The LawWorks project of Philadelphia VIP is looking for volunteers for two upcoming events for microentrepreneurs:

Microenterprise Legal Clinic: March 24

Philadelphia VIP and the African-American Chamber of Commerce are cosponsoring a free 1-on-1 legal clinic for area microenterprises on March 24, 2010 from 10am to 12pm (morning session) and 1pm to 3pm (afternoon session).

This legal clinic provides microentrepreneurs the opportunity to discuss immediate and ongoing legal matters with a volunteer attorney.This event provides an invaluable resource for area businesses and gives attorneys the opportunity to directly impact the community.

Likely issues include choice of entity, employment, contracts, real estate, intellectual property and tax.

Volunteers should have a minimum of three years of experience. Volunteers will not have to have any continuing obligation to the client after the event.

The event will be held at the Community College of Philadelphia’s Center for Business & Industry, Rm. C2-5, 18th & Callowhill, in Center City

Philadelphia. VIP would like to coordinate registration for this event with the help of a firm contact person. Contact people should reach out to Theresa Brabson at jvolunteer@phillyvip.org or 215.523.9567 to register. Theresa is available to answer any questions you may have about the event.

It is expected that there will be a lot of interest in this event so please contact Philadelphia VIP soon; firms will be registered on a first come-first serve basis. 

Workshop for Microenterprises during Entrepreneurship Week: April 21

Philadelphia VIP will present a free legal workshop for area businesses as part of the Empowerment Group’s Entrepreneurship Week on April 21 from 8am to 10am.

The workshop will provide an overview of legal issues facing many small businesses:

• business/entity types and tax considerations (40 minutes),
• vendor and general contracts (20-30 minutes), and
• lease agreements (20-30 minutes).

VIP is looking for volunteer attorneys from a single firm to present at the workshop.

The event will be held upstairs at DiBruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut Street, Center City Philadelphia from 8am to 10am.

Firm contacts please contact Theresa Brabson at jvolunteer@phillyvip.org or 215.523.9567 to volunteer members of your firm to teach this training. Theresa is available to answer any questions you may have.

Entrepreneurship Week is a week-long, city-wide campaign designed to celebrate Philadelphia’s small businesses, connect existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, and provide access to key business resources.

Entrepreneurship Week is expected to draw over 1000 entrepreneurs and supporters and provides an excellent sponsorship opportunity for area firms. Sponsorship opportunities include:

1. The cost for one day of breakfast and coffee ($250-$300). The firm will be recognized and thanked at the event.
    
2. The cost for 3 days of breakfast and coffee ($900). For a donation of this size, the law firm would be recognized as an Entrepreneurship Week “Silver Sponsor”—the $1,000 level. Silver-level sponsors receive a rotating web banner on www.entrepreneurshipweek.com during the week and for one month prior, a table at the small business resource fair, their logo in all e-mail correspondence (about 1,000 readers), and their company name and link posted on both of the Empowerment Group’s websites sites for one full year.

Please contact Theresa at jvolunteer@phillyvip.org  for more information on sponsoring the event.