Students provide free legal services to rural small businesses during fall break

 Nine small business owners in rural western North Carolina received critical legal support last week thanks to 10 Carolina Law students who spent their fall break providing pro bono services in Sylva, N.C. The Oct. 16-17 trip connected local entrepreneurs with legal expertise they might not otherwise access, from business formation guidance to contract reviews. 

The initiative brought together first-, second-, and third-year students at Southwestern Community College through a collaboration between UNC School of Law’s pro bono program, the Institute for Innovation, and NC Growth at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. 

The trip began with intensive training designed to prepare students for real client interactions. Jason Crusenberry, program manager with NC Growth, opened the Oct. 16 session by painting a picture of western North Carolina as “a region of resilience and opportunity.” He described how the area’s historical roots in manufacturing, agriculture, and crafts have created a strong small business culture ready for growth and partnership. 

Professor Marjorie White followed with practical guidance on the legal considerations of starting a business, while Southwestern Community College President Dr. Don Tomas helped students understand the regional context they would be working in. 

The afternoon brought together a team of Carolina Law alumni from Wyrick Robbins to share their expertise. Jennifer Hall ’09, who had done extensive prep work to organize the clinic, joined attorneys Claudia Perez ’23 and Catherine A. Phillips ’13 to prepare students for the next day’s clinic. Perez’s participation carried special significance: she had served as a practitioner in the Institute’s Intellectual Property Clinic during law school and was now training the next generation of student attorneys. 

When Oct. 17 arrived, the students were ready. During the four-hour clinic, they tackled everything from business formation to employment law issues under attorney supervision. Each client left with something tangible: a personalized advice letter summarizing the legal guidance they received. Several businesses also walked away with detailed contract reviews. 

Gabby Griffonetti, a 2L who coordinated the trip, worked alongside a classmate and a Wyrick Robbins attorney to help a client launch their small business. The experience allowed her to apply classroom lessons while deepening her understanding of contracts, business associations, employment law, and intellectual property. 

“It was so meaningful to work directly with a client and see how legal support can help someone achieve their goals,” Griffonetti said. “This is exactly why I came to law school.” 

Casey Buttke, a 3L heading to K&L Gates after graduation, found herself advising a business owner who had been struggling with difficult client interactions. The owner came seeking guidance on how to protect herself and her business. 

“She was so grateful for the help and the opportunity to talk through what she’s been encountering,” Buttke explained. “We developed a deeper understanding of what it means to counsel a client through a difficult time.” 

Pro bono work has become central to Buttke’s Carolina Law experience. She praised the program’s thorough preparation and training, which ensured positive client interactions throughout the clinic, and strongly recommends the trips to fellow students. 

Between the intensive legal work, students found time to explore the mountain community through optional hiking excursions, building relationships while getting to know the region they served. 

The Sylva, N.C., trip builds on last year’s successful initiative in Wilmington, N.C., and represents Carolina Law’s ongoing commitment to serving underrepresented communities across North Carolina. Through these programs, students gain invaluable hands-on experience while bringing essential legal services to communities that need them most.