LegalCORPS
LegalCORPS is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that provides free pro bono transactional business, intellectual property, and nonprofit legal services to Minnesota entrepreneurs, small businesses, independent inventors across five Midwest states, and small nonprofits through a 500+ volunteer attorney roster.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LegalCORPS does
LegalCORPS is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal aid organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota (1000 LaSalle Ave TMH 331). It was spun off from a 2002 Minnesota State Bar Association task force and operates as Minnesota's only statewide business law pro bono program and the first and longest-running patent pro bono program in the United States. The organization delivers free, non-litigation transactional legal services to four primary client segments: Minnesota entrepreneurs and small business owners at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, independent inventors across a five-state Midwest region (Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin) at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, small Minnesota nonprofits with annual revenue at or below $400,000, and entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities reached through culturally focused partner organizations.
The service portfolio comprises four core offerings — Brief Advice Clinics (free 30-minute consultations across general business, IP, nonprofit, and small business landlord housing law), Limited Scope Representation (pro bono attorney placement for qualifying matters, subject to a $50 non-refundable administrative placement fee), Educational Workshops (no-cost public sessions on business formation, IP, contracts, employment, and nonprofit governance), and the Inventor Assistance Program (pro bono patent attorneys for qualifying inventors, in collaboration with the USPTO). In July 2025, LegalCORPS launched the MN Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, extending a legal help desk, compliance clinics, resource library, and individual assessments to all Minnesota nonprofits (with intensive one-on-one counsel reserved for organizations whose cash budgets are under $1.5 million). The organization has no proprietary technology platform; delivery is mediated through its WordPress website, online intake forms, a Constant Contact newsletter, and standard social channels.
The business model is donation- and grant-driven: revenue consists of charitable contributions from individuals, law firms, and corporations (channeled via PayPal Giving Fund, check, and GiveMN.org), government contracts and grants (notably from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development), and a $50 administrative placement fee for Limited Scope Representation. Service delivery is performed by a roster of more than 500 volunteer attorneys from partner law firms including Ballard Spahr, DLA Piper, Faegre Drinker, Fredrikson & Byron, Dorsey & Whitney, Maslon, Lathrop GPM, Taft Stettinius & Hollister, Stoel Rives, Stinson, Winthrop & Weinstine, Fish Richardson, and Schwegman, supported by 9 full-time staff (Executive Director Nicole Deters, Pro Bono Programs Director, Strategic Engagement Director, Communications & Development Manager, Engagement & Marketing Specialist, one staff attorney, a paralegal, Pro Bono & Nonprofit Specialist, and Program Specialist) and corporate partners including 3M, Target, US Bank, and Allianz Life. Go-to-market is community-led: clients access services through a referral network of economic development centers, ethnic and immigrant community organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions rather than paid acquisition.
LegalCORPS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LegalCORPS
- Legal name
- LegalCORPS
- Website
- https://legalcorps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LegalCORPS is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that provides free pro bono transactional business, intellectual property, and nonprofit legal services to Minnesota entrepreneurs, small businesses, independent inventors across five Midwest states, and small nonprofits through a 500+ volunteer attorney roster.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LegalCORPS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pro Bono Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (54111), Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)
Keywords
Where LegalCORPS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LegalCORPS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: LegalCORPS is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization raises funds from individuals, law firms, corporations, and other donors. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made via PayPal Giving Fund, check, or GiveMN.org. The organization's financial supporters enable pro bono legal services to entrepreneurs, business owners, inventors, and nonprofits.
- Government Contracts and Grants: LegalCORPS receives funding through government partners including Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to provide Paid Leave educational workshops and limited scope representation programs. The organization also partners with government agencies for broader economic development initiatives.
- Program Fees (Minimal): A $50 non-refundable placement fee is charged to applicants for limited scope representation. This is an administrative fee only; attorneys volunteer their time at no cost to clients. Community partner programs (Twin Cities SBDC, Elevate Hennepin) have no placement fee. Brief advice clinics are completely free.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Brief Advice Clinics - Free |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Limited Scope Representation - Free (with $50 admin fee) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | MN Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative - Free for all nonprofits |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Inventor Assistance Program - Free (with $50 admin fee) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
LegalCORPS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LegalCORPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal aid organization that provides free pro bono transactional business law, intellectual property, and nonprofit legal services to income-eligible entrepreneurs, small business owners, independent inventors, and small nonprofit organizations. Service delivery takes four primary forms: brief advice clinics (30-minute consultations), limited scope representation (matched pro bono attorney representation for non-litigation matters), educational workshops, and the multi-state Inventor Assistance Program for patent applicants.
Product overview
LegalCORPS is Minnesota's only business law legal aid organization, offering a suite of pro bono legal services to entrepreneurs, business owners, inventors, and small nonprofits. The organization's core offerings include Brief Advice Clinics (free 30-minute legal consultations), Limited Scope Representation (pro bono legal representation for complex matters), Educational Workshops (free legal education on business topics), and the Inventor Assistance Program (patent pro bono services across five Midwestern states). In July 2025, LegalCORPS launched the MN Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, expanding services to all Minnesota nonprofits through a legal help desk, resource library, compliance support, and one-on-one counsel for qualifying organizations. Services focus exclusively on transactional and non-litigation business law matters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brief Advice Clinics Free 30-minute confidential consultations providing transactional business law guidance to entrepreneurs, small business owners, inventors, nonprofits, and small landlords across four practice areas: general business law, intellectual property law, nonprofit law, and small business landlord housing law. Delivered both virtually and in-person on a regularly scheduled basis with no income eligibility requirement for the clinic session itself.
- Limited Scope Representation Pro bono attorney representation for clients with non-litigation transactional business, nonprofit, or patent matters more complex than a brief advice clinic can address. Volunteers are recruited from the LegalCORPS roster and matched to qualifying clients; attorney-client relationship matches fee-based representation standards. A non-refundable $50 administrative placement fee applies, except in partner programs (Twin Cities SBDC, Elevate Hennepin) where the fee is waived.
- Educational Workshops Free educational legal workshops covering business formation, contracts, intellectual property law basics, nonprofit governance, employment law, patent basics, contracts and commercial leases, risk management, and choice of entity. Both standard and partner-customized workshops are offered in-person and virtually to the general public.
- Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) Pro bono patent assistance program matching income-eligible independent inventors with volunteer patent attorneys for U.S. patent applications. Serves inventors in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Includes brief advice IP clinics, patent search workshops at Patent and Trademark Resource Centers, and attorney support through the patent application process. Inventors must have household income at or below 400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines and complete USPTO certificate training; a $50 placement fee applies and USPTO filing fees remain the inventor's responsibility.
- MN Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative Partnership-enabled service launched in July 2025 with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, providing free legal services to all Minnesota nonprofits. Includes a legal help desk, a resource library, compliance clinics, and step-by-step compliance assessment guidance. Nonprofit organizations with cash budgets under $1.5 million additionally receive individual legal needs assessments and compliance audits. Addresses heightened legal pressure on nonprofits from federal and state policy changes.
- Entrepreneurs in Our Communities Program Outreach-focused initiative making pro bono non-litigation business law services accessible to entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities throughout Minnesota. Delivered through partnerships with locally focused community organizations (African Development Center, AEDS, CLUES, LEDC, ILCM, and others). Includes free legal advice and educational opportunities tailored to cultural and linguistic accessibility.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 500 volunteer attorneys serving thousands of clients annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LegalCORPS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LegalCORPS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
LegalCORPS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Minnesota Council of NonprofitscoreLegalCORPS partnered with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) in July 2025 to launch the MN Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative, providing all Minnesota nonprofits with free legal services including a help desk, compliance clinics, resource library, and compliance assessment tools. Nonprofits with cash budgets under $1.5M also receive individual legal needs assessments and compliance audits. This is a flagship initiative addressing heightened legal pressures on nonprofits from state and federal policy changes.
- Ballard Spahr LLPcoreBallard Spahr LLP is a law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal representation of qualifying clients. The firm also supports LegalCORPS in responding to increased demand for nonprofit compliance assistance amid federal scrutiny.
- DLA PipercoreDLA Piper is a law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal services. DLA Piper has indicated willingness to help nonprofits navigating executive orders and federal legal challenges.
- Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath LLPcoreFaegre Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP is a law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys for pro bono representation. Hosted the 2026 Volunteer & Client Appreciation Event. Actively supports LegalCORPS programs for entrepreneurs and nonprofits.
- Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.coreFredrikson & Byron, P.A. is a prominent law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS pro bono services. Featured LegalCORPS in their annual Pro Bono Report. Board President Charles Bennett is a Fredrikson attorney.
- Dorsey & Whitney LLPcoreDorsey & Whitney LLP is a law firm partner with volunteer attorneys supporting LegalCORPS. Emeritus board member Joseph Genereux and attorney Greta Mattison Megna are associated with Dorsey.
- Maslon LLPcoreMaslon LLP provides volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS. Attorney Martin R. Rosenbaum serves on the Emeritus Board. Volunteer attorney Ashley Olson delivers business formation workshops.
- Lathrop GPM LLPcoreLathrop GPM LLP provides volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS pro bono services. Attorneys William D. Klein and Laurie Huotari are associated with the firm through board membership.
- Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLPcoreTaft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is a law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS pro bono legal services to entrepreneurs, inventors, and nonprofits.
- Stoel Rives LLPcoreStoel Rives LLP provides volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS pro bono legal services.
- Stinson LLPcoreStinson LLP is a law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS services.
- Winthrop & WeinstinecoreWinthrop & Weinstine is a law firm partner providing volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS pro bono services. Attorney Katie Johnson serves on the Board of Directors.
- Fish RichardsoncoreFish Richardson provides volunteer attorneys for LegalCORPS patent-related and IP pro bono legal services, supporting the Inventor Assistance Program.
- SchwegmancoreSchwegman provides volunteer patent attorneys supporting LegalCORPS's Inventor Assistance Program for pro bono patent assistance.
- 3M Companycore3M Company is a corporate partner supporting LegalCORPS, with Ann Gallagher serving on the Board of Directors. Provides financial and volunteer attorney support for pro bono legal programs.
- Target CorporationcoreTarget Corporation is a corporate partner providing support for LegalCORPS pro bono legal services for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- US BankcoreUS Bank is a corporate partner supporting LegalCORPS, with Kathy Kirschbaum serving on the Board of Directors.
- Allianz LifeminorAllianz Life is a corporate partner supporting LegalCORPS.
- Entrepreneur FundcoreEntrepreneur Fund is an economic development center that refers entrepreneurs and small business owners to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal services. Serves the entrepreneurial community across LegalCORPS's service area.
- Impact Hub MinneapoliscoreImpact Hub Minneapolis is an economic development partner that refers entrepreneurs and small businesses to LegalCORPS services.
- Initiative FoundationcoreInitiative Foundation is an economic development partner providing referrals to LegalCORPS for entrepreneurs in central Minnesota.
- SCORE (Twin Cities)coreSCORE is a volunteer business mentorship organization that refers small business owners to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal assistance.
- African Development Center of MinnesotacoreAfrican Development Center of Minnesota refers African immigrant entrepreneurs and business owners to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal services.
- African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS)coreAfrican Economic Development Solutions refers entrepreneurs to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal assistance.
- Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)coreLatino Economic Development Center refers Latino entrepreneurs and business owners to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal services.
- CLUES (Comunidades Latinas United in Service)coreCLUES refers Latino community members and entrepreneurs to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal assistance.
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM)coreILCM partners with LegalCORPS to provide legal support to immigrant communities and refers clients needing business law assistance to LegalCORPS.
- Compass Pro BonocoreCompass Pro Bono refers nonprofit clients to LegalCORPS for free legal services and collaborates on volunteer attorney matching.
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)coreDEED partners with LegalCORPS to provide Paid Leave educational workshops and 1:1 Limited Scope Representation through DEED funding. Lyle Wright of DEED serves on the Board of Directors.
- Elevate HennepincoreElevate Hennepin refers Hennepin County residents and businesses to LegalCORPS for pro bono legal services. Qualifying clients access services with no placement fee and no income requirement.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)coreUSPTO worked with LegalCORPS to establish the Inventor Assistance Program (IAP), the first and longest-running patent pro bono program in the United States. USPTO provides guidance and encouragement for the program and LegalCORPS assists underrepresented entrepreneurs in accessing patent protection.
- Hennepin County LibrarycoreHennepin County Library serves as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center providing free monthly patent search workshops for inventors referred through LegalCORPS's Inventor Assistance Program.
- Minneapolis Public LibrarycoreMinneapolis Public Library serves as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center providing free quarterly patent search workshops and hosts IP Brief Advice Clinics for LegalCORPS clients.
- University of Minnesota Law SchoolminorUniversity of Minnesota Law School partners with LegalCORPS, with Mark Narayan serving on the Board of Directors.
- University of St. ThomascoreUniversity of St. Thomas hosts the Twin Cities Small Business Development Center and partners with LegalCORPS for referral of entrepreneurs to LegalCORPS services.
- IgniteMNminorIgniteMN economic development organization partners with LegalCORPS for referrals of entrepreneurs to pro bono legal services.
- SWIFoundationminorSWIFoundation economic development organization refers entrepreneurs to LegalCORPS for legal assistance.
- Minnesota Justice FoundationcoreMinnesota Justice Foundation works with LegalCORPS to arrange law students to assist volunteer attorneys in their pro bono work for LegalCORPS clients.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LegalCORPS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pro Bono Partnership: Pro Bono Partnership matches volunteer attorneys from major law firms with nonprofits in the New York metro area. It is a directly comparable model to LegalCORPS — free, transactional (non-litigation) legal services delivered via recruited pro bono counsel, focused on organizations that cannot afford fee-based counsel.
- Lawyers Alliance for New York: Lawyers Alliance provides business and transactional legal services to nonprofits in New York, connecting them with pro bono attorneys from leading law firms. It is closely comparable to LegalCORPS in nonprofit legal aid focus and pro bono delivery model, and is one of the most-cited peer organizations in the business-law pro bono space.
- Patent Pro Bono Programs (USPTO-affiliated network): The USPTO Patent Pro Bono umbrella includes regional programs across the country that mirror LegalCORPS's Inventor Assistance Program. They are directly comparable on the IP/patent pro bono side, offering free patent attorney help to income-eligible inventors, though LegalCORPS runs the longest-running one in the network.
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts: Lawyers for the Creative Arts provides pro bono legal services to artists and creative small businesses, with a particular focus on IP and business law. While its constituency skews artistic, its clinic and pro bono match structure closely tracks LegalCORPS's Brief Advice Clinic and Limited Scope Representation.
- DC Bar Pro Bono Center: The DC Bar Pro Bono Center operates one of the country's largest organized pro bono programs, including clinics and direct-representation projects serving nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals in DC. It overlaps with LegalCORPS in clinic-based business and nonprofit legal service delivery via volunteer attorneys.
Others
- SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): SCORE is a national network of volunteer business mentors that refers small business clients to LegalCORPS for legal needs. It is an adjacent ecosystem partner, serving the same entrepreneur/SMB market via non-legal mentorship but formally channeling clients into LegalCORPS services.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network: SBDCs (including the Twin Cities SBDC hosted at University of St. Thomas) provide free business advising to entrepreneurs and refer clients needing transactional legal help to LegalCORPS. They are ecosystem partners rather than competitors, jointly serving the same target market.
Broad incumbents
- Pro Bono Institute: The Pro Bono Institute is a national thought-leadership organization that recognized LegalCORPS for its model program. It is a broader-incumbent peer in the pro bono infrastructure space, defining best practices and convening law firm pro bono programs comparable in spirit to LegalCORPS.
- American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono: The ABA Center for Pro Bono is the national convener and thought leader for law firm pro bono, supporting local programs that include business-law pro bono. It is a broad incumbent that sets standards and channels resources to programs with operating models like LegalCORPS.
Regional players
- Volunteer Lawyers Network: Volunteer Lawyers Network is a Minnesota-based nonprofit that mobilizes volunteer attorneys to deliver pro bono civil legal services, primarily for low-income individuals rather than businesses. It is a regional peer with overlap on volunteer-attorney delivery infrastructure and Minnesota service area.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LegalCORPS social profiles
Digital presenceLegalCORPS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LegalCORPS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
LegalCORPS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LegalCORPS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LegalCORPS
What does LegalCORPS do?
LegalCORPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal aid organization that provides free pro bono transactional business law, intellectual property, and nonprofit legal services to income-eligible entrepreneurs, small business owners, independent inventors, and small nonprofit organizations. Service delivery takes four primary forms: brief advice clinics (30-minute consultations), limited scope representation (matched pro bono attorney representation for non-litigation matters), educational workshops, and the multi-state Inventor Assistance Program for patent applicants.
Is LegalCORPS a public or private company?
LegalCORPS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LegalCORPS founded?
LegalCORPS was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LegalCORPS based?
LegalCORPS is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does LegalCORPS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Contracts and Grants and program Fees (Minimal).
Who are LegalCORPS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pro Bono Partnership, Lawyers Alliance for New York, Patent Pro Bono Programs (USPTO-affiliated network), Lawyers for the Creative Arts and DC Bar Pro Bono Center. Others are SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network. Broad incumbents are Pro Bono Institute and American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono. Volunteer Lawyers Network is listed as a regional player.
Does LegalCORPS have an API?
No public API is recorded for LegalCORPS.
What industry is LegalCORPS in?
LegalCORPS's product category is Pro Bono Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAM, Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services. Its NAICS code is 54111 and its SIC code is 8111.