New director brings unique expertise to Akron Law SEED Clinic
Julie Cortes is the new director of Small Entrepreneur and Economic Development (SEED) Clinic at Akron Law. Photo: Scott Horstman
As a supervising attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Julie Cortes focused her practice on the representation of and advocacy for low-wage workers and the reentry community. As more of her clients abandoned the idea of pursuing traditional employment due to the insurmountable barriers, she saw the opportunity to promote entrepreneurship and small business ownership as an alternative pathway out of poverty.
Cortes now brings the unique expertise she gained in making that opportunity a reality to The University of Akron School of Law as the new assistant clinical professor and director of the Small Entrepreneur and Economic Development (SEED) Clinic. She succeeds Gary Spring, who retired after 12 years as director. Interim Director Doug Moseley continues with the clinic as visiting professor of clinical law.
Cortes received her Bachelor of Arts from Cleveland State University and her Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She lives in Shaker Heights with her husband (also a lawyer) and their school-age son and daughter.
The SEED Clinic provides second- and third-year law students with frontline transactional business experience. Supervised by staff attorneys, students work directly with small and emerging businesses and nonprofits. They undertake the formation of corporations, draft contracts and other basic legal documents, and provide advice and counsel on issues and matters commonly faced by entrepreneurs and emerging businesses.
Fellowship to the rescue
The creation of a resource for low-income entrepreneurs at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland did not happen overnight.
“Economic development really wasn’t in Legal Aid’s wheelhouse,” Cortes said. “There was an attorney on staff who did some economic development work with immigrants, but that was 30 or 40 years ago.”
She was looking for a leadership training program to help her get started when she “serendipitously” came across an ad on the Cleveland Leadership Center website with the headline: Have a big idea to end poverty?
“At the time I felt I did, so I pursued the opportunity,” she said.
In late 2017, she was selected as one of five fellows in the inaugural cohort of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland’s Innovation Mission. This initiative—Fighting Poverty with Big Ideas—enabled the five to spend 18 months participating in professional development workshops, independent research, community collaboration and innovation coaching to grow their idea into a functional program to disrupt the cycle of poverty.
“Having the desire, drive and perseverance to be an entrepreneur and build a business is not unique to individuals from certain socio-economic backgrounds,” she said. “Entrepreneurship exists everywhere, even in marginalized and historically disadvantaged communities. The challenge is ensuring equitable access to resources, including free or affordable legal services”
Legal Aid's Legal Center for Low-Income Entrepreneurs launched in November 2019.
“First, I had to build out partnerships and relationships,” she said. “Initially Legal Aid partnered with community organizations within the Northeast Ohio entrepreneurship and small business ecosystem for direct client referrals. As the program expanded, Legal Aid opened its general intake and now any business in Legal Aid’s service area may request free legal services.”
Following the successful launch of Legal Aid’s center, Cortes jumped at the opportunity to transition to the Small Entrepreneur and Economic Development (SEED) Clinic at the School of Law.
“I was at Legal Aid for 15 years. It's a wonderful organization and its impact ripples throughout Northeast Ohio, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to lead the SEED Clinic and to teach law students the practical skills they need to be successful and thriving attorneys. Academic settings have always been sort of a home for me. Whenever I’ve faced uncertainty about my career or professional path, I go back to school. It seems appropriate that this time I’m returning to share my knowledge, passion, and expertise with Akron Law students.”
Cortes’ unique mix of experience, passion, and love for Northeast Ohio will certainly inform her leadership and shape the SEED Clinic’s future direction.
“The SEED Clinic plays a unique role in meeting the needs of entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio,” Cortes remarked. “Very few entrepreneurs and emerging businesses have the capital or financial resources to access legal services for even the most basic needs. By providing free legal services to entrepreneurs and small business owners the SEED Clinic helps close this access to justice gap.”