Entrepreneurial Law Project to Support Early-Stage Ventures

A joint effort to provide legal aid to Arkansas entrepreneurs drew 16 early-stage ventures and small business owners to Little Rock earlier this semester, part of an ongoing initiative to help startups struggling with obtaining legal counsel. 

The Entrepreneurial Law Project is a collaboration between the University of Arkansas School of Law and the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to provide free access to legal support for entrepreneurs. The project is funded through grants from the state of Arkansas and United States Economic Development Agency. 

One of the primary barriers for early-stage entrepreneurs is cost, and the Entrepreneurial Law Project seeks to remedy that by cultivating a communal legal ecosystem to support founders across the state, said Rachel Sullivant, senior associate director of student and entrepreneurial programs at the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

"In addition, ELP aims to educate and empower law students while providing meaningful pro bono opportunities for transactional attorneys," Sullivant added.

About 15 attorneys and four law students — all volunteers — supported the event, hosted at 2nd & Main, the Sam M. Walton College's executive education space in downtown Little Rock.  

A wide range of legal issues were covered by several firms: entity selection (Brady Brown, Rose Law Firm), tax implications (Chase Waters, Kutak Rock), employment law (Kat Hodge, Friday Eldredge & Clark), and intellectual property (Meredith Lowry, Wright Lindsey Jennings). There were also 1-on-1 assessments to help entrepreneurs better understand and prioritize their legal needs. 

Allicia Talbert, who has a landscaping and lawn service offering a second chance to those with a felony conviction, said she now has a better idea of how to structure the business after attending the event.

"The speakers were knowledgeable and kind," she said. "We were definitely impressed with the event and information presented." 

Amie Schoeppel Wilcox, an associate attorney at Friday Eldredge & Clark specializing in health law, said entrepreneurs juggle multiple tasks when starting a company, and the "foundational legal steps aren't at the front of their minds." 

"Unfortunately, missing some of those steps can have big consequences and can prevent the business from ever taking off," Wilcox said. "Walking through some of those with them on the front end will help them grow their businesses and services in a sustainable way and plan for the future." 

Wilcox worked with a young woman who had overcome the initial startup hurdles for her venture but was struggling with ongoing challenges like franchise taxes and whether to engage an employee or contractor. 

"I always like to talk to entrepreneurs — they are so creative and invested in their products," Wilcox said. "It's refreshing to pick up on some of that enthusiasm and help navigate some of the areas of business needs that aren't always so exciting to creatives." 

The Entrepreneurial Law Project began as a pilot project in spring 2023, with Law School and officials in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation hoping the one-day clinic could transform into a permanent program. The Little Rock event was the second of four sessions that were organized this fall. The first took place in June in Mena. There will be two more sessions — one in Fayetteville on Oct. 12 and another in Helena on Nov. 2 — to round out the semester. Early-stage startups can register here. 

There are plans to continue the program in the spring 2025 semester with more access to attorneys, according to Will Foster, Arkansas Bar Foundation Professor at the School of Law.

"We're grateful for the attorney and student volunteers who make this program possible," Foster said. "We're looking forward to expanding ELP programming in early 2025, including regular attorney office hours to help entrepreneurs address the legal issues identified in these initial events." 

About the School of Law: The law school offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members in an effort to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become President of the United States and Secretary of State, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follow us at @uarklaw. 

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.