America’s small businesses have faced seismic hurdles during the pandemic—hit with COVID-19 restrictions and a bureaucratic labyrinth for government funding—relief that proved too little, and too late for an estimated 200,000 that closed permanently.

At the start of the pandemic, Tyler McClure, JD ’22, volunteered to help small businesses and nonprofits apply for CARES Act loans, an experience that prompted her to start the SLS pro bono Small Business and Entrepreneurship Law Project along with Justin Garfinkle, Guillaume Julian, and David Liou, all JD ’22.

Recognizing that small business owners often face limited resources—even in the best of times—the pro bono project team is helping underresourced and underrepresented businesses and entrepreneurs to navigate complex legal questions, both COVID-19-related and beyond.

The project is also focused on diversity through a partnership with Start Small Think Big (SSTB), a nonprofit supporting underresourced entrepreneurs who are people of color, women, members of other disadvantaged groups, and/or low-income. SLS volunteers, 11 students over the winter and spring quarters, have been working alongside SSTB attorneys to draft contracts for small businesses and lead boot camps to help clients prepare for common negotiation scenarios.  The economic toll of the pandemic has been severe, but it has also offered unexpected opportunities. As McClure points out, “It’s so humbling to work with entrepreneurs who have terrific business ideas and who are building their businesses to give back to their communities.” SL