On October 19, 2010, the Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, hosted in partnership with Corporate Pro Bono, a partnership project of the ACC and the Pro Bono Institute, the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), and Dorsey & Whitney LLP (a Signatory to the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®) the first Minnesota Clinic in a Box℠ program.    The Clinic, an off-the-shelf pro bono program developed by Corporate Pro Bono for in-house counsel, attracted as volunteers 26 Chapter members from a diverse group of corporate legal departments, including Xcel Energy, Welsh Companies, Target, Best Buy, Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group, and Ameriprise Financial.

Held at the offices of Dorsey & Whitney, the Clinic offered in-house counsel the opportunity to meet with 10 small businesses to conduct a legal audit to ensure that the businesses were operating in good legal health.  MEDA, which supports the creation and development of minority-owned businesses, recruited the clients to participate. The clients represented a variety of industries, including construction, medicine, information technology, and career services.

The Minnesota Clinic began with an hour and half CLE training session led by expert attorneys from Dorsey that addressed the legal needs of Minnesota small businesses.  The in-house volunteers then met with the small business owners to conduct a two and half hour legal audit.  Volunteers also addressed some of the clients’ more specific legal needs, and some of the volunteers will continue to provide counsel to the businesses on an on-going basis.

Prior to the clinic, the volunteers received comprehensive training materials that were developed by Corporate Pro Bono and updated for Minnesota by experts from Dorsey.  These materials will prove invaluable for the volunteer attorneys who continue to provide legal advice for their small business client.

For more information about Clinic in a Box℠, or to learn about other resources CPBO has to offer, please contact Eve Runyon, director of CPBO at erunyon@probonoinst.org or visit www.cpbo.org.

Developed by Corporate Pro Bono
A global partnership project of the Pro Bono Institute and the Association of Corporate Counsel
www.cpbo.org