Right here. I take pro bono matters for high school and college students who are building an app, a product, a brand, or a business. You apply, I pick on merit, and if I take your project the fee is zero.
I am Natalie Sulimani, a New York attorney with more than 20 years in intellectual property and business law. The application is here.
Why student founders need a lawyer earlier than they think
Students build fast. They pick a name, split the work with friends, launch, and plan to deal with the legal part later.
Later is when it gets expensive. The name turns out to belong to someone else. Nobody wrote down who owns the code. The app collects user data with no terms and no privacy policy.
None of that is hard to fix at the start. All of it is hard to fix after the project takes off.
What free legal help covers
- Forming a company. Whether you need one yet, and how to set it up.
- Your name and logo. Trademark protection before someone else files first.
- Your work. Copyright, and who owns what you and your friends built.
- Launch documents. Terms of Use and a Privacy Policy for your app or site.
- Agreements. Cofounders, contractors, and collaborators, in writing.
Lawsuits, immigration matters, and government filing fees are not covered. My time is free. The trademark office’s is not.
How to apply
- Fill out the short form on the pro bono page. Tell me what you are building and what you need.
- I read every application and choose on merit. Not every project gets in.
- If I take yours, you get an engagement letter that says exactly what I will do.
If you are under 18, a parent or guardian fills out the application with you and signs the engagement letter. The program is not open to anyone under 13.
Common questions
Is there a lawyer who helps student founders for free?
Yes. Sulimani Law Firm takes selected pro bono matters for high school and college students who are building a product or business and have not raised funding.
Do I have to be in New York?
No. Students anywhere in the United States can apply. I am admitted in New York. Trademark and copyright work is federal, so I can take that on for students in any state. If your question turns on another state’s law, I can give you general legal guidance and tell you when you need a lawyer admitted there.
Can a high school student get a lawyer?
Yes, with a parent or guardian. They apply with you and sign the engagement letter.
Is my application confidential?
Yes, whether or not I accept your project. Share only what I need to understand it. Applying does not make me your attorney. That starts when we both sign an engagement letter.
How are projects chosen?
On merit. I look at what you are building, how far along you are, and whether the legal help you need is something I can deliver well.