About

Student attorneys assist clients with nonprofit and for-profit business legal issues, under the supervision of the ETC faculty, to strive to ensure that our clients’ legal needs and goals are respected and accomplished. In addition to representing clients, student attorneys may also provide free community education workshops or webinars on current legal issues. Clients receive free legal services but are responsible for all out-of-pocket fees and other expenses associated with the representation (such as state filing or application fees).

The ETC is working to raise awareness and share standardized knowledge for employee ownership with Iowa legal and financial professionals serving retiring Iowa business owners and innovative Iowa employee groups. To that end, model employee-owned cooperative formation and organizational documents are available here for download. Additionally, the ETC is committed to providing free, direct legal service to any qualifying small to medium-sized businesses owners in rural Iowa communities considering employee ownership or simply seeking legal advice for the structuring or transitioning of their business.

Legal Services Provided

• BUSINESS ENTITY FORMATION AND ORGANIZATION
  • Startup and transitioning for-profit business
  • Nonprofit corporations and foundations
  • Employee-owned cooperatives (“EOC”)
• BUSINESS AGREEMENTS PREPARATION AND NEGOTIATION
  • Co-owner and buy-sell agreements
  • Commercial leases
  • Financial contracts
  • Standard service contracts
  • Employment or independent contractor agreements
• TAX-EXEMPT STATUS ASSISTANCE TO 501(c)(3) ENTITIES
  • Applications for 501(c)(3) tax-exemption recognition
  • Counseling for renewal or maintenance of 501(c)(3) tax-exemption recognition
• LEGAL AUDITS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHECK-UPS PERFORMANCE
• COMMUNITY PROJECTS CONSULTATION
  • Revitalization projects and transactions
  • Economic development incentive programs

DISCLAIMER: The ETC does not prepare tax returns or provide assistance initiating or defending litigation. THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. The information you read on this website is for your general education and does not create an attorney-client relationship.