The Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic at University of Wisconsin Law School has been awarded $50,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to support entrepreneurship in rural Wisconsin.

At the L&E Clinic, new businesses get a head start, while law students get hands-on experience working on contracts, corporate structure, patents and trademarks. Founded in 2009, the clinic offers legal services for Wisconsin startups, nonprofits and small businesses free of charge. UW Law students do the work, under the supervision of area attorneys and clinic faculty. 

The L&E Clinic will use its WECD award to increase entrepreneurial capacity in rural Wisconsin through outreach and education. The clinic is one of nine programs to receive funding through the WEDC's Entrepreneurship Support Program during this grant cycle.

The goal of the Entrepreneurship Support Program is to support activities that promote entrepreneurship or deliver education, training and other resources to assist new and aspiring business owners, particularly in underserved communities and rural areas.

“These grants will enable organizations throughout the state to provide more resources to support local entrepreneurial communities that may not have access to other, traditional resources,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “Through this program, we are supporting local and regional organizations that understand the unique needs of their communities and can provide key resources to foster a culture that celebrates and encourages entrepreneurs to build successful businesses in every corner of the state.”

To learn more about the Entrepreneurship Support Program and the other award recipients, read the WEDC's March 4, 2020, news release.

Submitted by Law School News on March 6, 2020

This article appears in the categories: Features