What are Non-profit Legal Services?
Non-profit organizations generally work for a dedicated cause or underprivileged group of people. These organizations are not affiliated with the government and are some of the few businesses out there that really don’t do what they do for the money.
Non-profit legal services may handle any number of legal requirements. The types of services available vary widely). These can range from opening your non-profit with the state, generating relevant legal documents, or contracts and even representing you in court, defending your case, and answering subpoenas.
How Do Non-profit Legal Services Work?
While non-profits are excellent at what they do for other people, groups, and organizations, they aren’t always equipped to deal with the legal requirements necessary to start or keep a non-profit going. More than that, these organizations will almost never have the budget to employ expensive legal teams. Fortunately, there are solutions that will fit even within a tight budget.
Online legal service providers offer non-profits an affordable way to get expert legal services without paying an attorney’s hourly rate. From fast and automated filing services to non-profit organization formation, domain name and business webpage setup, and registered agent services, some of the best online legal service providers are available for less than you spend on your coffee each month.
Most online legal services offer 2 types of plans:
- A la carte services
- Monthly or annual service plans
The a la carte option allows you to pick the legal services you need and pay for them individually. This is good if you know exactly what you need or have a specific legal requirement you want filled.
Alternatively, a monthly or annual service will bundle legal services into 1 price and cover a long list of services at once. This is a better option if you are just getting started, aren’t sure what you need, or know that you’re going to be requiring several legal services at this time.
What Services Do Online Legal Services Provide for Non-profits?
As with any organization, non-profits need legal services from time to time. These can vary based on the type of non-profit, the individuals working for the non-profit, and the circumstances surrounding the specific situation. Some legal services available to non-profits include:
- Legal documentation drafting
- Policies
- Trial litigation
- Community lawyering
- Transactional
- Appellate litigation
- Administrative advocacy
- Tax exemption application
- Corporate law and governance
- Contracts and leasing
- Trademark registration and protection
- Copyright educational materials
- Obtaining licenses or releases
- Real estate acquisition or selling
- Negotiations on commercial or office leases
- Negotiations on financing agreements with direct lenders
- Harassment policies
- Insurance management
- Risk management
- Protection implementation
- Prepare and update personnel manuals and policies
- Explaining federal regulations (for example ADA, FMLA, HIPAA, Title VII)
- Reviewing and preparing employment contracts
- Background checks, references for hires, performance reviews, and termination laws explained
- Volunteer laws explained including Volunteer Protection Act
- Volunteer screening
- Fundraising laws and regulation compliance
- Registration for organizations to conduct fundraising events
- IRS reporting for donations
- Donor acknowledgements
- Explaining rules of lobbying and advocacy
- Clarifying allowed and prohibited political activities
- Disclosures for client confidentiality
- Subpoenas response and requests for records
- HIPAA regulation compliance
Non-profits have unique legal requirements that are often more complicated than regulations for LLCs and corporations. Therefore, having a competent and well-versed legal team to assist you with these legal needs can be a life-saver. It could also mean the difference between compliance with the law and millions of dollars in lawsuits and fines because of a simple mistake.
How to Choose the Right Legal Services Site?
As with any service, you want to make sure you are working with a reliable and experienced legal team. While this is true for anyone, it might be even more relevant for non-profits since these organizations generally have very little to allocate on these things. Non-profits are also working with minorities, children, and underprivileged groups. So, a loss for them is felt all the harder.
Use smart consumerism to find the best online legal services for non-profits.
- Shop around. Do some comparison shopping. Don't simply accept the first offer you're given.
- Read online reviews. This will give you an idea of how other customers have been treated.
- Read the fine print. Twice.
Non-profits deserve legal assistance, and now, with the help of an expanding network of online legal service providers, they can afford to hire top quality legal teams to fight for their noble causes.
