The Business & Law Clinic is a pioneering collaboration between the University of Maine Graduate School of Business and the University of Maine School of Law. This initiative unites MBA and Law students to support early-stage entrepreneurs and under-resourced businesses throughout Maine.
Thanks to the generosity of the Alfond Foundation, the Business & Law Clinic aims to bolster the state’s small business economy by offering services to companies that lack the resources to hire business consultants or private attorneys.
Students gain invaluable real-world experience by working with emerging businesses. This hands-on approach allows them to apply theoretical concepts from their coursework to real business environments, encouraging comprehensive thinking about a company’s needs and empowering them to serve as advisors to clients. Under faculty supervision, students develop expertise in corporate structures and governance, funding sources, intellectual property considerations, legal drafting, marketing techniques, production processes, and business scaling strategies.
Throughout the term, students receive close guidance from Business Director and Entrepreneur in Residence Hugh Stevens and Legal Director and Professor of Practice Erin Cusenbary.
Hugh Stevens
Entrepreneur in Residence &
Founding Business Director
_____
managerial, financial, communication, and analytical experience
Business Services:
- Financial modeling
- Market research
- Fundraising strategy
- Risk management strategy
- Strategic planning
Legal Services:
- Choice of entity counseling
- Entity formation
- Trademark and copyright counseling and registration
- Contract drafting and review
- Nonprofit formation
The Business & Law Clinic’s core values include:
- Public Service: Delivering high-quality pro bono services to qualifying clients.
- Professionalism: Teaching students about professional conduct, ethics, and communication, while providing interactive, live-client opportunities for professional client service.
- Education: Offering tangible examples of business and legal concepts to enhance the student experience.
- Collaboration: Promoting an interdisciplinary approach to experiential learning and client service, mirroring real-world practice.
- Inclusive Practice: Serving companies from various backgrounds, industries and locations throughout Maine.