Legal Services for Entrepreneurs
Contact Info
lse@lccrsf.org
(415) 543-9444 x217
Thank you for contacting the Economic Justice team’s Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE) program.
If you are in need of legal services, please scroll further down this page to fill the LSE Pro Bono/Free Attorney Application below.
Please note: LCCRSF provides tenant-side advocacy. We do not provide legal assistance to residential or commercial landlords. We cannot advise on tenant-to-tenant disputes or assist master tenants with questions pertaining to their subtenants. Additionally, we do not provide legal consultation on tax, litigation, or bankruptcy concerns.
How to Apply for Free Legal Services
Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE) provides free legal services to low-income individuals who want to start or develop businesses; businesses committed to investing in economically distressed communities, including hiring people with arrest and conviction records; and mom and pop shops located in areas where gentrification is a force for displacement.
Need business law advice? We can help!
We serve Bay Area small businesses and entrepreneurs that are:
- Low-income individuals
- Located in low-income communities; and/or
- Located in communities of color and have a commitment to hiring from the community
We provide free legal consultations on:
- Entity formation
- Terms of a commercial lease
- Business contracts
- Employment law
- Intellectual property
- Other business concerns
You’ll need to complete an online application form. Once the application form is submitted, LCCRSF staff will contact you to schedule a 30-minute call to listen to your situation, confirm your eligibility for our free legal services, and match you with the right attorney and resources.
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in our Legal Services for Entrepreneurs program. We have a new application! Please apply here: https://tinyurl.com/APPLYTOLSE
We look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out to lse@lccrsf.org for any urgent questions.
Workshops & webinars
Topics address a range of legal issues entrepreneurs face while starting or growing a business, including business entity formation, hiring 101, commercial leasing basics, and intellectual property laws. Check our Events Calendar for a schedule of upcoming workshops.
Check out our YouTube Channel for past webinars: Legal Services for Entrepreneurs Webinars
LSE Resources
Lawyers’ Committee works in collaboration with a variety of legal service and community organizations throughout the Bay Area. Below is a list of other organizations that may be able to help you.
- Alameda County Small Business Development Center offers classes, consulting services and business planning resources for small businesses throughout Alameda County.
- AnewAmerica serves primarily low-income individuals (new citizens, immigrants, and refugees) residing in the Bay Area. It offers a comprehensive three-year program of support for new start-up entrepreneurs including microbusiness incubation, asset building, and social responsibility.
- BusinessAdvising.org matches small business owners with volunteer business advisors who provide tailored, hands-on assistance to help small businesses grow and create economic opportunities across the nation.
- Contra Costa Small Business Development Center assists small business owners in Contra Costa County with: Operations/Financial Management, Business Loans, Government Contracting/Procurement, Exporting Assistance and more.
- Mission Asset Fund believes in creating pathways out of the financial shadows. They help house cleaners and restaurant owners across the U.S. save money with better credit and less debt.
- Mission Economic Development Agency provides business technical assistance, loan packaging, and advocacy targeted at minority- and women-owned businesses in the Mission District of San Francisco.
- Oakland Business Assistance Center provides information on licenses, permits, and zoning in Oakland.
- Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center provides small business training and support services to emerging and established entrepreneurs in San Francisco, Marin, Richmond, and the Mid Peninsula.
- Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) provides business mentorship counseling and specialized assistance for free.
- Small Business Administration is a federal agency that provides education and services to small businesses and small-business owners across the nation.
- TMC Development Working Solutions provides underserved micro-entrepreneurs with the access to capital and resources they need to successfully start or grow viable businesses. TMC Development Working Solution strives to support microenterprise development in an effort to strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and build strong communities.
LCCRSF does our very best to serve your legal needs. However, if you were unsatisfied our services, you may file a formal complaint. You will not be denied services or have any other adverse action taken against you based on your complaints. View our Client Grievance Procedure here.