economy.”
consult, and then students—under Jones’s
these airports, business owners who qualify
supervision—develop a plan to meet the
get preference when airports consider new
client’s needs. For a new business, this
businesses and owners who want to set up
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