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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 (10) Corporate Formation (1) Data Privacy (1) Employment/Labor (3) Finance/Fundraising (1) Intellectual Property (5) Nonprofit Formation (2) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (4) Research (3) Risk Management (3) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (11) Webinars/Trainings (1)

Digest |  View All

Off-The-Grid Missions

Trademark for Humanitarian Org Supporting the Deaf Community Globally

Summary:

A global humanitarian aid organization that provides disaster response services tailored for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals is seeking legal support to safeguard its brand to protect its mission and materials from potential misuse or misrepresentation.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S. Federal
About the Organization: Off-The-Grid Missions (OTG) is a global humanitarian aid organization filling the gap in disaster-response by providing Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people with critical life-saving resources in high-risk and disaster-stricken regions around the world.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

A global humanitarian aid organization that provides disaster response services tailored for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals is seeking legal support to safeguard its brand. The organization would first appreciate a consultation to develop a strategy for protecting its intellectual property, including its name, tagline, logo, and mission-related materials. This includes understanding what types of IP protection are available and advisable. If possible, the organization would also welcome assistance with executing the trademark registration process in the U.S. for its name, tagline, and logo.

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Institute for Sustained Attention

Board Governance and Diversification Strategy

Summary:

Support a nonprofit with a governance audit and recommendations to grow and diversify its board.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: United States
About the Organization: The Institute for Sustained Attention is a New York City based non-profit that aims to “draw attention to attention” and support the creative and critical engagement with human attentional practices – focusing in particular on the new challenges presented by changing media systems and pushing back against the commodification of human attention by coercive digital technologies.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A nonprofit operating as a small independent school offering workshops, seminars, and cultural events to challenge the attention economy, is seeking legal consultation to strengthen its board governance. The organization is focused on growing and diversifying its board and would appreciate assistance with reviewing current board terms, bylaws, and governance practices. They are particularly interested in a review of existing board structures to ensure alignment with best practices and organizational values.

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Institute for Sustained Attention

Staff Classification Consultation

Summary:

Help a small NY based nonprofit clarify appropriate classification of staff as employees or contractors.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: New York, United States
About the Organization: The Institute for Sustained Attention is a New York City based non-profit that aims to “draw attention to attention” and support the creative and critical engagement with human attentional practices – focusing in particular on the new challenges presented by changing media systems and pushing back against the commodification of human attention by coercive digital technologies.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A NY based nonprofit operating as a small independent school offering workshops, seminars, and cultural events to challenge the attention economy, is seeking legal support and guidance around contractor engagement, including the legal distinctions between employees and independent contractors, to ensure compliance and best practices.

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Realign Education

Formation and Strategy for Hybrid Ed Org

Summary:

Provide advice on the structure of a hybrid-entity education initiative focused on transforming the U.S. education system by reshaping college admissions.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Realign Education aims to galvanize a movement in partnership with the K-16 ecosystem to challenge the dominant model of K-12 education in the United States, which has long failed to meet the evolving needs and aspirations of our children and nation.Their current focus is on reshaping the college admissions process, recognizing its outsized influence on K-12 education.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
  • Visit Realign Education
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

A new national initiative, Realign Education, is seeking legal consultation around forming two entities: a not-for-profit (Realign Education) and a for-profit (Realign Education AI). The initiative is designed to challenge the current K–12 education model by leveraging the influence of college admissions to drive systemic realignment in the education system. The organization would appreciate advice on the appropriate formation and structure of the nonprofit and for-profit entities, ensuring clarity on ownership interests for collaborators. They would also appreciate assistance ensuring the chosen name of the new organization is available for use, but this is a secondary request.

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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.

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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.

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Mission Local SF

Content Aggregation and Copyright Concerns

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit newsroom with evaluating legal options to address ongoing unauthorized use of their original reporting by a for-profit aggregator, including potential copyright claims or alternative recourse.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Since 2008, Mission Local, an independent news site based in the Mission District, has been 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):

Mission Local SF, a nonprofit newsroom in San Francisco is seeking legal advice regarding a for-profit news aggregator that routinely copies and republishes substantial portions of their original reporting without appropriate credit or compensation. While the aggregator occasionally includes attribution, the practice involves extensive use of quotes, summaries, and reporting that far exceeds journalistic norms. The organization acknowledges the potential legal complexity of pursuing a claim but would appreciate guidance on whether there is any legal recourse under copyright or other applicable laws, as well as recommendations for protecting their content moving forward.

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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.

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