What do students get out of a semester working with the SBL Clinic?

The Small Business Law Clinic (SBL Clinic) is a hybrid experiential option that allows students to explore business law while meeting the needs of Vermont business communities. Students provide legal education and assistance to small business owners and organizations. They create helpful legal guides, and take the lead in educating entrepreneurs on myriad legal issues. They contribute to statewide public panels on relevant legal topics. And, students in a field placement work with mentoring attorneys and provide direct services to small businesses in the community. We work with JD and Masters students both, and offer pro bono hours for those who require them for their licensure. Business experience and exposure to business law topics is preferred, but may not be necessary.

Our students leave the Clinic with general practice experience serving small businesses, including:

• Broad knowledge of many legal topics
• Experience in direct client work, including learning how to lead when educating clients and the public on legal topics
• Practice issue spotting on many bar-tested topics, including contracts, torts, corporations, real property, and wills, trusts, and estates
• Experience assessing and adapting to individual client needs and knowledge, and providing layperson explanations for many different legal topics
• A strong start to a professional network in Vermont and the New England region, including connecting with the Vermont Bar Association, the Vermont Small Business Development Center, and several other community partners supporting small businesses in Vermont

Courses, Credits, Options, and Applications

The SBL Clinic's curriculum combines clinical and field placement educational opportunities, and features three distinct courses: Introduction to Start Up Law, SBL Clinic, and Advanced SBL Clinic. The Clinic provides anywhere between 3-12 credit options. Applications are submitted through the Common Application process for VLGS clinics.

Introduction to Start Up Law

A lecture and simulation course that provides a survey of business law taught by professors, practicing attorneys, and judges. Prerequisite for SBL Clinic, but may be waived if a student has taken Corporations, Intellectual Property, Securities, or Social Enterprise Law.

SBL Clinic

An experiential course (available for anywhere between 3-12 credits) that offers a hybrid clinical/field placement experience and features live client work, public presentations, and community and small business education. Students must apply by August 1 (for Fall) or November 1 (for Spring) if they wish to pursue a field placement as part of their credits.

Advanced SBL Clinic

An advanced option for students wishing to stay on for a second semester, work in a field placement, serve as mentors for first-semester clinicians, and take the lead on Clinic events and educational consults. Students should apply by August 1 (for Fall), November 1 (for Spring), or April 1 (for Summer), if they wish to pursue a field placement as part of their credits.

Applications

Applications to work with the SBL Clinic will be submitted primarily through the Common Application process. The Common Application for the Summer and Fall semesters opens during the preceding Spring semester, while the Common Application for the Spring semester opens during the preceding Fall semester. If you have questions about applying outside of the Common Application process, please contact Director Nicole Killoran at nakilloran@vermontlaw.edu.