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LawSmarts Seminars & Events

Upcoming Seminars

Promotional graphic from the Lawyers for the Creative Arts Associate Board for its Third Thursday Mixer. The free networking event takes place Thursday, October 15, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at 2Twenty2 Tavern, 222 S. Wabash, Chicago. Free tickets can be reserved at law-arts.org. The graphic features a warmly lit bar and restaurant interior with a group of people gathered around a high-top table, talking and sharing drinks.

Associate Board: Thursday Meetup

Thursday
October 15, 2026
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Promotional graphic for a free Lawyers for the Creative Arts Legal Clinic: Contract Review. The clinic will take place October 20 from 1:00–4:00 PM CT, in person in downtown Chicago. Applications are due October 6, and the clinic is free. More information and applications are available at law-arts.org. The design has the LCA logo in the upper left. The right half features a photograph of a previous legal clinic in a conference room, where attorneys and participants sit around a large table in small groups reviewing documents and speaking with one another.

Legal Clinic: Contract Review

Apply by October 6th
Tuesday
October 20, 2026
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Promotional graphic for “Music Law and the General Business Client,” a continuing legal education (CLE) program featuring Joseph J. Bogdan and Thomas R. Leavens. The online program takes place October 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. CT). CLE is free for members. The graphic features a dark navy-blue background with bold yellow lettering and orange accents. On the right are professional headshots of both presenters: Joseph J. Bogdan, wearing a navy suit and blue tie, and Thomas R. Leavens, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a patterned tie.

Music Law and the General Business Client

Thursday
October 22, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Promotional graphic from Lawyers for the Creative Arts for a Copyright Registration Workshop with Miller Johnson (previously Irwin IP). The free, in-person workshop takes place November 5 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. CT in downtown Chicago. Applications are due October 30 and can be submitted at law-arts.org. The graphic features blue and orange event information alongside a photograph of a previous copyright clinic, showing participants seated around a conference table working on laptops and reviewing materials with attorneys.

Legal Clinic: Copyright Registration Workshop

Apply by October 30th
Thursday
November 5, 2026
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Promotional graphic from Lawyers for the Creative Arts and Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) for “Trademark Issues for Creatives: Costly Mistakes Worth Avoiding,” presented by Joey Vitale of Indie Law LLC. The free online program takes place November 19 from 12:00–1:15 p.m. CT on Zoom. Register for free at law-arts.org. The graphic has a blue background with white text and a bright yellow image featuring large three-dimensional “TM” letters representing trademarks.

Trademark Issues for Creatives: Costly Mistakes Worth Avoiding

Thursday
November 19, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Promotional graphic for a Lawyers for the Creative Arts training program titled “Sexual Harassment Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training” with Law Office of Lori A. Goldstein, LLC. The event takes place December 4 from 1–4 PM CT on Zoom. Registration is free at law-arts.org. The graphic also notes: “Fulfill your annual legal requirement for the City of Chicago!” The design features a blue background with white text and the Lawyers for the Creative Arts logo in the upper left corner. On the lower right is an orange banner with a white exclamation mark icon emphasizing the City of Chicago compliance requirement. Subtle curved line graphics appear in the background on the right side.

Sexual Harassment Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training

Friday
December 4, 2026
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Promotional graphic for Lawyers for the Creative Arts’ 2026 Benefit Luncheon. The design layers a historic Chicago street map with navy and gold typography and photographs highlighting cultural and community spaces. Text reads: “2026 Benefit Luncheon. Built Here. Building What Comes Next.” A dark panel adds: “What was built here. Who built it. What we inherit. What we build next.” The event takes place Thursday, December 10, 2026, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. at the Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe Street, Chicago. Contact Daryl Ritchie at 312-837-3519 or dritchie@law-arts.org for tickets, sponsorships, table reservations, and program book advertisements.

2026 Annual Benefit Luncheon

CELEBRATING THE VENUES THAT CULTIVATE ART & CULTURE ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE
Thursday
December 10, 2026
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Past Seminars

Promotional flyer for Legal Clinic: Bylaws Review hosted by Lawyers for the Creative Arts and Mayer Brown. The clinic will be held on March 20 from 11 AM – 3 PM CT in downtown Chicago, in person. The flyer emphasizes: “Apply by March 12 for the FREE clinic at law-arts.org.” The left half of the flyer has a blue background with bold white and orange text. The right half shows a photo of a large conference room filled with participants seated around a long wooden table, working on laptops, taking notes, and conversing with attorneys. Drinks, papers, and laptops are spread across the table.

Legal Clinic: Bylaws Review

in partnership with Mayer Brown (Apply by March 12th)
Wednesday
March 20, 2024
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
A promotional graphic for a program titled "Licensing in Music" presented by Lawyers for the Creative Arts. The event features Odell Mitchell III of Thirdinline Legal. It is scheduled for March 12, from 12–1:30 PM CT on Zoom. The text notes that participants can register for free at law-arts.org. The background is a bold blue with curved abstract lines. On the right-hand side, a photograph shows a row of colorful acoustic guitars leaning against a wall. The guitars are in shades of red, black, blue, turquoise, and white, emphasizing the theme of music.

Licensing in Music

Tuesday
March 12, 2024
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Promotional graphic for the “Nonprofit Compliance Series,” a monthly educational program and networking space focused on navigating compliance requirements for arts nonprofits, hosted by Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Takes place the first Tuesday of every month from March to September, 9:30–11 AM CT. Offered in a hybrid format—in Chicago and on Zoom. Registration is free at law-arts.org. The right side of the image shows a close-up of stacked, colorful file folders with papers, next to a pink and gold pen.

Nonprofit Compliance Series

Nonprofit Compliance Overview
Tuesday
March 5, 2024
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Promotional flyer for a legal clinic hosted by Lawyers for the Creative Arts and Loeb & Loeb LLP. The title reads: “Legal Clinic: Copyright, Commissions & Contracts.” The event is scheduled for February 28, 11 AM–3 PM CT, in-person in downtown Chicago. Text at the bottom reads: “Apply by February 20 for the FREE clinic at law-arts.org.” The left side has a blue background with orange text boxes highlighting the event title and application details. On the right, there is a photo of a large conference room filled with people seated at tables, engaged in discussion and working on laptops, suggesting an interactive legal clinic setting.

Legal Clinic: Copyright, Commissions, and Contracts

in partnership with Loeb & Loeb LLP (Apply by Feb 20)
Wednesday
February 28, 2024
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Event banner for LawSmarts 101. The left side of the image has a blue background with white text. The Lawyers for the Creative Arts logo appears at the top, alongside the logos for Mayfair Arts Center and Chicago Human Rhythm Project. Text reads: LawSmarts 101 Learn about arts business structures, contract red flags, intellectual property protection, and more! February 22 3–4 PM CT Mayfair Arts Center 8701 S Bennett Ave, Chicago Register for FREE at law-arts.org On the right side, there is a colorful watercolor illustration of the scales of justice. The balance pans are uneven, filled with splashes of vibrant paint in blue, purple, green, yellow, and orange tones.

LawSmarts 101

at Mayfair Arts Center
Thursday
February 22, 2024
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Demystifying Contracts for Independent Creatives

Tuesday
January 30, 2024
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Promotional poster with an orange textured background for “The Tax Preparation Sessions.” At the top, logos read “Chicago Music Scene” (top left) and “Empty Bottle” (top right). The date and time, “01/20/24, 1PM–3PM,” is centered at the top. Large black text reads: “Empty Bottle & Chicago Music Scene Presents: The Tax Preparation Sessions.” Below, a black silhouette of a cat wearing a tie and collared shirt is centered. Beneath the cat, bold text says: “Tax Prep 101 for Creatives – So April Doesn’t Suck.” At the bottom are logos for CIVL (Chicago Independent Venue League), Lawyers for the Creative Arts, and Revel.

Tax Preparation 101 for Creatives

Saturday
January 20, 2024
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

LLC Formation & Business Plan Series

Applications must be received by Jan 4th
Tuesday
January 16, 2024
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Administrative Partnership Models for Arts Nonprofits

Shared Staff, Co-Location, Program Transfers, and Mergers/Acquisitions
Thursday
January 11, 2024
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Promotional graphic for a training program hosted by Lawyers for the Creative Arts, the League of Chicago Theatres, and Chicago Music Scene. The background is blue with curved accent lines. Text reads: “Sexual Harassment Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training with Law Office of Lori A. Goldstein, LLC. December 8, 1–4 PM CT, on Zoom. Register for FREE at law-arts.org.” At the bottom is an orange banner with a white exclamation point inside a circle and text: “Fulfill your annual legal requirement in the City of Chicago!” Top includes the logos of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, League of Chicago Theatres, and Chicago Music Scene.

Sexual Harassment Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training

Friday
December 8, 2023
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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