Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project
The City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) launched an initiative offering free remote legal consultations to help small businesses navigate challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn more.
Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project
Overview
The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) of the City Bar Justice Center provides low- to moderate-income micro-entrepreneurs with the legal services necessary to start their businesses on sound legal footing.
NELP’s volunteer attorneys guide clients through such matters as incorporation and tax issues, contracts and agreements, commercial lease negotiations, copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Volunteer attorneys also offer presentations and legal clinics at community-based organizations on issues of concern to micro-entrepreneurs.
To date, NELP has partnered with more than 100 law firms, 25 corporate legal departments, and 30 community-based organizations to assist more than 14,000 clients through the provision of brief services, direct representation, legal clinics, and community presentations.
Akira Arroyo directs NELP.
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
NELP Business Plan Template (2020)
Choosing a Business Name (2018)
Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project Brochure
Corporation Formation Fact Sheet
General Partnership Fact Sheet
Limited Partnership Formation Fact Sheet
Sole Proprietorship Fact Sheet
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 / Download presentation slides / Transcript
FACT SHEETS & GUIDES ON ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Recovery Guide: Resources and Aid for Small Businesses (Download)
Dealing With the Financial Impact of the Coronavirus in NYC (Download ENG) / Manejo del Impacto Financiero del Coronavirus en la Ciudad de NY (Download SPA)
Labor & Employment Fact Sheet (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 Business Entity Formation Webinar - Wednesday, September 29th (4:00pm - 5:30pm)
The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP), in partnership with the PACE Small Business Development Center, is hosting a webinar on business entity formation on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021 at 4:00pm. The webinar will focus on the advantages and liabilities of different forms of business structures.
To register for the event, click here.
NELP Small Business Remote Legal Clinic - Tuesday, October 05th (4:30pm - 6:30pm)
The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) is hosting a virtual legal clinic for micro-entrepreneurs. It’s an opportunity to receive FREE legal advice on business-related matters from volunteer attorneys during a 45-minute consultation. Registration is required. Click here to register.
NELP Intellectual Property Webinar - Wednesday, October 06th (4:00pm - 5:30pm)
The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP), in partnership with the PACE Small Business Development Center, is hosting a webinar on the basics of Intellectual Property on Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 at 4:00pm. The webinar will focus on understanding the basics of trademarks, patents and copyrights.
To register for the event, click here.
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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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 -
January 13, 2021
New COVID-19 Economic Relief Available for Struggling Small Businesses
Under the third and most recent round of stimulus funding passed on December 27, 2020, and known as the Economic Aid Act, there is some hopeful news for struggling small businesses.
Read more