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
General Partnership Fact Sheet (2022)
Sole Proprietorship Fact Sheet (2022)
Small Business and the NEW Corporate Transparency Act: What You Need to Know ~ Video (February 2024)
The Corporate Transparency Act and Beneficial Ownership (2024)
Small Business Cannabis Presentation Series Resources
Cannabis Business Entity & Tax: Choice of Entity and Taxation ~ Video (December/2023)
Cannabis Business Funding: Raising Capital & Banking ~ Video (December/2023)
Commercial Real Estate & Zoning: Finding the Spot ~ Video (December/2023)
Cannabis Business and Employment (October/2022)
Cannabis Ancillary Businesses (October/2022)
Business Entity Formation (October/2022)
Overview of Tax for Cannabis Enterprises (November/2022)
Cannabis Business Fundraising 101 (November/2022)
Cannabis Real Estate & Zoning (NYC) (November/2022)
Reports
NELP 2021 Report: A Brief Overview
NELP Client Spotlight
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Youma’s Beauty
Husband and wife team, Moussa and Youma Niangadou, are the founders of Youma’s Beauty, an online beauty store devoted to empowering women with curly hair textures through quality hair products.
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To learn more about Youma’s Beauty and other NELP clients click here.
Latest news
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April 18, 2024
Corporate Transparency Act: What Small Businesses Need to Know
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which went into effect on January 1, 2024, was enacted as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, intended to combat illegal finance and money laundering. It requires the reporting of beneficial ownership information with the United States Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by certain entities formed or registered in the United States.
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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.
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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.
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