Tuesday, March 11, 2025: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

--- No pre-registration required. To join the live-Zoom on the date/time of event, scroll down and click the Zoom link provided. ---

Women- and minority-owned businesses can face unique challenges in navigating opportunities, but specialized resources exist to level the playing field. In this class, experts from the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity’s Office of Small Business will guide attendees through key programs, certifications, and funding opportunities tailored to support these businesses.

Class covers:

• Certification programs for women- and minority-owned businesses
• Resources for accessing funding, grants, and loans
• Navigating government contracts and procurement opportunities
• Support networks, tools, and services to help grow your business

Presented by officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (https://opportunity.lacounty.gov).

ZOOM LINK: 

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice: LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

--- No pre-registration required. To join the live-Zoom on the date/time of event, scroll down and click the Zoom link provided.---

Business entities come in many shapes and sizes, and choosing the right one can avoid serious tax and liability consequences. Learn which business entity is right for you, how to prepare and file incorporation documents, and why supposed “formalities” like corporate by-laws can be so important to your business success.

Class covers:

• Creating legal structures that will protect business start-ups and accommodate the business as it grows
• Common myths and mistakes people make in setting up a business
• The difference between an LLC, C-Corporation and S-Corporation and how to determine which one is right for your business
• Why shouldn't you just operate as a partnership or a sole proprietorship?
• What are the issues that co-owners should address and resolve in a "Shareholders Agreement" before starting a business together?

Presented by Prof. Michael Chasalow (https://gould.usc.edu/faculty/profile/michael-chasalow/):

Professor Chasalow directs the USC Law School Small Business Clinic, where students gain hands-on experience handling transactional legal problems and providing basic corporate legal assistance to small businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. Professor Chasalow has worked with start-up companies for over 25 years. His scholarly interests involve the development and structure of business ventures as well as corporate governance issues, fiduciary duty standards and issues relating to the operation and governance of partnerships and LLCs. Professor Chasalow received his B.A. from UC-Berkeley, his J.D. from Berkeley Law and his M.B.A. at UCLA. In 2004, he was given the Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award by USC Law’s Student Bar Association. He has also taught at Whittier School of Law and Loyola Law School.

ZOOM LINK:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

--- No pre-registration required. To join the live-Zoom on the date/time of event, scroll down and click the Zoom link provided. ---

Renting a commercial space is a big step for any small business. Before you sign your lease agreement, you should understand how commercial leases differ from residential agreements, and make sure you understand the basic terms of the lease. If you already have a lease in place and you don’t understand its terms, join this session to understand the meaning of its clauses. Lawyers will provide an overview of the most important terms of a commercial lease and provide tips when negotiating a new contract or changes to your current agreement.

Class covers:

• Commercial leasing overview
• Terms of a lease
• Lease strategies

Presented by Bet Tzedek Legal Services.

ZOOM LINK:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

New and growing businesses must enter into a variety of contracts, with landlords, suppliers, and clients, to name a few. Learn how to read common “boilerplate” contractual language and negotiate contractual terms to your advantage. 

Class covers:

• Contract law basics
• Essential terms of a commercial lease: what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable
• Essential terms of a contract for goods or services
• “Typical” contracts negotiated by business people
• Caveat emptor: how to avoid problematic contracts

Presented by Gina Pak: 

Gina Pak is the COO and Co-founder of Lawgood (https://lawgood.io), a legal tech company that is helping business owners with their everyday legal contracts through a combination of real lawyers and artificial intelligence.  Prior to Lawgood, Gina was as a corporate lawyer at large firms in New York and Los Angeles working with Fortune 500 companies.  She was also a law professor at Peking University. Gina graduated from Columbia Law School.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.