What is the Legal Support Service Program?

In 2021, XXcelerate and Rational Unicorn Legal Services established the Legal Support Services Program to serve vulnerable women- and BIPOC- owned businesses with legal guidance and support. The pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on women and communities of color. It accelerated barriers and heightened already precarious access to legal services, especially in the retail and hospitality sectors in Oregon. This program attempts to remedy the hardships vulnerable entrepreneurs face so they can survive and thrive as an important and critical part of Oregon’s economic landscape.

Rational Unicorn Legal Services, via XXcelerate’s One-on-One Coaching Program, offers targeted guidance for a range of legal issues common to growing small businesses, including but not limited to: Entity formation, Trademarking, Copyrighting and other Intellectual Property, Business Contract Review, Revising and Drafting Partnership and Equity Agreements, Lease Negotiation and Contract Review.

HOW DO I ACCESS THESE SERVICES?

Are you a women-owned or person of color-owned business? Do you need advice, some time with a lawyer to understand your legal situation? Perhaps some help paying for critical business legal costs that could help your business grow but your resources are limited? This program offers two options for support:

Free one-on-one guidance to discuss and/or tackle an issue that you are facing important to the survival of your business

Access trusted and targeted guidance for a range of business legal issues common to growing small businesses who are vulnerable and experience barriers to accessing legal support. The range of legal issues this program targets are: Entity formation, Trademarking, Copyrighting and other Intellectual Property, Business Contract Review, Revising and Drafting Partnership and Equity Agreements, Lease Negotiation and Contract Review.

To request services as a business owner, please use the button below and fill out our request form. Please be as specific and direct as possible. What is your legal problem and what questions do you have for a lawyer? Someone from our team will be in touch within 7 business days of your request.

REQUEST FOR SUPPORT

HOW CAN I GIVE TO SUPPORT THESE SERVICES FOR FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY?

Community support is vital to the success of this program. Our ‘Communities Dream Together’ approach rallies our state’s collective resources to help those that may not have access to certain resources that help make their dreams come true. For those of us with more - how can we give back in a direct and powerful way? $100 pays for one business to access a trusted and culturally competent legal team for 45 minutes. Access that might have been unattainable previously. We are calling on the community to support this resource with donations and business fundraisers. All contributions are eligible as tax deductible and 100% of proceeds go directly to delivering legal support to the business owner. We have opportunities to get involved across the spectrum of giving. Some ways that you can contribute are:‍‍

Share with your network and among those that may have an interest in partnering with this effort.
Donate any size amount to XXcelerate. XXcelerate’s 501(c)(3) status allows for contributions to be eligible for tax deductions.
Consider hosting a fundraising event where a percentage of sales on a certain day or weekend go to XXcelerate specifically to fund this program. We will help you promote this event.

If you are a community partner, business, association or philanthropic entity that would like to contribute in any way, please reach out to us at hello@xxceleratefund.com. We have opportunities to get involved across the spectrum of giving. You may also visit our donation page. We urge you to support access to quality, inclusive legal guidance and support for our small business communities across Oregon.

DONATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES

WHO IS RATIONAL UNICORN?

Rational Unicorn Legal Services PC practices community business law for everyone in the community. As a certified Oregon Benefit Company, they offer attainable, collaborative, inclusive, and connected legal services. Their down-to-earth attorneys specialize in authentic, magical support for small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and artists and entertainers. XXcelerate built an exclusive legal partnership with Rational Unicorn as they are a rare gender and culturally competent legal service provider who places community and our collective interests as business owners at the heart of their practice. They are certainly unicorns in our eyes!

Small Business Legal Support Services for Women and People of Color in Oregon

What is the Legal Support Service Program?

HOW DO I ACCESS THESE SERVICES?

HOW CAN I GIVE TO SUPPORT THESE SERVICES FOR FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY?

WHO IS RATIONAL UNICORN?

XXcelerate Fund