The Minority Business Law Collaborative (MBLC) connects business owners with legal experts tailored to their specific business needs and issues.
MBLC provides one-on-one legal representation and services free of charge for qualified minority business enterprises (MBEs) up to $10,000.
Access to legal services is one of the most significant unmet needs for small business owners, especially in the minority and economically disadvantaged business communities.
MBLC supports and advances diverse and equitable business development and economic opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged business owners by providing business-related legal services.
MBLC is an initiative under the RWU School of Law, funded with a from the RI General Assembly and the RI Commerce Corporation.
MBLC provides qualified businesses with the opportunity to work directly with RWU School of Law faculty attorneys, MBLC staff attorneys, and Rhode Island business attorneys, for no fee.
MBLC provides business legal services* in the following areas:
Preparing and submitting business registration documents.
Preparing internal governance and operating documents.
Providing regulatory guidance and legal risk assessments.
Reviewing, negotiating, and preparing loan and financing documents, including SBA loans
Providing employment law guidance and preparing employee policies, procedures, and handbooks.
Assisting in the preparation and documentation of applications & certifications.
Reviewing, preparing, and negotiating contracts, agreements, and commercial documents.
Providing trade secret, trademark, and copyright law guidance; preparing and filing trademark registration.
Providing general business legal advice on management and operational matters.
Advising on the leasing and purchase of business properties for the MBE.
*The MBLC does not provide litigation, collection, or patent legal services.
MBLC offers legal consultations to entrepreneurs by holding “office hours” at community partners’ business locations, following their office hours. MBLC attorneys meet with potential business clients, assess their legal needs with the goal of pairing the business with an attorney to guide and advise them on their specific business legal issues.
MBLC provides industry specific classes and workshops based on the needs of the businesses, as well as general legal education on topics such as contracts, intellectual property, and business formation.
Materials on specific business legal topics will be created for all clients and community partners for distribution. Written in plain English (and translated, as requested), these materials will be in print form and posted online.
Miriam Ross is in private practice, serving as outside general counsel to small and medium-sized businesses providing strategic, transactional and governance advice and counsel. She previously served as assistant general counsel to GTECH Corporation and as corporate counsel to Textron, Inc.
Contact Miriam at mross@rwu.edu
I think one of the biggest goals is to provide services where they’re needed and to expand that a little bit, applying free services or offering free services where they’re needed. When you provide these services where they’re needed and you provide opportunity to those who haven’t traditionally had an opportunity, what you end up getting is a very robust innovation pipeline.
Derrick Brent
I think one of the biggest goals is to provide services where they’re needed and to expand that a little bit, applying free services or offering free services where they’re needed. When you provide these services where they’re needed and you provide opportunity to those who haven’t traditionally had an opportunity, what you end up getting is a very robust innovation pipeline.
Derrick Brent
I think one of the biggest goals is to provide services where they’re needed and to expand that a little bit, applying free services or offering free services where they’re needed. When you provide these services where they’re needed and you provide opportunity to those who haven’t traditionally had an opportunity, what you end up getting is a very robust innovation pipeline.
Derrick Brent
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