Our Services

Lawyers Alliance's quality, affordable services include:

 Direct Legal Representation

 Resource Call Hotline

 Educational Programs

Learn About Becoming a Client

Direct Legal Representation

Each year, Lawyers Alliance's staff and volunteer attorneys represent more than 700 nonprofits on more than 1,400 different legal matters.

Working together, they provide a full range of business and transactional legal services to nonprofit organizations. For example, our staff and volunteer attorneys can help organizations:

General Corporate

  • form a legal, tax-exempt entity
  • draft or revise bylaws and other corporate documents
  • prepare conflicts of interest, records retention, or whistleblower policies
  • review and negotiate contracts
  • understand and prepare for liability and insurance issues
  • create and structure affiliate relationships
  • prepare and negotiate fiscal sponsorship agreements
  • obtain project financing
  • evaluate or undertake a nonprofit business venture
  • merge or enter a joint venture or strategic alliance

Taxation and Regulatory Compliance

  • seek certification as a community development financial institution
  • comply with fundraising laws and regulations
  • understand federal lobbying limits and state and local reporting requirements
  • understand rules regarding partisan or political activity
  • comply with IRS financial reporting and other disclosure regulations
  • review executive compensation and private benefit or related party transactions
  • resolve withholding tax or workers' compensation disputes
  • understand procurement rules or licensing requirements

Real Estate

  • acquire or sell real estate
  • review or negotiate a commercial or office lease
  • negotiate agreements with contractors, property managers, architects, or social service providers
  • negotiate financing agreements with lenders, investors, or syndicators
  • secure property tax exemptions
  • prepare and negotiate joint venture agreements

Employment

  • prepare or update personnel manuals and policies
  • obtain counsel when hiring, disciplining, or terminating employees
  • review or prepare employment contracts for management employees
  • develop volunteer policies and procedures
  • understand laws on background screening and hiring of employees
  • properly classify employees under wage and hours laws
  • obtain counsel regarding state and federal anti-discrimination laws

Intellectual Property and Information Technology

  • copyright educational materials and other intellectual property
  • protect trademarks, tradenames, and other identifiers
  • protect websites and other Internet materials
  • obtain releases or licenses regarding the use of photographs or program materials

Advocacy

  • assist with civic engagement compliance issues
  • provide guidance on alternative nonprofit structures for organizations undertaking organizing and advocacy work
  • assist with navigation of legal risk management issues
  • provide counsel to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal lobbying disclosure requirements

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Resource Call Hotline

We provide general information on legal issues of importance to nonprofit staff and Board members, lawyers, policymakers, and members of the general public. While we provide specific legal advice only to clients, the Hotline offers helpful information and referrals to both clients and non-clients.

Call our Hotline at (212) 219-1800 x 224 or e-mail ResourceCall@lawyersalliance.org and leave a message with your nonprofit legal question. A staff member will get back to you with the answer you need or a helpful referral.

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Educational Programs

Lawyers Alliance presents trainings and publications on broad range of legal topics relevant to nonprofit managers and Board members as well as the attorneys who represent them.

Please see our trainings schedule, recorded webinars, Board trainings, list of publications, and Legal Alerts to learn more.

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