Penn State Law’s Underserved Small Business Program Gives Legal Presentation in Spanish

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – As a part of Penn State’s “Startup Week,” representatives of the Penn State Law Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic presented on April 5 to a large online audience with respect to basic legal issues typically faced by startup companies across Pennsylvania. The presentation was given in Spanish to reach a broader audience across the Commonwealth. The Clinic regularly offers educational webinars for a variety of its economic-development partners in Pennsylvania, but this was the first time that the Clinic has offered a presentation completely in Spanish, as part of its Underserved Small Business Program.

Law student Kira Ritter, with the assistance of Staff Attorney Britani Peterson, presented to an audience of predominately Spanish speakers, offering a comparison of business entity structures, and discussing numerous hypotheticals to illustrate common mistakes made by new business owners. The presentation also outlined the free legal services the Clinic offers to entrepreneurs and small businesses across the Commonwealth, including formation assistance and contract drafting and revision.

The event was sponsored by geographically dispersed Penn State LaunchBoxes at the Hazleton, Abington, Berks, Harrisburg and York campuses, as well as by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, Emprender Lantino PA and El Informe Latino. The Clinic is part of Penn State Law and is supported by Invent Penn State, Penn State’s vibrant program to promote entrepreneurship across Penn State’s campuses and across the entire Commonwealth.

The Clinic started its Underserved Small Business Program in Fall 2021 through which it has been counseling certain groups of entrepreneurs, such as women, people of color, veterans and members of the LGBTQ community, with respect to the many governmental and corporate programs that are focused on underserved businesses.  The presentation to Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania was part of this new program. 

Business owners or other entrepreneurs interested in receiving pro bono legal guidance can sign up for services through the Clinic’s online intake form here.