Non-profits/Clients

In general, to qualify to become a client of L.A.W. 501(c)(3), a nonprofit organization must: (1) be a registered 501(c)(3) public charity tax-exempt organization; (2) be located in Wisconsin; and (3) serve low-income or disadvantaged people, seek to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights or be unable to pay legal fees without significantly impairing its resources, programming or otherwise being inappropriate.

Please note that L.A.W. 501(c)(3) does not assist individuals or for-profit organizations. Additionally, while L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will work with organizations irrespective of religious affiliation, L.A.W. 501(c)(3) does not assist on matters that primarily promote religious purposes. Further, L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will not provide assistance on any legal issues related to current or expected litigation.

• Contact L.A.W. 501(c)(3) to discuss your legal needs and how we might be able to help.
• If you meet our client criteria, L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will discuss the potential legal matter with you.
• If we can help, L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will provide an engagement letter to be signed by your nonprofit organization.
• L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will then look to pair your nonprofit organization with one of L.A.W. 501(c)(3)’s volunteer lawyers to assist with the specific legal need.
• Once a volunteer lawyer is identified, L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will facilitate scheduling an initial conference with that lawyer. After that initial meeting, the volunteer lawyer will consult with your organization directly until the specific legal matter is completed.
• If another potential legal need arises, please contact L.A.W. 501(c)(3) to discuss another engagement.

Volunteer attorneys with L.A.W. 501(c)(3) may advise our nonprofit clients on the transactional legal needs of their organization. Typical matters might include: contracts, corporate governance issues like updating corporate bylaws or drafting board policies, employment issues like reviewing employee handbooks, intellectual property issues like registering trademarks, and advising on permitted lobbying and political activities as a 501(c)(3), just to name a few.  Please note that L.A.W. 501(c)(3) will not provide legal assistance on any issues related to current or expected litigation.

No. L.A.W. 501(c)(3) does not currently assist organizations with the application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

With the generosity of Wisconsin corporations, law firms, and individual donors, along with the volunteer participation of the broader Wisconsin legal community, there is no cost for the legal services provided by L.A.W. 501(c)(3) and its attorney volunteers. However, nonprofit clients may have to pay fees to third parties depending on their legal matter. For example, to file for a trademark nonprofit clients would need to pay the US Patent and Trademark Office’s required filing fees.

Engagement letters describe the matter(s) for which your organization has requested legal assistance, the scope of L.A.W. 501(c)(3)’s assistance, and your nonprofit organization’s responsibilities to the volunteer attorney. This agreement will be sent to you, and will require a signature of at least two board members, or a board member and the Executive Director. Please make sure you read the document carefully, sign and return promptly. We cannot schedule your initial meeting with an attorney volunteer until we receive the signed agreement. The volunteer attorney assisting with your matter might also require your nonprofit organization to sign an additional engagement letter.

L.A.W. 501(c)(3)’s primary purpose is to connect Wisconsin nonprofits with legal needs to attorney volunteers. Once paired, it is the responsibility of the volunteer attorney and the client to communicate directly with one another. We ask both nonprofit clients and volunteer attorneys to keep us updated on the progress of their matter, and inform us when the matter is complete.