When one of our communities hurts, we all hurt. During 2020, the passing of family, neighbors, and friends at a disproportionate rate due to COVID-19, and the senseless deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Andre Hill rocked the Black community. Then, in the first week of 2021, the Black community witnessed the disparate treatment by law enforcement during the assault on the Capitol by mostly white rioters compared to the treatment when people assembled in support of BlackLivesMatter. Right now, the Black community is hurting.
Throughout this time, we have witnessed protests erupt globally against police brutality, systemic racism, and general civil rights. We have read countless statements denouncing the actions of the police officers and supporting Black lives. While Jackson Kelly joins clients and communities in denouncing racism and violence, we realize that statements without a plan of action are just that . . . statements.
At Jackson Kelly, we are uniquely positioned to assist businesses with legal guidance. We believe that the lifeblood of our communities is the small businesses that provide services and employ neighbors. To show our commitment to the places we live and work, we will offer pro bono consultations and services to Black businesses impacted by COVID-19, the recent protests, or racial discrimination. We want to help the businesses in our communities survive and thrive during these uncertain times. We have decades of experience guiding clients through the ups and downs of business, and we want to share that experience with you. Please email jkprobono@jacksonkelly.com or fill out this intake form (please download and open in Adobe Acrobat) so that we can get started. If you have difficulty with the form, please feel free to just email jkprobono@jacksonkelly.com and someone will be in touch.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides potentially forgivable loans to small businesses to help them keep their workers on the payroll and pay certain essential business expenses for a limited period of time. On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the Act). The Act creates a March 31, 2021 deadline for submitting a PPP loan application. Certain small businesses that previously obtained a PPP loan may be eligible to obtain a second PPP loan. The Small Business Administration is in the process of writing the rules for the new program. Frequently asked questions are available here.
We will consult with interested Black businesses and help gather the necessary material, choose the appropriate lender, and prepare and submit the application. We will assist in maximizing the eligibility for loan proceeds and optimize forgiveness. Complete the intake form to start this process or email jkprobono@jacksonkelly.com for assistance.
Jackson Kelly wants to do our part to continue to work internally and externally to examine our words and actions, to challenge ourselves to do our part to keep our communities safe from illness, to seek economic recovery, to combat racism, and to advance the change we know is necessary.
Additional Pro Bono Initiatives
Legal services are expensive – sometimes prohibitively so. Because these costs are often a daunting barrier to many individuals and organizations in need of legal help, the Firm is committed to providing legal services free of charge to those in the communities where our professionals live and work. At Jackson Kelly, we understand that we have the special ability to give back to our communities through legal service.
Jackson Kelly attorneys across all offices have provided hundreds of hours of pro bono service to many individuals and organizations. In West Virginia, Jackson Kelly attorneys often participate in Tuesday Legal Connect, a program operated by the West Virginia State Bar out of the offices of West Virginia Legal Aid. Once a week, attorneys volunteer to take calls from the public, during which they offer suggestions, guidance, and assist callers in assessing their legal questions.
Attorneys at Jackson Kelly are encouraged to participate in pro bono matters of all types, and the Firm encourages attorneys to take on pro bono cases about which they are passionate.
