(SitNews) Alaska - Recently, the Alaska Legal Service Corporation, along with the law firm Perkins Coie, launched a virtual legal clinic, offering pro bono legal consultations for Alaskan small business owners and nonprofits to help them navigate the COVID-19 economic crisis and relief programs.

The clinic is part of a nationwide program developed by the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation, a non-profit network of more than 125,000 legal advocates with lawyers in all 50 states.

Qualifying small businesses and nonprofits of 50 or fewer employees will be offered free 45-minute phone or virtual consultations with pro bono attorneys who can answer legal questions and help determine the best path forward for their companies. Consultations will include helping small business owners or nonprofits understand the legislative language in the CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and answer any questions related to employment, contracts, commercial leases, insurance and insolvency issues.

“We are so grateful to the private bar for pitching in during this crisis and making sure that the small businesses within our community have the legal resources they need to navigate these rough waters.  Alaska Legal Services couldn’t be happier to support this effort,” said Nikole Nelson, Executive Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation.   

“With all the questions small businesses already face with this pandemic, ‘Can I afford a lawyer?’ should not be one of them,” said project partner, Becky Kruse, co-chair of the Alaska Bar Association’s Pro Bono Service Committee. “That is why the legal community is stepping up with this free clinic to help our business and nonprofit neighbors face the legal challenges of COVID.”

“Hundreds of thousands of small business owners and nonprofits, many of whom already operate on very narrow margins, are still struggling with questions about how their businesses will survive the COVID-19 pandemic. This small business and nonprofit legal clinic can help them navigate the economic crisis that was no fault of their own, and provide them with guidance they desperately need at this time,” said Lawyers for Good Government’s executive director Traci Feit Love.

On the Web:

LINK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS TO REGISTER: https://www.alsc-law.org/covid-small-business-clinic/ 

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Legal Service Corporation,
www.alsc-law.org

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