Quality Education

Please Treat the Information in the Digest as Confidential. Do Not Circulate Outside of the Lex Mundi Network.

If you are interested in a matter, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Isis Bous and Allison Laubach through the “Ask About This Matter” button on the details page or directly (ibous@lexmundiprobono.org; alaubach@lexmundiprobono.org) and let us know which project(s) interests you. We will place matches with Lex Mundi member firms on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can view all matter summaries on the “Digest” page(s). To view matters by legal need, select the category of interest. See details of individual matters via the “Read More” link in a matter. To view all details of all available matters, choose “View All”.

View by Legal Need
Advocacy/Legislation (3) Consultation (5) Contracts (2) Employment/Labor (4) Finance/Fundraising (1) Intellectual Property (2) Nonprofit Formation (2) Nonprofit Governance (2) Real Estate (1) Regulatory (5) Research (3) Risk Management (2) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (9) Visa/Immigration (1) Webinars/Trainings (1)

Digest |  View All

Leading Now

Trademark Consultation and Registration

Summary:

Assist an organization that supports superintendents and strengthens public trust by providing a consultation on whether their name can be trademarked and assisting with trademark registration.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Leading Now supports superintendents and system leaders to navigate political complexity and strengthen public trust as they advance their commitment to all students.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
SDG(s):Gender Equality, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Leading Now is seeking a consultation with an IP attorney to discuss whether their name is trademarkable. There is another organization with a similar name that does similar work and the Leading Now team would like to have IP protections in place.

If they are able to trademark their name (or a combination of their name and logo etc.), they would appreciate assistance with the trademark registration itself.

Ask About a Matter
Leading Now

Incorporate and File for 501c3 Status

Summary:

Assist an organization that supports superintendents and strengthens public trust by helping them to incorporate and file for 501(c)(3) status.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Leading Now supports superintendents and system leaders to navigate political complexity and strengthen public trust as they advance their commitment to all students.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
SDG(s):Gender Equality, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Leading Now has been fiscally sponsored for three years, and they have decided to become an independent nonprofit. They are seeking assistance incorporating and filing for 501(c)(3) status. The organization is fully remote and works nationally. They believe it makes sense to incorporate in Delaware but are open to suggestions.

Ask About a Matter
Mission Local SF

Advise Organization As They Recognize Employee Union

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit news organization in San Francisco by advising throughout the process as they voluntarily recognize an employee union.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Mission Local is an independent nonprofit news site in San Francisco focused on high-impact, enterprise reporting on everything from police reform to corruption at City Hall, housing, and the gig economy. Core to their mission is training the next generation of journalists who reflect the diversity of San Francisco.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Quality Education
Legal Issue(s):

The Mission Local SF staff have declared that they are forming a union, and the organization’s leadership team has decided to voluntarily recognize it (they are working through filing this paperwork now). They have no interest is slowing or preventing the process, but do need help understanding how to protect the viability of the nonprofit overall.

They anticipate negotiations will begin in the coming months and that they will need guidance on best practices, advice on communicating with employees, assistance navigating decision-making, and other general assistance negotiating the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The relationship is amicable, and they hope to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. However, the leadership team understands this is a lengthy process and is open to suggestions from the volunteer attorney on how much pro bono support is feasible.

Ask About a Matter
,
Platform for Labour Action International

Draft Affiliation Agreement

Summary:

Assist an organization working to provide legal aid to marginalized workers in Uganda by drafting an affiliation agreement between their U.S. and Ugandan entities.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: United States (Ugandan review will be addressed separately)
About the Organization: Platform for Labor Action (PLA) is a well-established Ugandan organization dedicated to providing legal aid to marginalized workers earning under $160/month and stopping child labour. In 2023, Platform for Labour Action International was established in the United States to support PLA’s mission through research, future fundraising, and expanded operations.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education
Legal Issue(s):

Platform for Labor Action (PLA) is a well-established Ugandan organization dedicated to providing legal aid to marginalized workers earning under $160/month and stopping child labour. In 2023, PLA International was established in the United States to support PLA’s mission through research, future fundraising, and expanded operations. PLA International is seeking legal guidance and support to ensure alignment, compliance and sustainability across their operations.

First, they would benefit from a high-level legal health check of PLA International, a 501(c)(3), to confirm that the organization is appropriately structured, registered, and compliant with applicable law and aligned with their goals. Second, they seek assistance drafting an affiliation agreement between the U.S. and Ugandan entities to formalize the relationship, clarify roles, and establish proper governance and funding protocols, ensuring that PLA International maintains its 501(c)(3) status.

 

Ask About a Matter
,
Tatum Robotics

Advise on Becoming a Video Relay Service Provider

Summary:

Assist a social enterprise supporting the DeafBlind community by advising on how to become a Video Relay Service (VRS) provider.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Tatum Robotics is a social enterprise with a focus on supporting the DeafBlind with access to news, educational pathways, messaging and more. To this end, they are developing a telecommunication and educational tool prioritizing their primary language, tactile sign.
Legal Entity Type: Hybrid (nonprofit + for-profit affiliates)
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Tatum Robotics is considering becoming a Video Relay Service (VRS) provider. The team has reviewed what they believe are the relevant regulations (47 CFR § 64.606, 47 CFR § 64.615, 47 CFR § 64.611, 47 CFR § 64.613, and 47 CFR § 64.604). However, they would appreciate assistance from a telecommunications attorney to ensure they understand the regulations, and to discuss the process/requirements to receive funding through the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. Should they qualify for the program, they would appreciate assistance with the application itself. However, this is a secondary request.

Ask About a Matter
Edovo Foundation

Update Content Guidelines

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit providing a free digital learning platform to incarcerated individuals by updating their content guidelines and advising on their ability to reject objectionable content.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Edovo is a tech nonprofit that delivers a free digital learning platform to over 1 million incarcerated people each day. With educational, vocational, legal, and treatment/wellness resources they ensure that opportunity is available to all, not just the 18% that traditionally had access to programming inside.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Edovo seeks legal assistance to develop clear internal guidelines and external messaging regarding the acceptance and rejection of faith-based digital content submissions. They currently receive numerous content partnership requests from religious organizations, ranging from sermons to faith-based educational programs. While they continue to support a diversity of religious and non-religious content, they routinely encounter submissions that promote discriminatory views, including anti-LGBTQ and anti-women rhetoric, which violate their content policies and potentially state anti-discrimination laws.

They are looking for legal guidance to:

  • Refine or redraft their current Content guidelines;
  • Draft language that affirms their commitment to inclusivity and compliance with anti-discrimination standards;
  • Define their rights and discretion as a private nonprofit platform in moderating or declining objectionable content;
  • Reduce the risk of legal exposure or reputational harm in response to potential claims of religious discrimination or bias, particularly given their platform’s prominence in the carceral education space.

The ideal partner will help Edovo balance their content moderation principles with First Amendment considerations and applicable anti-discrimination laws, providing practical, legally sound documentation for internal and external use.

Ask About a Matter
,
Miller Center for Global Impact

Webinar on Navigating US Executive Actions

Summary:

Deliver a webinar on how social ventures and nonprofits can prepare for possible executive actions that may disrupt funding, international partnerships, and compliance for organizations working in climate, migration, or global justice.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Miller Center accelerates global, innovation-based entrepreneurship in service to humanity. Its strategic focus is on poverty eradication through its three areas of work: The Global Social Benefit Institute, Impact Capital, and Education and Action Research.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

We are seeking a volunteer to lead a webinar for social impact leaders on the potential legal and financial risks posed by anticipated U.S. executive actions. While none of the proposed measures are law yet, developments in U.S. policy circles indicate serious discussions around: (1) revoking tax-exempt status from organizations supporting or funding specified work; (2) banning cross-border donations; (3) labeling migrant aid groups as terror-affiliated; and (4) increasing IRS scrutiny on progressive or foreign-aligned donors. The webinar should help mission-driven organizations understand the legal implications and offer proactive steps to mitigate potential threats.

Ask About a Matter
, , , ,
8B Education Investments

CRA Credit Strategy Memo

Summary:

Draft a legal memo for a fintech serving globally mobile African students analyzing the viability of using CRA credits to support college towns through student lending programs.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: 8B is a social impact fintech enabling African brilliance to have a global impact. ​​They are the first company focused exclusively on providing end-to-end value to global Africans and envision a world where the frictions restricting African talent are eliminated and the continent’s immense well of imagination goes global.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

8B Education Investments, a social impact fintech focused on serving globally mobile African students through fair student loans, is seeking assistance exploring how Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credits can be utilized by financial institutions to support local college towns facing economic decline due to decreased student enrollment. The focus would be on enabling local lending to foreign students, with the proceeds going directly to colleges and universities with an aim to clarify that CRA credit should be based on the use of funds—supporting local institutions and economies—rather than the nationality of the borrower. They would greatly appreciate a memo that provides legal analysis, policy background, and strategic guidance that can be shared with CRA officers at banks to encourage adoption of this approach.

Ask About a Matter
, , ,
NaTakallam

Independent Contractor Classification Review for Refugee-Led Language Services

Summary:

Help a social enterprise that hires refugees to assess the legal appropriateness of classifying workers as independent contractors and provide guidance on restructuring if needed.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: New York, United States
About the Organization: NaTakallam (“We Speak” in Arabic) is an award-winning, social enterprise that offers high-quality, curated language services delivered by refugees and conflict-affected communities through the digital economy.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Quality Education
Legal Issue(s):

A New York-based social enterprise that hires refugees as independent contractors to teach languages and provide translation services is seeking legal guidance on worker classification. The organization is currently registered as an LLC and classifies all workers as independent contractors. They are seeking assistance in assessing whether this classification is legally appropriate under federal and New York state law. If it is not, they would appreciate strategic advice and guidance on how to shift their operations to ensure compliance, including potential reclassification, liability mitigation, and structural adjustments.

Ask About a Matter
,