Community Development Legal Clinic (CDLC)

CDLC students have collectively assisted thirteen small businesses and seven non-profit organizations this semester. Each client has presented unique problems. Tiffany Bowers, '03, helped one client balance her business plans with her potential need for social security disability income. Shala Zokaie, '02, assisted her client, who is sight-disabled, to establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC). June Phillips, '02, helped another client establish an LLC to market his patented inventions. Antonia Akwule, '02, revised a lengthy commercial lease, previously prepared by the clinic to accommodate a client's new business relationships. Alis Hughes, '02, stepped in to assist a client to protect her trademark against infringement.

On the non-profit side, Geno Merez, '02, delved into the complicated federal tax regulations governing private operating foundations to sort out the tax issues for his client. Similarly, Christine Cammarata, '03, assisted her client to walk the fine line between public charity and private foundation status. Two of the Clinic's non-profit clients are educational organizations with UDC affiliation. CDLC is pleased to have the opportunity to assist these organizations, which provide enhanced educational and career opportunities for UDC's undergrad students.

In other news, the Clinic recently received a long awaited, favorable IRS advance ruling, awarding tax exempt, public charity status to a community development corporation. The Clinic has been working on this case since Spring 2001. Congratulations are in order for Tiambe Belardo, '02 (Spring 2001), and Guana Williams, '02 (Fall 2001), who were assisted by Rasheda Jiles, '02 (Fall 2001), and Lytuana Chibuzo, '03 (teaching assistant), all of whom contributed to this success.

Guana Williams has continued to work in the clinic this semester as a teaching assistant. Working in collaboration with the Coalition for Non Profit Housing Sponsors, Guana is conducting research on the recent sales of thirty-nine residential buildings, which have fallen outside the purview of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Owners have found a loophole in the law, which permits owners to sell residential buildings without first making an offer of sale to tenant organizations, and Guana's research will be helpful to understanding the scope of the problem and fashioning a remedy.

The Bulgarians are Coming!!

On April 15, a delegation of Bulgarian law professors will visit the School of Law for a luncheon program hosted by CDLC. Law schools in Bulgaria have recognized a need to assist fledgling NGO's (non government organizations) and are studying well-established clinical programs in the United States for direction. The program is a collaboration between the community development clinics at UDC-DSCL, American University, and George Washington University. UDC-DCSL Professor Howells will discuss certain aspects of community development law practice. DCSL student Antonia Akwule, '02, will present a hypothetical, but typical non-profit case study. DCSL student, Lytuana Chibuzo, '03, will demonstrate the Clinic's website and briefly describe other course materials. Other speakers will include Professor Susan Bennett from American University, alumna Professor Susan Jones, '81, of George Washington University, and students currently enrolled in AU's community development clinic.