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 March 29, 2012 for "Fundamentals of Nonprofit Governance."  The educational seminar for nonprofits and lawyers will be held from 4:30-7:15 p.m. at the CMBA offices.  Click here for a flyer for the March 29 seminar, or see below for the full 2012 Calendar. 

For a downloadable brochure outlining the Reach Out: Pro Bono Assistance for Nonprofits program, please click here.

2012 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 29, 2012 - Nonprofits click here to register; Attorneys click here.  For a flyer detailing this seminar, click here.

• Fundamentals of Nonprofit Governance - Speakers John C. Goheen, Esq. and Jennifer L. Adams, Esq., both of Ulmer & Berne LLP

April 19, 2012

• Contract Basics
• Real Estate Challenges

July 19 , 2012

• Employment Law Primer for Nonprofits
• Intellectual Property Law Tips for Nonprofits

October 25, 2012

• Risk Management and Insurance
• Privacy and Data Protection

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:

1. Geographic area served: Northeastern Ohio
2. 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
3. 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.