FAQs
List of Services
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Where is the Incubator?
The answer depends! For some, the incubator is virtual because the attorney will participte remotely. For others, the incubator provides co-working space at Provident 1898 (NC Mutual Building). This location is a 15-minute walk to the Courthouse, a 5-minute walk to Five Points (places to eat) and is immediately adjacent to the main downtown bus station.
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Who is the Incubator for?
It's for: (1) recent law school graduates (must be licensed to practice with malpractice insurance) and (2) for experienced attorneys who are looking to move out of "Big Law." Participating attorneys must have a desire to improve access to justice by serving modest-means clients who don't qualify for legal aid and also can't affored traditional big law hourly rates.
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Is the Incubator for me?
Maybe. Being in the incubator means you want to start your own legal practice (solo or small firm). Take this assessment (click here) to see if starting your own practice may be right for you. If so, the incubator can help you do that.
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When does each cohort start?
A new cohort launches each fall. However, depending on the circumstances and at the discretion of the executive director, individual attorneys have joined the incubator at other times.
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What does Incubator provide?
1. A community of like-minded entrepreneurial attorneys who support and encourage each other. You will not be alone.
2. Discounted co-working space in Provident 1898. 24/7 access. Nearby parking. Client meeting space. Printer, scanner, lockable cabinet/lockers for private storage. (May not apply to all participants.)
3. Training opportunities each month: business formation, marketing, client intake, technology, best business practices, client management, ethics, document management, unbundled services/limited scope, pricing/billing, and more.
4. Access to free and discounted legal-tech tools and training. Three specific examples are free access to PLI.edu (CLE training!), Lexis+ (extensive legal research material!), and Clio practice management software.
5. Opportunities to collaborate and network.
6. Possible Pitch Competition - winner(s) may receive financial prize(s) to fund operations.
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What is expected of participating attorneys?
1. Be a licensed attorney in good standing (pass the bar)
2. Have malpractice insurance.
3. Form your own independent practice (e.g., PLLC).
4. Be committed to offering affordable legal services for modest-means clients. Your practice may—and probably should—serve clients other than those of modest means. However, if all your clients are high-income clients then you have philosophically migrated away from the mission of the Incubator which is to address the access to justice problem.
5. Have a willingness to innovate and experiment with limited scope services, technology, and business practices in ways that may be non-traditional. Be willing to devote some portion of time to pro bono services.
6. Committed to the month program that includes:
a. Attend and participate in training
b. Pay membership fees. Monthly fees will be set and published with each cohort. Fees may vary between cohorts.
c. Sign the "participation agreement." Click here for participation agreement.
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Is there an application process? If so, what is it?
Attorneys wanting to join an Incubator cohort must apply and be accepted. See Apply page for details. The application process helps ensure there is a good match between the goals of the attorney and the mission of the Incubator.