DETROIT—Over the past 10 years, the University of Michigan Law School‘s Legal Assistance for Urban Communities Clinic (LAUC) has provided legal and technical assistance to more than 75 nonprofit community-based organizations working to rebuild neighborhoods in metropolitan Detroit and surrounding communities. By any standard of measure, the clinic is a resounding success.

This anniversary focuses on the productive partnership that has been forged over the years that brings together law students and nonprofit development client organizations. Together, they have accomplished the development of 600 affordable housing units: 500 new units and the rehabilitation of an additional 100 units.

Beginning with a concept in 1989—when a Law School faculty committee received a proposal for a “program” in community-based economic development, to the organization of an advisory committee comprised of experts from throughout the country, to the hiring of Rochelle Lento as executive director and a clinical assistant professor of the clinic—what began as a bold idea became a reality. According to Lento, the clinic has grown from an initial enrollment of eight students serving six clients to an annual enrollment of 25 students who provide assistance to some 30 nonprofit client organizations on a continuing basis.

“One only needs to drive through the city to understand that the challenges for neighborhood redevelopment are enormous,” Lento says.

The clinic staff has systematically set out to address those challenges and develop ways to navigate through the complex issues confronting nonprofit organizations that want to revitalize Detroit. Over its 10 year history, the LAUC has provided a broad range of legal services that include:

Basic corporate structuring. They have assisted more than 40 nonprofit organizations with the process of incorporation—from help with filing articles of incorporation to developing bylaws to filing for federal tax exemption or 501(c)(3) status.

Facilitating affordable housing development. The clinic has researched ownership and tax status, negotiated land purchases, performed title clearance and dealt with land use and zoning classification issues, secured financing commitments totaling $45 million, drafted and reviewed contracts, and facilitated sales and closings with the ultimate home-buyers. Brush Park Manor Paradise Valley senior citizens housing complex is a recent example of a successful collaboration.

Developing and publishing educational resources. Manuals LAUC has produced include: “Nuts & Bolts of Incorporating: A Guide for Non Lawyers,” “Guide to Financial Resources for Community Development Corporations,” “Personnel Policies Manual,” “Purchasing City-Owned Land Manual,” and “Roadmap to Detroit’s New Zoning Ordinance.”

Policy and advocacy initiatives. The clinic has developed state legislation to accelerate foreclosure processes for abandoned residential property, worked with Detroit officials to improve policies for disposition of city-owned land, and assisted the city with developing a new land pricing policy for city-owned land.

Besides providing much-needed legal service to Detroit-area nonprofits, the clinic has been a training ground for law students interested in economic and community development. Student participants and graduates of LAUC recognize the value of their learning experience while they have helped others.

“I enjoyed being able to provide expertise and support to people who were committed to improving Detroit and had very real legal needs that otherwise may have gone unfulfilled for lack of funding,” says Michael Tenbusch, LAUC graduate and current chief executive officer of Think Detroit. “My experience with the clinic gave me the tools and confidence necessary to launch a new nonprofit organization shortly after my graduation from law school.”

Funding for the clinic has come from a variety of sources over the years. The clinic’s first three years were supported by grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation through the U-M Presidential Initiatives Fund. In subsequent years, grants from HUD‘s Title IX Initiative, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Legal Services Corporation, and the Fannie Mae Foundation provided financial assistance. More recently, a generous contribution from U-M alumnus William Bogaard supports a two-year fellowship to provide an additional faculty member for the clinic.

A formal celebration for the clinic’s anniversary will be held on Aug. 9 at the Ebenezer AME Church at 5151 W. Chicago near Grand River. Saul Green, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, will provide the keynote address and guests for the event will include representatives from the community organizations, city departments, and funding organizations whose partnerships with the clinic have been so critical to the progress that has been made. A booklet highlighting the clinic’s history and major milestones will be available as a memento of their shared success. Funding for the celebration and the booklet has been provided by grants from Bank One, Standard Federal/Michigan National, Comerica, and National City Bank.

The Detroit office of the clinic is located at 8109 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit. For more information about the Legal Assistance for Urban Communities Clinic and the services that are available, contact Lento at (313) 822-9646.

Contact Nancy Marshall
 

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