Carolina Lawyers for the Arts & Entertainment (CLÆ) provides access to pro bono low-cost or no-cost legal services or referrals for help with business issues, contracts, copyrights, trademarks, patents, arbitration, mediation, and other areas. The nonprofit corporation was formed on February 22, 2023 with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a charitable organization effective then. The organization is not yet accepting matters for representation, but gearing up for a public launch.
CLÆ [klay] is Old English meaning "clay", which is derived from “claeg”. Clay is part of the foundation of the Carolinas, literally, including the history and heritage of the land. The atomic structure of loosely bound sheets with such small grain sizes makes clay particles stick together extremely well, giving it a cohesiveness and ability to form it pliably. As an organization, we endeavor to take the same approach – flexible and , yet cohesive and strong. Besides legal services, CLÆ will provide a network of other artists to help support the creative community by sharing resources, experiences, and gifts to lift each other up.
The Æ Ash digraph/ligature is a Latin or Greek symbol represents a diphthong, squishing sounds together within the same syllable. It's used stylistically here to offset letters for Carolina Lawyers from Arts & Entertainment. This section will probably be populated by more substantive information soon, but is used as an explanation for the name, acronym, symbol, and symbolism as a placeholder. There is a tradition of farmer-potters in the area, which is exactly the sort of combination of industry and art, creativity and commerce CLÆ endeavors to help people navigate whether it's with ceramics, music, film, television, video games, documentary, design, media, fashion, publishing, literature, typography, photography, choreography, fine art, sculpture, drawing, dance, theater, architecture, technology, or other art.
Clay is malleable and the shape it takes depends on how you work it – if you need alternative dispute resolution like arbitration, mediation, conciliation, or evaluation, CLÆ could provide a neutral to help you make a decision or impose one. If you're looking for help with applications for copyright, trademark, or patent registrations, CLÆ could help you navigate the layered lay of the land to avoid infringing on the rights of others and protect your own. If you have questions, CLÆ can provide educational resources including blog articles, continuing legal education (CLE) courses, events and panels, consultations and clinics, and more.
This organization is part of a network of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) operations spread throughout the country. There is no official national parent organization, but each has its own regions and is backed by any combination of funding from arts councils, area law schools, attorney members, and other sources of support. Each VLA organization operates independently. While most are nonprofit organizations, others are housed within arts councils, arts services organizations, bar associations, law schools, or business for the arts programs. We'd like to thank Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA NY), Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) in St. Louis, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA), California Lawyers for the Arts, and all of the other organizations for their continued guidance.
Facts about Clay
Few places on Earth have more clay and types than North Carolina.
Weathering turns rocks into clay.
Red clay gets its color from rust, and can stain almost anything it touches.
They're extremely fine particles, sometimes 1/50th the size of a grain of sand.
Clay is slick, part of a family of slippery minerals called "sheet silicates".
Poor clay soils were once a curse, since you can't really grow much in it or build much on it, but that's the reason the Triassic basin and Durham subbasin stretching from Raleigh to Chapel Hill turned into Research Triangle Park, which now reaps harvests of economic development.
Carolina clay provides a unique blend of strength and durability mixed with pliability.
Facts about CLÆ
Formed with articles of incorporation on February 22, 2023 in North Carolina.
CLÆ is not the first VLA in the region, but follows North Carolina Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Inc. formed in 1983.
South Carolina Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (SCVLA) was formed in 2013 in collaboration with University of South Carolina (USC) School of Law Pro Bono Program, USC School of Law Nonprofit Organizations Clinic, South Carolina Arts Commission, and the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program.
To get it "out the mud" means to do it on your own, but we hope CLÆ gives you the sort of resources any artist might need to feel supported.
Facts about VLA
The first Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) organization was founded by Paul Epstein in New York in1969.
There are over 40 similar organizations spread throughout North America, each operating independently.
With the same mission and spirit, there is a wealth of shared knowledge reaching across regions.
If you have any matter that might require assistance from lawyers outside of North Carolina or South Carolina, you can take a look at the National VLA Directory here: National VLA Directory