November 3, 2015

Postgraduate OpportunityLOS ANGELES INCUBATOR CONSORTIUM

Overview of Presentation• Los Angeles Incubator Consortium• Members of the Consortium• Grant from California State Bar

• Incubator Program Information• Program Goals• Program Benefits• Program Eligibility• Program Expectations and Requirements• Lawyer Referral Service

• Program Application

Los Angeles Incubator Consortium

MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM• Law Schools

• Southwestern Law School• Pepperdine University School of Law• UCLA School of Law

• Legal Aid Organizations• Bet Tzedek• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)• Legal Aid Society of Orange County dba Community Legal

Services• Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles (NLS)• Public Counsel

• Los Angeles Law Library

GRANT AWARD The California State Bar awarded our Consortium 1 of 4 grants statewide to help launch our program that trains 12-15 new solo practitioners to increase access to legal services for low and moderate income clients to help close the justice gap in California’s legal system.

Southwestern was the lead author for this grant because we want to support our graduates who desire to establish a solo practice. We further want to help provide legal services to underserved segments of the community.

Overview of Incubator Program• 12-month program beginning with boot camp training• Be your own boss as you set up your own solo practice• Identify your own practice area(s)• Serving ‘modest means’ clients who do not have access to

affordable legal representation• Receive training, mentoring, and support for setting up your

law firm, business development, and your substantive practice• Learn from experienced attorneys through pro bono work• Share subsidized office space with other grads from

Southwestern Law School, UCLA Law, and Pepperdine• Benefit from financial savings negotiated on your behalf• Gain entry onto a Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) panel • Networking opportunities

LAIC Program Goals

• Help new attorneys launch, develop and sustain viable law practices serving modest means clients.

• Increase pro bono and affordable legal services for individuals in Los Angeles County who do not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford market rates.

LAIC Program Benefits• SOLO PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TRAINING12-month program with trainings specifically geared toward solo practitioners including client communication, effective case management, legal ethics, and business plan development.

• SUBSIDIZED OFFICE SPACEParticipants will be situated in 2-3 rent-subsidized office spaces—most likely in mid-city Los Angeles, Norwalk (in southeastern Los Angeles) & San Fernando Valley.

• COLLABORATIONParticipants will come together for trainings, case reviews, and mentorship to brainstorm, collaborate, and work together to build their practices.

• SUBSTANTIVE LAW TRAINING and PRO BONO REQUIREMENT

Participants are required to perform 200 hours of pro bono for the legal aid Consortium members. In exchange, these organizations will offer substantive law trainings and experienced attorney supervision and give participants the chance to build their future potential client base through pro bono service.

Specific Benefits for Participants during Year 1:• Free access to CEB OnLaw • Free access to LexisNexis • Free access to PLI Continuing Legal Education • LA Law Library Membership – discounted rate• Clio & MyCase Law Practice Management Software• Case review – either in person or via Skype• “Starting a Your Own Law Firm” boot camp• Launch Party• PR including LAIC brochure & website

LAIC Program Eligibility• Must be a CA State Bar member in good standing.

• Must carry malpractice insurance at all times of at least $100K/$300K and pay for any tail coverage if the policy is a claims-reported policy.

• Must provide 200 hours of pro bono work (including training to prepare for related pro bono work) during participation in program.

• Abide by and remain compliant with rules governing the program, including paying a monthly fee for office space and participating in the evaluation of the program.

Program Expectations & Requirements• The Consortium and its member entities are not your employer.

• You are responsible for generating clients and income while you are participating in the program.

• You and your clients will decide the appropriate fee arrangement based on type and complexity of case, attorney’s competency, and the client’s ability to pay.

• You agree to perform 200 hours of pro bono work through legal aid organizations that are members of the Consortium.

• You agree to attend and participate in mandatory trainings and workshops that are part of the Program.

Lawyer Referral Service• The program will help attorneys develop a fee schedule for

limited scope services by working with Legal Aid Services of Orange County (LASOC) to establish a modest means panel for their existing lawyer referral service in Los Angeles County.

• After appropriate training, participants will be added to the panel.

• For first year, LASOC will waive fees for referral service for participants.

• Participants must agree to give an initial consultation to callers without charge.

• LAIC will work with participants to create a pricing structure once they are retained.

LAIC 2016 Application Timeline

• Application Opens: Monday November 23rd

• Application Due: Monday December 7th

• Interviews: Rolling through mid-December

• Selections: By the end of December 2015

• Program Begins: February 1, 2016

Program Application

1. Personal Statementa. Why should you be selected to participate in the program?b. Why do you want to be a solo practitioner?c. Why are you interested in serving low-and moderate-

income members of the community and why are you interested in doing so as a solo practitioner?

2. Brief Business Development Plan

3. Resume

4. List of references

ABA Incubator Programs

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/delivery_legal_services/initiatives_awards/program_main.html

Videos:http://www.americanbar.org/groups/delivery_legal_services/initiatives_awards/program_main/incubator_video.htmlhttp://bcove.me/t85n2kj0

Q&A with Incubator Participant

Questions?

For additional questions, please contact:

Katrina Denny, Assoc. Director Career Services: kdenny@swlaw.edu

Professor Laura Cohen, Director Street Law Clinic & Public Service Programs: lcohen@swlaw.edu