Legal support
Navigating the legal landscape can be challenging for nonprofits, but having the right resources at your fingertips can make all the difference. The Colorado Nonprofit Association is proud to collaborate with the Colorado Lawyers Committee to offer two unique programs. Our Legal Audit Clinic occurs twice a year while the Pro Bono Match Program runs all-year.
Legal support available
Nonprofits seeking legal assistance have two options through our partnership with the Colorado Lawyers Committee. While both programs provide free legal support to organizations with an annual budget under $750,000 that do not already have legal counsel budgeted, they serve different needs.
Nonprofit legal Audit Clinic
New and Improved Application Process!
The Nonprofit Legal Audit Clinic is an event held twice a year. It is a comprehensive one-day legal check-up to assess your organization’s overall legal health. We encourage your nonprofit to take our new, quick eligibility check (new and improved to be a short questionnaire without any document uploads necessary)!
How it Works: Your nonprofit will participate in a half-day clinic, meeting with a team of volunteer attorneys from different firms. Before the clinic, a paralegal consultation helps prepare materials to ensure you make the most of your time.
Timeframe: Your nonprofit will participate in a half-day clinic, meeting with a team of volunteer attorneys from different firms. Before the clinic, a paralegal consultation helps prepare materials to ensure you make the most of your time.
Pro Bono Match Program
This is a member-only resource.
The Nonprofit Pro Bono Legal Match Program effectively matches nonprofits in need of legal assistance with volunteer lawyers who can help with ongoing support for specific transactional issues such as contracts, governance, and compliance.
How it Works: Ongoing legal support for specific transactional issues (e.g., contracts, governance, compliance). If your organization meets the program’s criteria, we will send your request to our volunteer attorney list to see which will take it. Once an attorney raises their hand, they will reach out to your primary contact. This process could take up to 2 months and it’s possible an applicant may not get a match.
Timeframe: Matching may take up to two months, and support is provided as needed over time.
Eligibility for Services:
- The payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization’s resources.
- Organizations must attain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status prior to requesting pro bono legal services.
- Organizations must be located in Colorado.
- Annual operating budget of $750,000 or less.
nonprofit legal office hours
The Colorado Lawyers Committee offers weekly Nonprofit Legal Office Hours through the Colorado Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative. These free virtual consultations provide Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organizations with accessible legal guidance on a wide range of nonprofit-related topics.
How it Works: Nonprofits can schedule a 45-minute virtual consultation with an experienced attorney to ask questions, identify potential legal issues, and receive guidance. These sessions are designed for issue-spotting and general legal support and do not create an ongoing attorney-client relationship.
Timeframe: Office hours are held every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. via Zoom. Appointments are required and can be scheduled in advance through a short intake and scheduling process.
Eligibility: This program is currently open to all Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organizations, with no restrictions on organizational size or budget. As the program grows, eligibility criteria may be adjusted to best serve the nonprofit community.
