Community and Economic Development Clinic

The Community and Economic Development Clinic (CEDC) is dedicated to promoting vibrant, diverse and sustainable communities by providing transactional legal services to nonprofit and community-based organizations. Formed in 1991 as the Legal Assistance to Urban Communities, the Clinic provides legal, research, technical, and policy assistance to organizations and groups engaged in a variety of community and economic development efforts in Southeast Michigan.

Watch a video about the CEDC and our work.

Our current work involves transactional assistance to new and established organizations in a range of subject matters that affect them; technical assistance and capacity-building to groups related to their formation and operation as nonprofit organizations; and research on issues of importance to the organizations. The Clinic seeks to sustain effective organizations and build institutions that provide needed services and opportunities in under-served urban communities and contribute to the economic development of the region.

Our clients work with second- and third-year law students under the close supervision of faculty members who are licensed Michigan attorneys with significant transactional experience.