Allen Hench is the clinic's co-instructor and founder of the pro bono project. He was quoted as saying in a recent interview: “We often find that a client's method of governance may be inconsistent with law, or [the organizations] own bylaws or governing documents. For example, we have discovered that a client, to the client's surprise, has strayed from what is required. It is not all that unusual; these nonprofits get very committed to their mission and delivering service.” Regarding the experience for the students, he explained the clinic offers students an opportunity to focus on transactional law, versus litigation and appeals work, which are the focus of many other clinics.
Students participating in the clinic advise, as well as work directly with nonprofit boards. They give legal checkups, so to speak, as well as advise on matters including initial formation, establishing tax-exempt status, charitable solicitation, state and local taxation, contracts and ongoing legal compliance.
It's a win-win: Local nonprofits get free legal assistance, and students get hands on legal training.
Serving as a testament to the clinic's success and viability is Ruth Stone's, president of Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc. (CASA), endorsement: “I have retained attorneys for Piedmont CASA at different times over the years and the rates are $250 to $450 an hour. The dollar benefit to CASA is just tremendous when we can have the Nonprofit Law Clinic help us with these legal issues.”
Piedmont CASA focuses on training volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in local courts.
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law has an estimated 1,100 students in its juris doctorate program. It is regarded as being among the top ten prestigious and selective law schools in the United States.
