Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative (1997-2022), 1975-2013
Scope and Contents
The collection contains information on the history and development of clinics. Some were short-lived and therefore, do not have a significant amount of material in the Archives. Others, like the Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic and Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative, have several folders of material and are part of a series. Further information on clinics can be found on the Law School's website under Academics - Clinics.
https://law.uconn.edu/academics/clinics-experiential-education/
Dates
- Creation: 1975-2013
Language of Materials
English .
Biographical / Historical
The Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative (CULI) was originally established through a Connecticut General Assembly appropriation that brings CULI attorneys and Law School Students together to provide transactional law services to nonprofit organizations and community groups focused on revitalization efforts. CULI had two missions: first, to provide effective legal services to non-profit clients engaged in reducing urban blight and secondly, to educate law students through involvement in community development work.
CULI provided legal support to the nonprofits on a pro bono basis and in doing so provided a unique service learning opportunity relating to nonprofits and urban problems. Other than civil and criminal litigations, students assisted with the incorporation process for tax-exempt status, updating of bylaws, negotiating with banks on foreclosed properties and providing legal advice about intellectual proper ty and copyright laws, as well as employment and labor issues and insurance claims. Students routinely attended client meetings, drafted documents, and worked closely with CULI staff lawyers. In the area of Real Estate, CULI provided direct legal services to nonprofit clients supporting real estate development efforts, including acquiring site control, reviewing contracts for construction and financings and completing the closing for final sale in homeownership situations. In the area of corporate development, CULI provided legal advice and drafted documents to assist nonprofits in establishing or strengthening their corporate structures. They also assisted in lobbying limitations, zoning issues, insurance proceed recovery and other general practice areas.
Directors of CULI were William Breetz, 1998-2011 and Barbara McGrath, 2011-2022.
Full Extent
From the Collection: 4 Linear Feet (3 document cases, 1 trophy, 1 plaque)
Repository Details
Part of the uconnlaw Repository
Thomas J. Meskill Law Library
39 Elizabeth Street
Hartford CT 06105
860-570-5032
archives.lawlib@uconn.edu