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15 J. Affordable Hous. & Cmty. Dev. L. 20 (2005-2006)
Making a Difference: A Role for Lawyers in Economic Development

handle is hein.journals/jrlaff15 and id is 28 raw text is: EFROM THE READING ROOM Making a Difference: A Role for Lawyers in Economic Development Paulette J. Williams The Legal Guide to Microenterprise Development Susan R. Jones American Bar Association (2004); $24.95 Paperback; 110 pages available from www.ababooks.org New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), a nonprofit law office that operates a pro bono clearinghouse to provide free legal assistance for eligible low income individuals and community groups, brokered the rela- tionship between a microenterprise development program and a law firm. Over several years more than 15 attorneys from Debevoise and Plimpton worked with the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) Microenterprise Development Program which helps immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs learn about the American marketplace and how to apply for a loan to start a business. The law firm has drafted lending documents for NYANA, America's largest not for profit provider of educational, social, legal and business services to refugees and immigrants. The firm's assistance to microbusinesses has included workshops on legal compliance and tech- nical assistance to individual entrepreneurs as well as assisting with a land- lord and tenant dispute and representing a microentrepreneur in the pur- chase of a fast food business.' This is one of many examples from Susan Jones's book Legal Guide to Microenterprise Development describing the work that lawyers do in repre- senting microenterprise organizations. Increasingly, entrepreneurship and economic development, not direct government assistance, are being seen as providing the pathway out of poverty. Jones has identified microenter- prise development as an area of need where lawyers can play a big role in promoting economic development and makes the case that microenterprise development is an effective mechanism for both job creation and self- employment. She presents the complex issues in the field that require legal expertise and provides a resource guide that addresses the many obstacles lawyers face in doing this work. Paulette J. Williams (pwilliam@libra.law.utk.edu) is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville.

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