Gender Equality

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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.

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Advocacy/Legislation (2) Consultation (9) Contracts (1) Corporate Formation (4) Corporate Governance (1) Employment/Labor (2) Finance/Fundraising (2) Intellectual Property (2) Nonprofit Formation (4) Nonprofit Governance (1) Real Estate (1) Research (2) Tax (5) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (4)

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The BOOM

Advise on Patentability of Technology

Summary:

Advise a nonprofit supporting disadvantaged teenagers on the patentability of its technology.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The BOOM is a nonprofit dedicated to growing engineering skills and economic opportunities for disadvantaged teenagers. In addition to teaching entrepreneurship, engineering, and economic skills, the organization invents technical solutions that enable marginalized communities to fabricate and market handmade electronic products.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Quality Education, Responsible Consumption and Production
Legal Issue(s):

BOOM engineers created a hardware component that makes it easier to assemble battery packs, which  lowers the barriers to product design and small-scale manufacturing. While it will be shared freely in the organization’s educational programming, the BOOM hopes to sell or license the component to raise funds for their educational activities. The technology was made public at the end of 2021, and a Lex Mundi member firm has already advised the BOOM on the basic requirements around obtaining a patent. Now, the BOOM team is seeking a consultation to determine whether their product is patentable. If possible, and subject to capacity, they would also appreciate assistance filing the patent itself. However, this is a secondary request.

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Living Goods

Review Employee Handbook

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit working to ensure women and children don’t die from easily treatable diseases by providing assistance reviewing and finalizing the organization’s employee handbook.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: MD; VA; GA; NY; CA; WA; D.C.
About the Organization: Living Goods is a global organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya that’s dedicated to ensuring women and children don’t die from easily preventable and treatable diseases by providing high quality, life-saving health care at their doorsteps.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Legal Issue(s):

Living Good is seeking assistance reviewing and finalizing their employee handbook.

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FreeFrom

Research on Legislation Involving Financial Security for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Summary:

Summer Associate Opportunity: Assist a non-profit that supports victims of gender-based violence by conducting research on legislation related to survivor financial security.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: All States Excluding: AK; NV; NC; WA; WI; IA; MO; NE
About the Organization: FreeFrom creates pathways to financial security and long-term safety for survivors of gender-based violence.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Summer Associate Opportunity: FreeFrom has compiled a National Survivor Financial Security Policy Map and Scorecard, an online tool that measures how well (and not so well) states have prioritized survivor financial security in their laws. They are now seeking assistance conducting research to find state-level legislation related to survivor financial security that has been introduced in the last two years.

They’d love to have the research completed by August 31, 2022 if possible. This could be a great project for summer associates! Attorneys can pick the jurisdictions they’d like to cover.

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FreeFrom

Research on Legislation/Policy Impacting Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Summary:

Summer Associate Opportunity: Assist a non-profit that supports victims of gender-based violence by conducting research on legislation impacting survivors.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: AK; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; HI; ME; MD; NH; NC; OR; VA; WV
About the Organization: FreeFrom creates pathways to financial security and long-term safety for survivors of gender-based violence.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Summer Associate Opportunity: Last year, FreeFrom launched their National Survivor Financial Security Policy Map and Scorecard, an online tool that measures how well (and not so well) states have prioritized survivor financial security in their laws.

Over this next year, they are working to make sure each state’s scorecard is up to date and plan to add more policy categories. This project will be two -fold 1) checking for any changes in the state’s respective laws based on the current policy categories and 2) conducting research for each state for each new policy category. There are approximately seven new policy categories, including without limitation, reproductive justice, support for immigrants and undocumented survivors, and alimony/maintenance exemption for survivors.

They’d love to have the research completed by August 31, 2022 if possible. This could be a great project for summer associates! FreeFrom needs assistance in 30 states. Attorneys can pick the jurisdictions they’d like to cover.

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