Eric Franklin will design and launch the new Community Economic Development Clinic as part of the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic at the William S. Boyd School of Law. The clinic, which launches in the fall of 2014, will provide services to nonprofits, small businesses, and community-based associations. Transactional law is the law practiced outside the courtroom, including drafting and negotiating legal documents, forming legal entities (such as corporations and nonprofit organizations), and interacting with governmental agencies.
Why UNLV?
Much like the city, the law school is very young. And as with many things youthful, they are not only full of potential, but they also have the willingness and energy to achieve it.
Where did you grow up?
Austin, Texas (Hook 'em horns!)
What's the biggest misconception about your field?
The biggest misconception about transactional lawyers is that we are nothing more than lawyers for the rich. Although I found precious few opportunities to provide pro bono legal advice as a transactional lawyer in private practice (most pro bono opportunities were for litigators), this scarcity is not a reflection of reality. Transactional lawyers have a unique set of skills of priceless value for underfunded nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations and enterprises, and small businesses.
What excites you most about the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic?
I am most excited to inspire Boyd graduates to help the city. Las Vegas, in many ways, is at a critical juncture. We are in the midst of a nascent economic recovery, accompanied by a transformation of the downtown, and the rise in housing prices. It is important to ensure that this recovery is enjoyed by all Las Vegans, regardless of socio-economic status.
Proudest moment in your life?
Graduating from law school.
One tip for success?
It is trite, but do what you love for a living. Money and status are empty motivators. Very little in this life will make you happier than a job you love.
Who is your hero?
My mother. As a single mother of three boys, she somehow managed to raise us while simultaneously working full-time and attending night school. I've lived a life full of possibility, and I owe everything to her.
--compiled by Vaneh Movsessian, marketing specialist with the Boyd School of Law
