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.

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 clients 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 

Please note: We do not provide legal consultation on tax, litigation, or bankruptcy 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 and match you with the right attorney and resources. 

LSE Pro-Bono/Free Attorney Application

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Personal Information


Please enter the date as: mm/dd/yyyy.
Include apartment number, if any.
Name, phone number, and relationship to you of another contact person, in case we can't get ahold of you

Demographic Information

Your answers to these questions are collected for grant reporting purposes. 
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Personal Financial Information

Your application will not be considered without the following financial information. Your answers are collected to assess eligibility for our program and for grant reporting. 
Number of people who live with and share financial resources with you.
Includes income of spouse, parent or partner in same household. 
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Please enter a number without a dollar sign.

Business Information

Name, phone number, e-mail address

Legal Assistance

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50 Character Limit

Consent for Disclosure of Case Information

We will not disclose the information you provide in this Application for Assistance to anyone except: 

1.       as authorized by you; 

2.       as required by law or court order;

3.       our employees and representatives, for the purpose of making a determination about whether you qualify for our services and/or for the performance of our services; 

4.       volunteer attorneys, paralegals, translators, or interpreters (“Volunteers”) who express interest in assisting you. All Volunteers will see a short description of your request for assistance that does not contain any identifying details. Volunteers who express interest in assisting you will receive your name and contact information and that of any opposing parties to facilitate a conflicts check. After completing the conflicts check and connecting you with the Volunteers who have agreed to assist you, we will forward those Volunteers a full copy of your application; or

5.       we may compile data and information provided by you and other Legal Services for Entrepreneurs applicants and/or clients, but such information will only be disclosed on an aggregate or illustrative basis and will not be disclosed in a manner that would personally identify you.

File Upload

Your application will not be considered without uploaded copies of the requested financial information.
Upload a copy of your commercial lease, if applicable.

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.

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.

Upcoming Events

Mar 21
Apr 25
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