Reach Out: Legal Assistance for Nonprofits is a collaborative effort of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel - America (NEOACCA); the Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Chapter; and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA), all of which have teamed up to develop and provide valuable law-related education and pro bono legal assistance to nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio whose missions focus on community service and who demonstrate financial need.
Nonprofits face many of the same complexities as commercial businesses, and sometimes more, but often lack resources. A series of free educational seminars will provide nonprofit leaders with information on various legal issues of importance to their organizations. Please visit the tab marked "For Nonprofits" for details and for the criteria for nonprofit eligibility.
Please join us May 30, 2013 for "What to Think About When You're Thinking About Forming a Nonprofit." The educational seminar for nonprofits and lawyers will be held from 4:30-7:15 p.m. at the CMBA offices (1301 E. 9th St., Second Level, Cleveland, 44114). Click here for a flyer for the May 30 seminar, or see below for the full 2013 Calendar. Nonprofits click here to register for the May 30 seminar; attorneys click here.
The May 30 seminar is presented in partnership with the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Committee (VLA) of the CMBA. The VLA provides oversight and direction to a pro bono program providing legal services to income-eligible artists and arts organizations in all disciplines, develops public law-related education programs for artists and arts organizations, and collaborates with area galleries to bring rotating art exhibits to the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Center. For more information about the VLA, please visit www.clemetrobar.org/VLA.
For a downloadable brochure outlining the Reach Out: Legal Assistance for Nonprofits program, please click here.
2013 Calendar
Reach Out Educational Seminars are designed to provide important legal information related to nonprofit management. Nonprofit leaders are encouraged to attend each seminar and participate in the brief advice clinics that follow. Attorneys will receive 1.5 hours of CLE credit for attendance at the educational seminar, which is free with participation in the clinic to follow.
All FREE Educational Seminars will be held at the offices of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association:
1301 East Ninth Street
Galleria - Second Level
Cleveland, OH 44114
Times:
4:00-4:30 p.m. Registration
4:30-6:00 p.m. Topic Discussion (1.5 hr. CLE credit)
6:15-7:15 p.m. Consultations/Brief Advice
March 14, 2013
Speakers: Craig T. Haran, Partner, Frantz Ward LLP; Brandon Miller, Principal, Howard Wershbale & Co.; Lisa Black, General Counsel, Catholic Charities Corporation; and Shannon Jerse, Deputy General Counsel, Sisters of Charity Health System
- Nonprofit Boot Camp: Things You Need to Know - Click here for a PowerPoint of the presentation, here for additional materials.
May 30, 2013 - Attorneys register by clicking here; Nonprofits register by clicking here. For a flyer featuring the May 30 program, please click here. The May 30 seminar is presented in partnership with the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Committee (VLA) of the CMBA. For more information about the VLA, please visit www.clemetrobar.org/VLA.
Speakers: Steven W. Day, Esq., Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, VLA Committee member; Todd K. Masuda, Esq., Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond P.L.L., 2013 VLA Committee Chair.
- What to Think About When You're Thinking About Forming a Nonprofit
August 8, 2013
- Employment Law Update for Nonprofits
October 24, 2013
- The Ins and Outs of Fundraising for Nonprofits
Reach Out presents a series of free educational seminars that will provide nonprofit leaders with information on various legal issues of importance to their organizations. Nonprofits will be matched with volunteer attorneys following the seminar for a brief advice and counseling session. If the services of a transactional lawyer appear to be needed, the matter may be referred to a lawyer willing to accept referrals.
Nonprofits are eligible for Reach Out if the following applies:
- Geographic area served: Northeastern Ohio
- Type and missions: The organization’s decision-making process must have significant community grassroots involvement; the organization must be working to provide housing, economic opportunities, social services, educational improvement, and/or cultural preservation to low-income populations or communities
- Budget: Unable to pay for legal services or demonstrate that such payment would substantially negatively impact its charitable work
Nonprofit leaders may register for the next Reach Out educational seminar by clicking here. For details on the March 29, 2012 seminar click here.
Lawyers will receive free CLE credits at each educational seminar they attend with the goal of educating them to provide services in their choice of three ways:
- Serving as faculty in law-related education programs;
- Providing brief advice and counseling at designated clinics; and/or
- Accepting referrals for pro bono service on transactional legal matters, and in some cases, litigation.
Lawyers with experience in organizational and corporate structure, transactional matters (real estate, landlord-tenant, employment, contract), and other nonprofit-relevant legal issues are invited to volunteer to take referrals, provide counseling at clinics, or serve as speakers and/or mentors.
To volunteer, please contact Jessica Paine by email or phone at (216) 696-3525 x4462. Attorneys may register for the next Reach Out educational seminar and CLE by clicking here.
March 29, 2012 - "Fundamentals of Nonprofit Governance" - Speakers John C. Goheen, Esq. and Jennifer L. Adams, Esq., both of Ulmer & Berne LLP
April 19, 2012 - "Contract Basics and Real Estate Challenges for Nonprofits" - Speakers Linda A. Striefsky, Esq. & Jacinto A. Nunez, Esq., Thompson Hine LLP; Cynthia A. Binns, Esq. & John D. Moran, Esq., GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
July 19, 2012 - "Employment Law Primer and Intellectual Property Law Tips for Nonprofits" - Speakers Steven E. Seasly, Esq. & James D. Schweikert, Esq., Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP; Kevin M. Dunn, Esq., The Lincoln Electric Company; and Melissa M. Dials, Esq., GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
October 25, 2012 - "Privacy and Data Protection & Risk Management and Insurance for Nonprofits" - Speakers Thomas F. Zych, Esq., Thompson Hine LLP; Lisa Lavelle & Betsy A. Harting, Oswald Companies; and Timothy D. Smanik, Esq.