Leading and Counseling Nonprofit Organizations (LAW-795Z-001)
Carrie Garber Siegrist

Notices

Description

The nonprofit sector has grown in size, complexity, and importance in the United States in the last few decades. Lawyers serve a variety of roles within and for the sector including acting as outside general counsel, managers/directors, founders, and board members. This course is designed to prepare law students to work effectively in a variety of capacities with and for tax-exempt charitable organizations. The course follows the lifecycle of nonprofit organizations and utilizes skills-based exercises to complement the doctrinal curriculum of Law-852.

We will progress through the semester by addressing the issues a charitable organization encounters from incorporation under state law, applying for recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS, ensuring ongoing compliance with operational restrictions on political and commercial activities, and end our study on issues organizations face in wrapping-up operations. Each week, students practice legal drafting skills by working on, for example, articles of incorporation, bylaws, tax memoranda, joint venture term sheets, and corporate resolutions and agreements. Students submit a final memorandum designed to be converted to a writing sample. Students have the flexibility to hone their skills in specific areas through selection of assignments and a final memo topic.

Note: This course is taught as a companion to Professor Leff’s Law 852-001 Law of Nonprofit Organizations.

Textbooks and Other Materials

The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.

• Bruce R. Hopkins, Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization, 7th ed. (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2017). ISBN 978-1-119-38019-1
• Course Assignments & Materials: Distributed by the professor.

First Class Readings

Hopkins pp. 7-22

Syllabus

Use your MyAU username and password to access the syllabus in the following format(s):

• Adobe Acrobat (PDF)