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February 03, 2025 | Tom Ballard

U of Arkansas’ Entrepreneurial Law Project expands again

The newest initiative is the Entrepreneurial Law Checkup, a series of business law office hours that will provide brief consultations with pro bono attorneys.

We first reported in late October 2024 on a then roughly 20-month old program offered by the University of Arkansas (U of A) School of Law and the University’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to provide free access to legal support for entrepreneurs. The initiative, known as the Entrepreneurial Law Project (ELP), is funded through grants from the State of Arkansas and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

More recently, what began as a one-day clinic to provide free legal aid to entrepreneurs has now grown to a comprehensive program stretching across Arkansas, and organizers say there’s more to come in 2025.

One of the primary barriers for early stage entrepreneurs is cost, and ELP seeks to remedy that by cultivating a communal legal ecosystem to support founders across the state while also providing opportunities for law students to gain hands-on experience working with businesses and start-ups, said Rachel Sullivant, Managing Director of the program.

On the cusp of its second anniversary, ELP has assisted more than 75 entrepreneurs in Mena, Little Rock, Helena, and Fayetteville. Attorneys from several firms and law students from the U of A School of Law have volunteered more than 200 hours for educational workshops, one-on-one consultations, and pro bono projects.

Sullivant said the project will be offering more services in 2025 to supplement its “road show,” which brings attorneys to entrepreneurs across Arkansas. For example, organizers are launching the Entrepreneurial Law Checkup in 2025. It is a series of business law office hours that will provide brief consultations with pro bono attorneys. The sessions are designed to address short, targeted legal questions and review essential business documents.

“This service is critical for entrepreneurs who may not have the resources to afford traditional legal fees but need legal guidance to move forward with confidence,” Sullivant said.

The Checkups began on January 24 and will be held bi-weekly in two-hour spans. Entrepreneurs can register via the ELP website for 30-minute consultations to address their specific legal questions. Attorneys will be hosting sessions at the Fayetteville Public Library as well as online for accessibility across the state.

ELP is also developing self-service legal forms along with education videos on popular entrepreneurial law topics like business entry selection and intellectual property, with content set to launch on its website in the fall of 2025.

Moreover, ELP will continue to provide ongoing legal support by connecting Arkansas entrepreneurs with pro bono counsel for startups or small businesses for targeted legal projects, when capacity allows. These projects may include assistance with employment law, real estate matters, corporate governance, and contract review.

“Through the Checkups, we’re able to identify entrepreneurs who could benefit from more in-depth legal support,” Sullivant said. “While not everyone will be matched with a pro bono attorney, our goal is to prioritize those with the greatest legal need and the fewest resources.”



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