The Colorado Nonprofit Pro Bono Legal Match Program, is an initiative of Colorado Nonprofit Association and the Colorado Lawyers Committee effectively matching nonprofits in need of legal assistance with volunteer lawyers who can help. Volunteer lawyers may only assist in transactional-type issues and it could take up to 2 months to be matched with a volunteer lawyer.
Participating Organization Criteria
- Organizations must be a member of the Colorado Nonprofit Association.
- Organizations must attain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status prior to requesting pro bono legal services.
- Organizations must be located or operating in Colorado.
- Annual operating budget of $750,000 or less.
- The payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization’s resources.
Areas of Assistance
Volunteer lawyers may assist in transactional-type issues, including:
- Bankruptcy – Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Creditor claims, avoidable preferences, automatic stay
- Contracts – Entity operating agreement, standard sales agreement (Bill of Sales), Vendor/Supplier agreement, Restrictive covenants, limitations on computer and internet use, leases, general business contract
- Corporate Formation & Governance – Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC/PLLC, operating agreement, Corporation, Bylaws, Shareholder agreement, Founder agreement, Joint Ventures, Mergers, Due Diligence, Asset/Equity Sale, Liquidation, Dissolution, Consents, Resolutions, Minutes, Succession planning, Employee Ownership
- Finance – Short-term Financing; Intermediate/Long-term Financing; Government Guaranteed Financing; Government Direct Financing; Community Development Block Grants; Equity Financing; Grant Eligibility/Application; Grant Reporting/Compliance
- Government Benefits – Small Business Tax Credit Program; Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Grant; SBA Bridge Loans; 7(a) Loans; 504 Loans; Veterans Benefits; FEMA
- Insurance – General/types of insurance (general liability/professional), coverage, claims, settlement, litigation, COBRA
- Intellectual Property – Copyright; patent; trademark; right of publicity, trade secrets, right of privacy
- Labor & Employment – Employment Contracts; Workers Compensation; Employee Ownership Options (Equity Incentives, profit sharing, etc.) Disability; Employment Compliance; Disciplinary Actions; Trainings; Personnel Advice; Employee Handbooks/Manuals/Policies & Procedures; Investigations; Title VII discrimination/retaliation/harassment litigation
- Real Estate – COVID-19 protections, income discrimination, warranty of habitability, security deposits, bed bugs, mobile home park act, subsidized housing, forcible entry and detainer (FED) aka eviction
- Taxation – Income tax, self-employment tax, excise tax, property tax, sales and use tax, estimated tax, empoyer credit for family and medical leave, deductions, farmers and ranchers, opportunity zones, corporate methods of accounting, employer deduction for certain fringe benefits, state and local income tax
Pro Bono Legal Group Requests
Submitting a request through the Pro Bono Legal Group DOES NOT guarantee legal counsel for your organization. We simply make your request available to a lawyer who may decide to assist your organization and timing can take up to two months for a lawyer to contact you once you submit a request. We encourage you to maintain your own efforts to secure needed assistance. Acceptance of each request is dependent upon the professional and personal criteria of the individual attorneys who volunteer their time and expertise.
Pro Bono Legal Group assistance is NOT available for:
- Suing nonprofits or individuals: This program is meant to strengthen nonprofits and most civil suits fall outside the boundaries of this program.
- Nonprofit startup: For resources regarding starting a nonprofit, please visit our Start-Up & Nonprofit Basics FAQs.
- Individuals: This program is designed to assist nonprofit organizations. If you are an individual in need of pro bono legal assistance, please visit the Colorado Bar Association.
Questions? Contact info@coloradononprofits.org.
