Community Dev.

This area is hosted by the Community Economic Development Project (CED Project) of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program and was developed by Probono.net through the generosity of the Open Society Institute and the law firm of Latham & Watkins.

This site exists to support the activities and information needs of attorneys engaged in public interest work in the arena of nonprofit and community development law. We invite you to join the site and peruse our on-line Library.

What is Community Development?

Through community development, citizens can set up responsive organizations to develop housing, revitalize distressed business corridors, improve neighborhood facilities and alleviate poverty. Pro bono legal assistance, in the practice of "community development law," empowers community nonprofit groups operating on tight budgets to accomplish their mission for the community and enhances the impact of the projects and programs they sponsor.

The CED Project matches community-based nonprofit organizations that need legal assistance with law firms that have expertise in corporate, finance, real estate, employment, and tax law matters. Many of these organizations have obtained free or reduced-cost legal services on specific projects, but very few have continuing access to legal counsel. The CED Project provides ongoing access to legal assistance by mobilizing the relatively untapped resource of Washington's large numbers of corporate and transactional attorneys to form an "outside legal counsel" relationship with nonprofits that need help. We offer pro bono opportunities in the following areas:

• Tax Law, Including Applying for and Maintaining Tax-Exempt Status
• Real Estate Sales, Acquisitions, and Commercial Leasing
• Environmental, Zoning, and Land Use Law
• Real Estate Development, Including Pre-Development Issues
• Contract Review, Negotiation, and Drafting
• Joint Ventures with For-Profit Organizations

Additionally, volunteer business lawyers also provide assistance to newer non-profit organizations and small disadvantaged business entities through periodic neighborhood development clinics.

I Want to Help, But I Don't Want to Litigate. Do I Have to Go to Court?

The CED Project was formed to offer non-litigation pro bono assignments to corporate attorneys who wish to volunteer their legal skills, but, for whatever reason, would rather not go to court. Negotiation, drafting, and transactional lawyering are very much needed by the organizations we target for assistance.

Law Firm Partnerships with Community-based Nonprofits

The CED Project seeks law firms to provide non-litigation pro bono assistance to community-based nonprofits engaged in a wide variety of community improvement initiatives. Client organizations are screened by in-house attorneys and matched with law firms that can provide ongoing legal advice and counsel to groups involved in social services, child care, affordable housing, health care, youth services, literacy and educational projects that strengthen lower income communities and alleviate poverty.

Small Business Brief Advice Clinics

The CED Project is reaching out to DC Bar Sections and law firms that are willing to commit volunteers to provide brief advice and referrals to small neighborhood-based businesses. The clinics are held periodically at nonprofit counseling agencies throughout the cities. Small for-profit entities seek legal assistance with formation, contract review, lease negotiation, employment, tax, zoning and business regulation issues. Attorneys with experience in these matters are sought to provide brief consultations.

Resources

We provide an on-line library of documents to help you serve the Washington nonprofit community. Probono.net/dc also serves as a forum for the exchange of information and ideas on how best to serve the needs of Washington's nonprofit organizations.

Join us!

You can join now by clicking the "Join This Area" box to the left. You don't need to take a case in order to join, but our clients will welcome your help in their efforts to improve Washington's neighborhoods.

Participating Organizations:

Community Economic Development Pro Bono Project, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program

Latham & Watkins

Our Library contains sample forms, training manuals, and other practice materials for a number of substantive areas including:

• Child Care
  
• Corporate
  Governance
  
• Low Income Housing
  
• Economic
  Development
  
• Tenant Purchase
  Process in DC

Our library also includes information for pro bono programs that are running or starting business law programs. It provides models for intake procedures, policies and procedures, model retention letters, etc.

Housing in the Nation's Capital 2005
Fannie Mae Foundation and the Urban Institute produced thelatest edition of this report providing the public, policy makers, and housing professionals with the most comprehensive data and analysis available on the dynamics of economic and demographic change in the Washington region.

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