The Business and Tax Clinic

Clinic StudentClient Eligibility

Clients of the Business and Tax Clinic include individuals and organizations that have multiple legal and non-legal needs. As a general rule, all prospective clients must meet certain income guidelines in order to qualify.

Prospective clients that do not fit within the Clinic's general income requirements will not automatically be considered ineligible for representation. Individuals with lower to mid-level incomes are generally eligible for representation as long as the issue for which they are seeking Clinic representation fit within the Clinic's guidelines.

Generally, the Business and Tax Clinic will decline representation to:

  • Most cases requiring services outside of Bernalillo County and particularly outside the State of New Mexico.
  • Cases appearing to require lengthy or complex service obligations or litigation.
  • Cases requiring expertise not available in the Business and Tax Clinic.
  • Cases in which the client has access to legal services from other law offices.
  • Cases that are inappropriate for law student representation.
  • Clients and/or cases that create a conflict of interest that cannot be resolved.

Client Approval Process

Prospective clients must go through the following process to be eligible for representation by the Clinic.

Intake Interview

After payment of a $10.00 fee prospective clients sit down with a clinical law student to determine:

  • The nature of the prospective client's legal problem(s)
  • The financial eligibility of the prospective client
  • The potential ways in which the Clinic could help the prospective client

Faculty Evaluation

After the intake process is complete the prospective client's matter will be presented to the clinic faculty for evaluation. The Clinic faculty will consider the educational value for students, the Clinic's ability to handle the case competently, the existing case load and the prospective client's financial need.

Accepted Cases

If the Clinic accepts a case, it will ask the client:

  • To sign and return a letter of agreement outlining the terms and scope of the Clinic's representation
  • To pay the Clinic's acceptance fee of $50 by a specified date, unless a fee waiver is granted
  • Clients are responsible for all expenses related to the case such as filing fees and court costs

Declined Cases

If the clinic declines representation, the clinic will notify the prospective client and attempt to refer the individual to a lawyer, accountant or other person capable of resolving the individual's issue.