Contract Basics for Small Business Owners

Contracts Basics for Small Business Owners is an attorney-led crash course for small business owners covering the essentials of common business contracts. It will cover what is needed to make a contract legally enforceable and describe situations where a small business owner should have a contract in place. It will also include an overview of the basic structure of a contract and explain key frequently-used provisions. Lastly, the workshop will share best practices of entering into contracts as well as common issues and how to avoid them.

This informative workshop is offered at no cost and is being sponsored in partnership with the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD)

Presenter

Jenny M. Eldred, Esq.

Jenny M. Eldred joined Northeast Legal Aid, Inc (NLA) as a Staff Attorney in September 2023, where she provides free transactional legal assistance and compliance advising to local entrepreneurs while working in the Community Development and Entrepreneurship Unit. She also provides free legal assistance to individual taxpayers with income tax controversies in NLA’s Low-Income Taxpayer Unit. Jenny is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and in U.S. Tax Court.
Jenny is passionate about increasing the accessibility of quality business transactional and compliance advice to help new and existing local small businesses thrive. As a part of her work at NLA, she also teaches free legal education trainings for entrepreneurs. Jenny works out of NLA’s downtown Lynn location.
Jenny holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law with a concentration in Risk Management & Compliance. While in law school, Jenny was an SJC Rule 3:03 student attorney in the Civil Litigation Clinic and the Compliance Policy Clinic. She also holds a B.S. in Economics from Central Michigan University.

Presenter

Velinda Peralta Bolduc, Esq.

Velinda Bolduc is a dedicated legal professional with a passion for community empowerment and economic equity. Presently serving as a Staff Attorney at Northeast Legal Aid (NLA) in their Community Development and Entrepreneurship Unit, as well as the Low-Income Taxpayer Unit, Velinda provides invaluable legal services to individuals and organizations in need, all at no cost. Since joining NLA in September 2023, Velinda has been instrumental in offering legal guidance and support to those seeking to navigate complex legal landscapes.
Velinda holds a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Suffolk Law University, graduating in May 2023. Additionally, Velinda has obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Sawyer Business School, complementing their legal expertise with a comprehensive understanding of business principles.
During Velinda's tenure as a law student, they served as an SJC Rule 3:03 student attorney in the Transactional Legal Clinic at Suffolk Law. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, Velinda represented various organizations and businesses in the Boston area, focusing on fostering community empowerment and promoting economic equity. This experience honed Velinda's skills in transactional law and further fueled their commitment to social justice.
Velinda is bilingual in English and Spanish, allowing them to effectively communicate and serve a diverse range of clients. With a dedication to justice and equity, Velinda is committed to ensuring that all individuals and organizations have access to the legal resources they need to thrive.