The Sustainable Economies Law Center provides direct legal support to individuals and groups who are working to create new solutions for resilient local economies. The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe is provided at no cost to participants and legal advice is provided virtually by appointment. 

If you need advice about starting a worker-owned cooperative, converting an existing business into a cooperative, organizing a housing cooperative, founding a nonprofit or other social enterprise, please RSVP below!

Here are some questions we will be prepared to answer:

• Legal formation for small businesses: What are the regulations and requirements to have your organization legally function?

• Legal entity choice: Should your org be a for profit, non-profit, and which legal entity fits best with your vision?

• Employment law: Whether you're an employer, employee, or a cooperative, we can answer questions on how to prevent or resolve issues?

• Tax law: What are the ways to receive tax exemption for your org?

• Contracts: Contract review, drafting, and negotiation

• Liability issues: What are your governance requirements to avoid liability?

• Environmental Law: Do you have questions about how to create more green spaces for your community? 

Note: This Legal Cafe is for Berkeley Residents and Businesses Only, and was made possible by Project Equity and The City of Berkeley Economic Development Department. We especially encourage Black, Indigenous, people of color, and low-income communities to RSVP. We focus on cooperatives, participatory or democratic nonprofits, land trusts, and mutual aid groups.