Banner

Community Enterprise Clinic

Main Content
Heading

The Community Enterprise Clinic helps nonprofit organizations and social entrepreneurs plan and implement community development projects that improve the quality of life in economically disadvantaged areas. 

The clinic gives students the opportunity to develop business law skills and expertise as they help organizations that would otherwise not have access to a lawyer overcome barriers, attract resources, and improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. Student-attorneys serve as outside general counsel to the clinic's clients, taking transactional projects from conception to implementation in areas such as affordable housing, community revitalization, business formation, and public policy. 

Building on Duke's renowned curriculum in business and finance law, students put what they have learned in the classroom to work for real clients and deepen their understanding of substantive law, including affordable housing and community development law, corporate law, securities law, real estate law, and administrative law. Students not only structure transactions, but also build the skills required in any business law practice, including problem identification and problem-solving, business planning, client interviewing and counseling, negotiating, drafting, legal analysis and case management.

Testimonial

I think my Community Enterprise Clinic experience will make me a better attorney.

Author
Kevin Cergol '20

Clinic Faculty

Title
Course Description
Image
Students and professor
Call to Action Content

Community Enterprise Law Clinic, 427
Operating like a small private law firm, this clinic will provide students interested generally in business law practice and/or in specializing in affordable housing and community development law with practical skills training in many of the core skills required in any transactional legal practice, including interviewing, counseling, drafting and negotiation. Under the supervision of the clinical faculty, students will represent low-income entrepreneurs, as well as a wide variety of nonprofit organizations engaged in community development activities.

Title
Contact Us
Content

If your organization is working to improve your community through affordable housing, community development, social entrepreneurship, or other strategies, and you cannot find appropriate legal services that are affordable, we encourage you to contact the clinic to determine whether we can assist with your transaction.

Community Enterprise Clinic
Duke Law School
Box 90360
Durham, North Carolina 27708-0360
Phone: (919) 613-7169
Fax: (919) 613-7262