Over the last seven years, 75 attorney members of the King County Bar Association have provided pro bono legal guidance to 100 inner city and minority-owned small businesses in a partnership with the University of Washington's Business and Economic Development Center (BEDC).
This partnership between the KCBA and the BEDC has led to the creation of more than 500 new jobs and $25 million in new revenue. The partnership was begun by long-time KCBA member Bruce Hanson, who recruited several colleagues to assist early-stage businesses. This year, Stu Heller, who is in private practice in Seattle, will chair the attorney panel.
The attorneys review contracts and leases, update personnel policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and develop game plans to address product liability issues and protect intellectual property. For example, this past year attorneys helped a childcare center in White Center update its bylaws and review its personnel policies. Another attorney reviewed lease agreements and a partnership agreement for a Mexican-American jewelry store that has subsequently opened a second location.
This fall, Heller and KCBA's Julie Gardner will be recruiting at least 16 business attorneys to volunteer eight to 10 hours of service in November and December to assist the small businesses selected to participate in this year's program.
The businesses are recruited, screened and selected by the BEDC and its director, Michael Verchot. Each business has been operational for at least one year and the BEDC's staff and advisory board have assessed their potential for future growth.
The KCBA-BEDC partnership has devised a straightforward process for the advising lawyers with the initial contact and work done in a conference setting for about 1-1/2 hours, followed by appropriate action to help the business. Attorneys who have participated in the past have viewed this as an opportunity to become acquainted with the UW, some of its sponsors and the advisee businesses, some of which are fairly well known and benefiting from focused business approaches as well as legal, accounting and other specialty advice to help them be even more successful.
The calendar for this year's activities is:
- Attorney Orientation Session- October 30 from noon to 1:30 at the KCBA office.
- Business Advising Day-November 14 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Safeco Jackson Street Office (306 - 23rd Ave. S., Suite 200).
- Reports from attorneys to business owners-No later than November 24.
- Follow-up/final meeting with business owners-No later than December 8.
To sign up to be a part of the panel, please contact Julie Gardner at 206-267-7013 or julieG@KCBA.org.
