St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts

We strengthen the cultural fabric of the St. Louis region by giving artists, creative small businesses, and arts and cultural nonprofits access to free legal and accounting help, educational workshops and clinics, and community-building opportunities. Because the arts enrich their lives, more than 350 accountants and attorneys are supporting Missouri and Illinois artists and cultural organizations by providing direct professional services through VLAA.

Services & Programs
•Making referrals to lawyers and accountants (pro bono assistance)
•Sponsoring professional development seminars for individual artists and arts organizations
•Helping mid-sized organizations avoid financial stress and successfully manage their finances (Sleep Better Financial Check-Up)
•Providing guest speakers, including Upstart (college outreach)
•Providing health insurance information
•Publishing free how-to guides
•Sponsoring hands-on QuickBooks training for nonprofits
•Preparing tax returns for low-income artists
•Working with the region's street performers to develop and disseminate voluntary best practices guidelines
•Mediating arts-related disputes
•Supplying model contracts and other arts law and business materials
•Providing volunteer opportunities for law students
•Collaborating on arts advocacy initiatives
•Co-hosting an annual continuing education program for lawyers and accountants
•Supporting the development of affordable spaces in which artists can work and live
•Providing access to the national volunteer lawyers for the arts network