Basic Business Organization

This presentation offers a broad and basic view of the fundamentals of business that every legal assistant should understand. Covers sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, profit and nonprofit corporations, and limited liability companies. The advantages and disadvantages of each type of organization are explained, and guidance on how to form each type is offered, including specifics about required state and IRS filings.

Kelly A. LaGrave has been a legal assistant since 1984 and works in the Corporate and Finance practice group at Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith law firm, Lansing, MI. She specializes in the areas of business formations and terminations, and mergers and acquisitions. She has a BA in International Relations from the James Madison College at Michigan State University, and holds ACP credentials in Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and Contracts Administration/Contracts Management. She has served the State Bar of Michigan Legal Assistants Section in several leadership positions and was honored in 1998 with the Section’s Mentor Award. She has served NALA in many capacities, Including Region V Director, Certifying Board Chair, a member of the Advanced Paralegal Certification Board, and currently serves as NALA’s Treasurer.

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