Law Students for the Arts (LSftA), a student group at the University of Texas School of Law, and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA), will offer a free legal clinic for low-income artists on Thursday, April 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Austin offices of Fulbright and Jaworski LLP, 600 Congress Avenue, Suite 2300.
Volunteer attorneys will provide free legal advice and help on arts-related legal matters to artists, musicians and filmmakers. Topics discussed may include copyright, trademark and contract law.
Although walk-ins are welcome, artists interested in attending the clinic can schedule an appointment by emailing artslawclinic@gmail.com or calling 512-232-1989. Attendees can expect to spend up to 30 minutes receiving advice from an attorney.
Law students will assist artists with completing intake paperwork and by clarifying the legal issues that artists face. Cases not resolved at the clinic will be reviewed to see if further legal services can be provided at no charge.
“Austin has such a richly diverse cultural background,” said Eric Leventhal, president of LSftA and a second-year law student. “As law students, we’re often so immersed in our studies that we lose sight of some of the unbelievable artists living in our city, many of whom could use help navigating legal issues. The clinic is a great way to help artists achieve their dreams just as law school helps us achieve ours.”
Leventhal said the legal clinic is the first one of its kind to be offered. LsftA organized this project in consultation with the School of Law Pro Bono Program, which assists student groups with planning and executing pro bono projects.
“TALA and its volunteer attorneys in Austin have been most impressed by this law student initiative,” said TALA board member Blair Dancy, a partner with Van Osselaer and Buchanan LLP and a 1997 graduate of the Law School. “Artists make Austin the wonderful, unique city that it is. It’s the least we can do to give back, and we are eager to participate in the clinic.”
LSftA is a registered student organization at the Law School devoted to aiding Austin-area artists and arts organizations and fostering mutually beneficial relationships with pro bono legal referral service groups. Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts has been providing pro bono legal and accounting services to artists and arts nonprofit organizations since 1979.
For questions or to RSVP, please email artslawclinic@gmail.com or call 512-232-1989.
