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Small Business Legal Resources

Bet Tzedek launched its Small Business Development (SBD) Project in 2016 to strengthen the economic base of underserved communities by providing free legal education and services to low-to-moderate income small business owners and entrepreneurs, with a focus on women, disabled, Veteran, immigrant, limited English speaking, LGBTQ, and BIPOC business owners.

Bet Tzedek’s SBD program deploys a three-pronged approach consisting of:

Legal Guides and FAQS: Please click here to access legal information relevant to small businesses like legal structures basics, employment law basics, intellectual property basics, and others.

Legal Workshops and Small Business Legal Academies: Please visit our calendar to register for our upcoming legal workshops and Small Business Legal Academies. We will be offering both general business law education and COVID-specific programming. Registration required.

Direct Legal Representation: Small businesses seeking counsel for transactional legal issues may submit an application for assistance. Assistance can include drafting and reviewing contracts, business structure and entity formation, drafting and reviewing commercial leases, negotiating with landlords, employment law advice covering issues such as hiring and termination, wage and hour rules, employee safety, paid leave, benefits, application of COVID-19 regulations to business operations, accessing COVID-19 relief including loans and aid, and other transactional matters like intellectual property assistance.

Bet Tzedek is part of the LA Regional COVID-19 Small Business Owners Legal Aid Program, a partnership between the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles that connects L.A. Region’s small business owners with legal experts. To get more information about this initiative click here.

Small Business COVID-19 Assistance Application

Small Business COVID-19 Assistance Application

  • Eligibility Requirements

    • Our eligibility criteria look at both the sales and profits of the small business and the personal income of the owner. Please submit an application and we will work with you to help you access the resources you need.
  • PART I - PERSONAL INFORMATION

  • PART II - BUSINESS INFORMATION

  • Please note that to legally operate in the City of Los Angeles, ALL individuals or entities conducting business activities within the City of Los Angeles (except for in-home childcare providers also known as family childcare providers) are required to apply for and obtain a Business Tax Registration Certificate with the City of Los Angeles, Office of Finance. You may register your business with the City of Los Angeles either by visiting one of their service locations or utilizing their Online New Business Registration service. For more information, please visit https://finance.lacity.org/
  • PART III - PRIOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION

  • Have you already consulted another attorney or legal organization for legal assistance? If so, please provide:

  • PART IV – CURRENT LEGAL ISSUE

  • Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, Max. file size: 32 MB, Max. files: 1.
    • Please list all other people, organizations, or companies that may be involved in your legal matter(s). For example, if you need help with a commercial lease, please provide the name of the landlord.
    • PART V – INFORMATION CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY FOR PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE

    • (NOTE: Household income is defined as your income plus the income of individuals who you depend on or who depend on you.)
    • (NOTE: Household income is defined as your income plus the income of individuals who you depend on or who depend on you.)
    • PART VI – REFERRAL INFORMATION

    • PART VI – REFERRAL INFORMATION

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.