Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project
Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project
Overview
The City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) provides free legal support to microentrepreneurs of limited economic means who seek to achieve financial stability through entrepreneurship. By providing free legal services to communities that have been traditionally disenfranchised, we help NELP clients achieve financial independence and break the cycle of poverty created by systemic inequality, while bringing jobs and services to the communities where they live and work.
NELP’s volunteer attorneys provide assistance through legal presentations, legal clinics and direct pro bono representation. They assist entrepreneurs with issues such as entity formation, contracts & agreements, commercial lease reviews & negotiations, and intellectual property protections.
To date, NELP has partnered with more than 100 law firms, 25 corporate legal departments, and 30 community-based organizations to assist more than 18,000 clients through the provision of brief services, direct representation, legal clinics, and community presentations.
Akira Arroyo directs the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project and Liam Broderick is the project coordinator.
To get help from the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project, call 212.382.6633 or email nelp@nycbar.org.
NELP Services
Small Business Legal Clinics – NELP’s legal clinics provide microentrepreneurs with the opportunity to speak one-on-one with an attorney regarding their small business legal issues. Frequently discussed topics include: business structure, incorporation, contracts and agreements, commercial leasing, and intellectual property protection. In order to attend, you must register in advance.
Presentations – NELP’s volunteer attorneys give presentations on small business legal issues at local community development organizations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
Direct Pro Bono Representation – to get additional assistance from NELP, call 212.382.6633 or email nelp@nycbar.org.
To see all upcoming NELP events , view this page.
Not sure if this is the right project? Contact our free Legal Hotline at 212-626-7383.
General Resources
Choosing a Business Name (2022)
How to Obtain a Copy of Your Credit Report
Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project Brochure
Piercing the Corporate Veil: What It Means and How You Can Protect Your Small Business (2022)
Piercing the Corporate Veil Video
Corporation Formation Fact Sheet (2022)
General Partnership Fact Sheet (2022)
Limited Partnership Formation Fact Sheet (2022)
LLC Formation Fact Sheet (2022)
LLP Formation Fact Sheet (2022)
PC Formation Fact Sheet (2022)
PLLC Formation Fact Sheet (2022)
Sole Proprietorship Fact Sheet (2022)
Small Business Cannabis Presentation Series Resources
Week 1 – Cannabis Business and Employment
Week 2 – Cannabis Ancillary Businesses
Week 3 – Business Entity Formation
Week 4 – Overview of Tax for Cannabis Enterprises
Week 5 – Cannabis Business Fundraising 101
Week 6 – Cannabis Real Estate & Zoning (NYC)
COVID-19 Small Business Resources
WEBINARS
From Pandemic to Prosperity: Innovating and Adapting as a Small Business – Watch video
Small Business Bankruptcy Webinar – Watch video / Download presentation slides
Commercial Lease Considerations During COVID-19 – Watch video
FACT SHEETS & GUIDES ON ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Recovery Guide: Resources and Aid for Small Businesses (Download)
Small Business Contracts Issues (Download ENG) / Problemas Relacionados con Contratos de Empresas Pequeñas (Download SPA)
Small Business Chapter 11 Bankruptcy (Download)
Small Business Insurance Claims for Protest-Related Damages Information Sheet (Download)
Tax Aspects of Small Business Assistance Programs (Download)
Reports
NELP 2021 Report: A Brief Overview
Upcoming events
NELP Small Business Remote Legal Clinic - Tuesday, December 05th (4:30-6:30 PM)
A small business virtual legal clinic will be held over Zoom in partnership with the Upper Manhattan Business Solutions Center. Registration is required. Please click here if interested in participating.
NELP Small Business Intellectual Property Presentation - Wednesday, December 06th (4:00-5:30 PM)
A small business virtual legal presentation will be held over Zoom in partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business and Career Center and the Brooklyn Small Business Development Center. This presentation will provide small business owners with an overview of intellectual property rights through a discussion of Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and Patents. The webinar will delve into the process of obtaining legally recognized IP protections as well as discuss common IP pitfalls for microentrepreneurs. Registration is required. Please click here if interested in participating.
Click here to view a complete list
NELP Client Spotlight
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Coqui the Chef: How a Puerto-Rican Entrepreneur Learned to Adapt and Thrive During the Pandemic
Small business owners face an array of endless challenges ranging from money management to customer retention – issues that have heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tania Lopez, a NYC-based microentrepreneur, is no stranger to the difficulties of operating a small business.
Read more
Latest news
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April 26, 2022
Micro-Entrepreneurs Go Digital: How the Pandemic Stimulated Online Business Growth and Opportunities
When the Covid pandemic swept through New York two years ago, our city looked to the online business community to access goods and services that were once found in brick-and-mortar stores. As a result, most business owners were forced to re-evaluate their business models to accommodate the growing demand for online shopping if they hoped to survive the pandemic.
Read more -
September 9, 2021
Insights Shared by NELP Volunteer Victor Metsch on Pro Bono Lessons Learned During the Pandemic
The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) provides free legal support to New Yorkers of limited economic means who seek to achieve financial stability through entrepreneurship. The following exchange with Victor includes unique insights from his time volunteering with NELP’s CV-19 Clinic and a message to lawyers about doing pro bono work.
Read more -
September 2, 2021
Pandemic Challenges Continue for NYC Small Businesses
As the COVID-19 pandemic plagued the world, the U.S. shut down and businesses were forced to close their doors. No one anticipated just how devastating the pandemic would be for our city’s 240,000 small businesses, which were hit harder than many larger establishments.
Read more