Legal Clinic Volunteers Serve Philly’s Small Businesses & Nonprofits

Philadelphia VIP’s essential work is to connect and support volunteer attorneys with pro bono clients – in other words, to bring Philadelphians together by expanding access to justice. Perhaps the easiest way to see our community come together in pro bono service is at one of our small business & nonprofit legal clinics, which we hold throughout the year.

At our legal clinics, which take place about every other month at our partner law firms, VIP matches low- to moderate-income small business owners or nonprofit leaders with transactional attorneys from diverse backgrounds for a free one-hour consultation.

VIP’s Small Business Coordinator Robin Miles pairs attorneys and clients based on the attorneys’ skills and the clients’ most pressing legal questions. In this way, VIP leverages our volunteers’ legal know-how to serve entrepreneurs and small enterprises that need legal help but cannot afford an attorney.

Read on for a round-up of our recent clinics (including our first-ever trademark clinic) and sign up for an upcoming clinic on our events page.

Trademark Clinic at Blank Rome

On December 9, 2025, VIP partnered with Blank Rome and the International Trademark Association (INTA) for our first-ever trademark clinic. This clinic served both Philly small business and Philly nonprofits who needed guidance with trademarking their name, logo, or other intellectual property. At the clinic, eleven attorneys served ten clients.

Small Business Clinic at Ballard Spahr

On February 10, 2026, VIP and Ballard Spahr kicked off this year’s season of small business legal clinics. Eighteen volunteers teamed up to counsel eleven small business owners.

Nonprofit Training & Clinic at Dechert

On March 11, 2026, VIP and Dechert hosted a nonprofit legal assessment training and clinic. Clients and volunteers attended a one-hour training on nonprofit compliance led by longtime volunteer attorney Frannie Reilly, after which they paired up for consultations. At this clinic, twenty-two volunteers served fourteen nonprofit clients.