‍Standard Terms of Engagement

‍Building Block Legal, PLLC | Effective: 2026-10-01

Welcome

Thank you for visiting this page. Whether you are a current client, a prospective client, or just curious about how we work, you are welcome here.

Building Block Legal, PLLC (the “Firm,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) publishes these Standard Terms of Engagement (“Standard Terms”) so that anyone can read them, anytime. They apply to all matters in which we represent a client (“you” or “your”) unless otherwise agreed in writing.

These Standard Terms are incorporated into and form a part of the Engagement Letter or other written confirmation of engagement between you and the Firm for a specific matter.

‍‍Your Engagement Letter identifies the scope, staffing, and fee arrangements for a particular matter. These Standard Terms address the policies, procedures, and mutual obligations that govern our relationship across all matters. Where any provision of your Engagement Letter conflicts with these Standard Terms, the Engagement Letter controls. If your engagement includes a Subscriber Agreement, the Engagement Letter controls over the Subscriber Agreement, and the Subscriber Agreement controls over these Standard Terms.

We may update these Standard Terms from time to time. Any updates will be reflected by a revised Effective Date above. Updated Standard Terms will not apply to any matter in which we are then currently representing you unless we provide you with written notice of the change. The version of the Standard Terms in effect on the date you sign your Engagement Letter will govern that matter unless you and the Firm agree otherwise in writing. A copy of these Standard Terms as of any particular date is available upon request.

‍‍Please read these Standard Terms carefully. If anything is unclear, please ask us questions before you sign your engagement letter. We want to make sure you fully understand our relationship. We also encourage you to review these terms with an independent attorney if you wish. Some provisions, including the dispute resolution and conflicts of interest sections, involve legal rights you may want to discuss with someone outside our firm.

‍If you are not yet a client and are reading this to learn about us, we hope these terms give you a clear picture of who we are and how we work. If you have feedback for us, we would love to hear from you.

1. Our Commitment to You

We will work diligently on your matter and keep you informed. However, we cannot guarantee any particular outcome. Legal matters involve risks and factors beyond our control. We will give you our best advice and work hard on your behalf, but results are never certain.

Our Philosophy: We believe that the law should be accessible, that our work should be human-centered, and that you should make informed decisions about your business. Our job is NOT to promise to eliminate all risks or force you into a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we will:

Explain the risks and options clearly so you can make informed choices.
Listen to what you want to build and help you get there.
Support your vision as it grows and evolves.
Be honest about what we think, while respecting that you make the final decisions.

Plain Language: We draft our documents, including these Standard Terms, in plain English. We believe the law should be understandable to the people it affects. If any part of this document is unclear, that is our problem to fix, not yours to figure out. Please tell us, and we will clarify.

Build on what works: Our practice is informed by our founder’s dual training in law and business, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and inclusive leadership. We apply these disciplines not because they are trendy, but because the evidence shows they produce stronger, more resilient outcomes for businesses, communities, and the people within them.

2. Who We Represent

We represent only the person or entity identified in your Engagement Letter for the specific matter described in that letter. Our representation does not create an attorney-client relationship with:

Any affiliate, parent company, or subsidiary of a client entity.
Any individual shareholder, member, owner, officer, director, partner, manager, or employee of a client entity, or their personal interests.
Any relative, spouse, or other relation of an individual client.

If you are an organization and you undergo a change in ownership, merge with another entity, or acquire or are acquired by another entity during our representation, please notify us promptly so we can evaluate whether the change creates a conflict of interest.

3. Your Responsibilities

To help us represent you effectively, you agree to:

Communicate honestly and completely - Give us all the facts and information we need, even if you think something might not be important.
Respond promptly - Reply to our emails and calls in a timely way.
Provide information - Fill out any forms or questionnaires we provide you with to assist in your matter.
Meet deadlines - Provide documents and information when we need them.
Stay in touch - Let us know if your contact information changes or if you will be unavailable for an extended period.
Pay on time - Pay our bills according to the terms in this letter.
Make decisions - You make the final decisions about your matter (we give advice, but you're in charge).
Notify us of changes - Tell us about any changes to your business structure, ownership, or other relevant circumstances.
Preserve documents - Keep all documents, emails, and electronic files related to this matter and do not destroy anything without asking us first.

4. How We Communicate

Staying Informed: We will keep you regularly updated on your matter and notify you promptly of any important developments. We will consult with you on important decisions.

How We'll Communicate: We will communicate with you primarily via email and may schedule video calls or in-person meetings to discuss your matter. Please let us know your preferred method of communication.

Communication and Technology Risks: Unless you tell us otherwise, we may use mail, email, mobile phones, VOIP, and other technology to communicate with you. These methods are convenient but not completely secure. There is a small risk that confidential information could be intercepted or accessed by others. You consent to our use of these communication methods.

Cloud Storage: We may store your files on secure cloud-based servers. While we take precautions to keep these servers encrypted and secure, there is a small risk that confidential information could be disclosed. You consent to our use of cloud storage.

Technology Use: We may use technology tools, including large language models (LLMs) or artificial intelligence (AI), to work more efficiently on your matter, including to assist with legal research, document review, and drafting. We will NEVER wholly rely on any one technology tool. We will ALWAYS supervise any technology-assisted work to ensure accuracy and quality. Please see our AI-Use Policy. If you have concerns about our use of technology, please let us know. We may be able to adjust our processes to best assist with your matter, mission, vision, and values.

Protecting Confidentiality: To protect the confidentiality of our communications:

Use a secure, private email address (not one that others can access).
Don't share our legal advice with people outside your organization without asking us first.
Use password-protected devices, and we highly encourage you to use a password manager service.
Mind your surroundings when in shared spaces such as in public, in co-working spaces, and in shared offices.
Be careful about discussing confidential matters in public places.

5. Professional Judgement and Approach

You determine the objectives of this engagement: what outcome you want and whether to proceed at each phase. We determine the strategy, methods, and professional tone used to pursue those objectives.

Our practice is grounded in clear, professional, and purposeful communication. Our experience is that measured, well-reasoned correspondence backed by sound legal analysis produces better outcomes, faster resolutions, and more durable agreements than aggressive posturing. We will advocate firmly for your interests, but we will not send correspondence or take actions that we believe to be counterproductive, unsupported by the facts or law, or inconsistent with our professional obligations and Firm values.

If at any point we believe that a proposed course of action is unlikely to advance your interests or falls outside the bounds of what we are willing to do as professionals, we will tell you directly and explain why. You are always free to seek other counsel if our approach does not align with your preferences.

6. Scope Limitations

Unless your Engagement Letter expressly states otherwise, our representation does NOT include:

Serving as your general counsel or providing ongoing legal advice after the matter described in your Engagement Letter is complete.
Monitoring legal developments, deadlines, renewal dates, or filing requirements after the matter concludes.
Providing advice on matters outside the scope described in your Engagement Letter.
Representing you in litigation, arbitration, or court proceedings (if litigation becomes necessary, we will discuss referring you to a litigation firm and will assist with that transition).
Providing tax advice (you should consult a tax professional).
Compliance with the Corporate Transparency Act or filing beneficial ownership reports with FinCEN.
Advice relating to securities laws, insurance coverage review, or other specialized matters not described in your Engagement Letter.

If you need help with anything beyond the scope of your current Engagement Letter, please ask. Any expansion requires a written amendment or a new Engagement Letter.

7. Billing and Payment

How We Bill: Your Engagement Letter will specify which fee arrangement applies to your matter. Below is a summary of how each arrangement works:

Flat Fee: Payment is due in full before work begins. We will send you an invoice after you sign the Engagement Letter. The flat fee covers the scope of work described in your Engagement Letter. This work is considered earned on receipt. We charge flat fees for predictable billing. Work outside that scope may require a separate agreement and additional fees.
Hourly: We will send you bills monthly for time spent and expenses incurred. Each bill will itemize the work performed, the attorney or professional who performed it, and the time spent.
Contingent Fee: If your matter is handled on a contingent fee basis, our fee will be a percentage of any recovery, as specified in your Engagement Letter. If there is no recovery, you owe no fee, but you may still be responsible for expenses. Contingent fee arrangements will be set forth in a separate written agreement as required by the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct.
Retainer: A retainer reserves a set number of hours or a defined scope of availability over a specified period. You pay the retainer fee at the beginning of each period, and we draw against it as we perform work. We will provide you with regular statements showing how the retainer has been used. If the retainer is exhausted before the end of the period, we will notify you and discuss whether to replenish it or transition to a different billing arrangement. Unused retainer balances are handled as specified in your Engagement Letter: depending on the arrangement, unused amounts may roll over to the next period, be refunded, or be treated as fully earned. Your Engagement Letter will specify which applies.
Subscription: A subscription reserves the Firm’s availability for your ongoing legal needs and includes the services listed for your tier, as described in your Subscriber Agreement. The subscription fee is due regardless of how much of your allocation you use. Unused allocations do not create any additional obligation on the Firm’s part, except for the limited rollover described in your Subscriber Agreement. Any unused capacity may be allocated to the Firm’s Community Impact Fund, which provides pro bono and reduced-fee legal services to underserved nonprofits, social enterprises, and individual creators. For more information, visit our Community Impact Fund webpage.

When Payment Is Due: Payment is due within thirty (30) days of the bill date.

For Joint Clients: Bills will be sent to the primary contact. However, each of you is responsible for paying the full amount (this is called "joint and several liability"). This means we can collect the full amount from any one of you if the others don't pay.

Rate Changes: We review our rates annually and may increase them effective January 1st each year. We will notify you at least 60 days before any rate increase takes effect. See our pricing page for cost estimates.

Late Payment: If a bill is not paid within thirty (30) days, we may charge interest at 1% per month (12% per year) on the unpaid balance or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is lower. We may also pause services and withhold deliverables until your account is paid. This may include a full stop work on your matter and withdraw as your lawyer (subject to court approval if required and our ethical obligations to protect your interests).

If you have questions or concerns about a bill, please contact us within thirty (30) days of receiving it. We want to resolve any billing issues quickly and fairly. If you are having trouble paying for bills – please reach out to us! We can probably come to a solution, such as a deferral, payment plan, or service exchange, if we work things out in advance.

8. Expenses (Costs Beyond Our Fees)

In addition to our fees, you will pay for expenses we may incur while working on your matter. These may include:

Taxes (fees such as sales, use, or local tax which we are required to collect).
Filing fees (fees charged by courts, the USPTO, Copyright Office, or state agencies).
Research costs (online legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis).
Copying and printing (charged per page).
Administrative organization and processing (depending on the complexity of maintaining the matter).
Postage and delivery (regular mail, overnight delivery, courier services).
Travel expenses (if we need to travel for your matter, including mileage, airfare, hotels, and meals).
Court reporter fees (for depositions or hearings).
Expert fees (if we need to hire experts or consultants).
Other costs (such as long-distance calls, document storage, or specialized services).

Expense Approval: We will get your approval before incurring any single expense over ~20% of your estimated fee.

9. Confidentiality And Privilege

Attorney-Client Privilege: Communications between you and us for the purpose of getting or giving legal advice are generally protected by the attorney-client privilege. This means we cannot share what you tell us with others without your permission.

Exceptions: We may be required to disclose confidential information if:

The law or a court order requires it.
It's necessary to prevent someone from being seriously injured or killed.
It's necessary to prevent you from committing a crime or fraud.
We need to defend ourselves in a dispute with you about our fees or services.

For Organizational Clients: Because your company is a legal entity, and not a natural person, the attorney-client privilege applies to communications between us and your employees/officers/directors/members when they are acting in their official capacity for the company. Remember we represent the best interests of the company and NOT the natural persons we communicate through.

For Joint Clients: Because we represent all of you, there is no confidentiality between you. Anything one of you tells us may be shared with the other client. If one of you asks us to keep information from the other, we may have to withdraw from representing one or both of you. If a dispute arises between you later, information shared during our joint representation will not be privileged in proceedings between you.

Confidentiality of Our Relationship: Under Pennsylvania Law and Legal Ethics, we will not publicly disclose any aspect of our representation, including that we represent you, without your permission, except as required by law, to provide legal services, or to respond to claims against us. We choose this protective default because we believe your decision to work with a lawyer is personal and private. Unlike many firms, we do not assume permission to use your name or likeness in our marketing. This reflects our values, not a legal requirement. If you give us permission to use your name or logo in promotional materials, that is your decision and our honor.

Social Media Guidance: We recommend caution about posting on social media about your legal matter. Public posts can waive privilege, harm your position, create evidence, and complicate negotiations. Please talk to us before making public statements about your matter.

Media Inquiries: If you receive media inquiries, please notify us immediately. We may ask you to refer them to us.

Firm Marketing: We will not use your matter in marketing without your written permission. After your matter concludes, we may ask you to submit a voluntary testimonial or for permission to reference the matter as a case study.

10. Potential Conflicts of Interest

Because we represent many clients in different types of matters, it is possible that we may represent other clients whose interests conflict with yours in unrelated matters. You agree that we may represent other clients in matters that are not substantially related to our work for you, even if those clients’ interests are adverse to yours, as long as:

The other matter is completely separate from your matter.
None of the lawyers working on your matter will work on the conflicting matter.
We create an ethical wall to keep the matters separate.
We do not share your confidential information with lawyers working on the conflicting matter.

If a potential conflict of interest arises during our representation, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you promptly and discuss it with you. You agree to consider any conflict waiver requests in good faith and not to unreasonably withhold your consent. If a serious conflict arises that cannot be resolved, we may need to withdraw from representing you or the other client, which could cause delays and additional expense.

If there is a known conflict at the time we begin your representation, it will be disclosed in your Engagement Letter, along with the specific reasons we believe we can still represent you competently despite the conflict.

11. File Retention and Your Documents

During Our Work: We will keep all documents related to your matter organized and secure.

After Our Work Ends: We will keep your files for seven (7) years after this matter concludes. After that time, if you have not asked for your files, we will destroy them according to our document retention policy.

Getting Your Files: You can request copies of your files at any time. Original documents you gave us will be returned to you when our work is done (or earlier if you ask). Please note that our work product, research notes, and internal communications belong to us.

Your Responsibility: You should keep your own copies of important documents. Don't rely solely on us to store your records long-term.

12. Affiliations

Pitt Legal Services Incubator (PLSI)

Building Block Legal, PLLC is a law firm participating in the Pitt Legal Services Incubator (PLSI), a one or two-year program designed to support University of Pittsburgh School of Law alumni who aim to start sustainable solo or small firm practices focused on delivering affordable, high-quality legal services in any practice area.

Your legal relationship is with Building Block Legal, PLLC. You do NOT have any legal relationship with The University of Pittsburgh, PLSI, or any other PLSI firms.

As a condition of our participation in the PLSI program, we are required to include the following acknowledgment in its exact form:

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUILDING BLOCK LEGAL, PLLC IS MY LAWYER IN THE REPRESENTATION DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT. I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NEITHER THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH NOR THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW NOR THE PITT LEGAL SERVICES INCUBATOR NOR ANY OTHER ATTORNEY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM IS MY LAWYER. NONE OF THESE OTHER PARTIES OWE ME ANY SPECIAL DUTIES AND I SHOULD NOT SHARE ANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION WITH THEM. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY LAWYER WORKS IN A SHARED OFFICE SPACE WITH OTHER LAWYERS WITH WHOM MY LAWYER IS NOT OTHERWISE AFFILIATED.

Referral Programs

Building Block Legal participates in several referral and service programs, including the Pennsylvania Bar Association Online Lawyer Referral Service, the Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, and the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) Program. If you were referred to us through one of these programs, additional terms may apply to your engagement, including consultation fee arrangements and referral fee obligations. We will provide those terms to you separately, and any program-specific terms will be identified in your Engagement Letter.

Your legal relationship is solely with Building Block Legal, PLLC. You do not have an attorney-client relationship with any referral program or sponsoring organization.

Attorney Departure or Incapacity

Because Building Block Legal, PLLC is a small firm, if we become unable to continue your representation due to illness, incapacity, or death, trusted partner law firms have agreed to assist with transitioning your matter to new counsel. These firms will NOT take over your representation without your consent but will help ensure your matter is transferred and any urgent deadlines are met. You do NOT have any legal relationship with these law firms. Your legal relationship is solely with Building Block Legal, PLLC.

Jacob Sass of Sass Law Office, PLLC (https://www.sasslawpa.com/); jacob.sass@sasslawpa.com
Eryn Correa of Correa Legal, LLC (https://correalegal.co/); ecorrea@correalegal.co

13. Dispute Resolution

If any dispute arises out of this agreement or our services (including disputes over fees or claims of legal malpractice), we agree to follow this three-step process:

Informal Negotiation. We will first attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith, informal discussions.
Mediation. If we cannot resolve the dispute within fifteen (15) days, we will move to non-binding mediation with a single mediator we both agree on. If we cannot agree on a mediator within fifteen (15) days, either party may request that the American Arbitration Association appoint a mediator who will follow the mediation guidelines of the American Arbitration Association (AAA).
Binding Arbitration. If mediation does not resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days of the mediation starting:
- For fee disputes: Either party may submit the dispute to the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Special Fee Determination Committee for binding arbitration, subject to that program’s rules and eligibility requirements. If the dispute falls outside the ACBA program’s jurisdiction (including disputes exceeding $25,000), the dispute will proceed as described below.
- For all other disputes (including fee disputes outside ACBA jurisdiction): The dispute will be finally resolved by binding arbitration before a single arbitrator selected by mutual agreement of the parties, or, if the parties cannot agree within fifteen (15) days, appointed by the American Arbitration Association following AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. Judgment on the arbitrator’s award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction.

What This Means and Why We Do This:

No Court or Jury: You are giving up your right to a trial in court and a trial by jury.
Final Decision: The arbitrator’s decision is final. You generally cannot appeal it.
Privacy: This process is usually more private for all of us than a public court case.
Speed: This process is usually much faster than a public court case.
Cost: The process is usually less expensive than a public court case, as it involves fewer people.

Consult Counsel: We encourage you to discuss this clause with independent counsel if you have concerns about waiving your right to a jury trial.

14. Ending Our Relationship

Your Right to Let Us Go: You can end our representation at any time for any reason by giving us written notice. However, you will still need to pay for all work we did and expenses we incurred before you ended the relationship.

Conclusion of IP Matters: For trademark or copyright registration matters, our attorney-client relationship will end automatically when we send you the official Certificate of Registration or a final rejection notice from the government office. We will not keep your file open after this date, and we will not receive future notices on your behalf.

Our Right to Withdraw: We can end our representation for good cause, including if:

You don't pay our bills.
You don't cooperate or follow our advice on important matters.
Continuing to represent you would violate our ethical rules or the law.
Any other reasons permitted by the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct (or the applicable rules of professional conduct in any other jurisdiction where we are authorized to practice).

If we withdraw, we will give you reasonable notice so you can find another lawyer. We will take reasonable steps to protect your interests in accordance with the applicable rules of professional conduct. You will still need to pay for all work we did and expenses we incurred.

After Our Work Ends: Our representation covers only the specific matter described in your Engagement Letter. After that matter concludes, changes may occur in the law, regulations, or your business circumstances that could affect your rights or obligations. Unless you engage us again for that specific matter, we have no continuing obligation to monitor legal developments, send you updates, or advise you on changes that may affect the completed matter. This includes, for intellectual property matters, any renewal deadlines, maintenance filings, or enforcement actions that arise after the conclusion of the matter described in your Engagement Letter.

15. Accessibility and Accessible Pricing

Accessibility

We believe that barriers in the environment, not differences in people, are what create exclusion. We design our practice, our documents, and our communications to reduce those barriers from the start, so that accommodations are the default, not the exception.

What we have already built in:

Our documents use Atkinson Hyperlegible Next, a typeface designed for readability across a range of visual abilities. Our color palette is selected for sufficient contrast and color-vision accessibility.
We draft in plain English. If any part of a document is unclear, that is our problem to fix, not yours to figure out.
We offer multiple communication channels: video, phone, and writing-only. You choose what works for you.

What we can provide on request:

Communication: Language interpretation (ASL or other, with advance notice), real-time captioning for meetings, video relay services, written summaries after every call or meeting, and patience with speech differences or processing time.
Documents: Large print, audio explanation, accessible electronic formats, Braille referral, and simplified plain-language summaries of legal documents alongside the formal versions.
Scheduling and pacing: Extended timelines for reviewing and signing documents, meeting agendas sent in advance, breaks during long or emotionally difficult conversations, flexible scheduling, and no-pressure response windows.
Cognitive and sensory: Breaking complex information into smaller steps, visual aids or diagrams alongside text, recorded video walk-throughs of key documents, low-stimulation meeting environments, and advance notice of topics to allow processing time.
Physical: Virtual meetings as the default (with in-person options at accessible locations), electronic signatures, document delivery by mail or courier, and service animals always welcome.
Emotional wellbeing: We recognize that legal matters can be stressful, and that stress compounds when you are also navigating health challenges, caregiving responsibilities, grief, or fatigue. We practice trauma-informed communication: we check in before diving into difficult topics, we pause when you need to pause, and we will never penalize you for needing more time.

This list is not exhaustive. If something about how we work creates a barrier for you, tell us, and we will find a way to adjust. Accessibility is a practice, not a destination, and we are always learning.

Accessible Pricing

We believe legal services should be within reach for the people and organizations that need them. Access to justice is a human right, not a luxury. The UN Sustainable Development Goals call on all institutions to “provide access to justice for all” (SDG 16). We take that seriously at the practice level.

During our intake process, we ask an optional question about your financial circumstances so we can align our services with your ability to pay. Depending on your situation, we may offer adjusted rates, payment plans, or sliding-scale pricing.

We have also developed our Community Impact Fund to provide free and reduced-cost legal services to individuals, creators, social enterprises, and nonprofits that cannot afford legal services. For more information, visit our webpage https://www.buildingblocklegal.com/community-impact-fund.

16. What We Stand For

Our Commitment to Sustainability

We build this firm on the principle that doing well and doing good are not in tension. The triple bottom line framework challenged businesses to measure success not only by profit but by their impact on people and the planet. Too many organizations have reduced it to an accounting exercise rather than the deeper transformation it was meant to provoke. We take the idea seriously. Sustainability for us is not a line item. It is core to how we design every part of our practice.

Our approach draws on the frameworks that have followed: shared value, which holds that business strategy and social progress are mutually reinforcing, not opposing forces; stakeholder thinking, which recognizes that every business decision ripples outward to employees, clients, communities, and the environment; circular and doughnut economics, which ask whether an economy meets human needs without overshooting the planet’s capacity to sustain us; and regenerative economics, which goes beyond minimizing harm to ask how a business can actively create conditions for health and life. We also align with the B Corp movement’s conviction that “all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.”

It is worth noting that none of this is new. For most of the twentieth century, the stakeholder model was the American default. As the late Lynn Stout documented, if you had asked a corporate director in 1960 what the purpose of a corporation was, the answer would have included producing returns for investors, providing good jobs, making reliable products, and being a good corporate citizen. Shareholder primacy, the idea that a company’s sole obligation is to maximize returns to its shareholders, infected the halls of power in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, thanks to consequential impacts like Milton Friedman’s 1970 essay, GE CEO “Neutron” Jack Welch, and incremental cumulative power consolidation. Welch later called it “the dumbest idea in the world”, and the rest of us have seen its long-term impact on the world. Our commitment to stakeholder-oriented practice is less a departure from tradition than a return to it.

This is not idealism. The evidence that purpose-driven, sustainable business models outperform their conventional counterparts is substantial and growing. Sustainability-marketed products grow nearly five times faster than conventional alternatives. Companies with a strong purpose outperform the market. Our founder studied sustainability and inclusive leadership alongside innovation and entrepreneurship for a reason: because these disciplines reinforce each other. A business built to last must be built to serve.

We organize our sustainability commitments around the areas where we can make the most difference, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Planet

The Justice Sector is the single largest consumer of paper by a wide margin. We operate as a paperless firm wherever possible and select digital tools and practices that minimize environmental impact. (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production)
We are working toward a dedicated fund to measure and offset our carbon emissions. (SDG 13: Climate Action)

People

We are committed to fair compensation, reasonable working hours, and healthy working conditions for our attorneys, staff, and contractors. A practice that burns out its people cannot sustain the quality of attention its clients deserve. (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)
We design our services, our pricing, and our communications to be accessible across differences in ability, income, language, and background. (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities)
We developed our Community Impact Fund to support our local community of creators, social enterprises, and nonprofits who would otherwise be priced out of legal services. (SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

Prosperity

We structure our practice to be financially sustainable without compromising our values. We keep overhead low, price our services fairly, and reinvest in the tools and systems that let us serve clients well.
We commit a percentage of our profits to organizations that preserve and expand access to knowledge and education, including the Wikimedia Foundation, the Internet Archive, and Complexly. We benefit tremendously from these resources and want to help ensure their prosperity for future generations. (SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)
We serve creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses because we believe local economies grow strongest from the bottom up, through many small investments and many empowered participants, not through dependence on large external forces. This is consistent with incremental development principles: a healthy local economy produces jobs and growth as natural outcomes, not as substitutes for genuine community prosperity. (SDG 8; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

These commitments are a work in progress. We will update them as our capacity grows and as we learn more about where our practice can have the greatest impact.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We are committed to building a practice where everyone can thrive, not just survive.

We welcome and affirm clients and collaborators regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national or social origin, indigenous origin or identity, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, language, sex, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, age, disability, neurodiversity, physical appearance, genetic features, health status, pregnancy or parental status, family or caregiver status, marital or civil partnership status, religion or belief, political or other opinion, socioeconomic status or class, educational background, housing status, justice-impacted or adjudication status, veteran or military service status, membership of a national minority, property, or any other dimension of identity or experience.

This list draws from protections recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the Yogyakarta Principles, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and evolving best practices in equity and inclusion.

We believe the legal profession is stronger when it reflects the full diversity of the communities it serves and when it fights to protect and expand the rule of law for all people.

We actively work to create an environment, in our firm and in our client relationships, that is welcoming, respectful, and equitable for all. Our commitment to equity and inclusion aligns with the B Corp principle that businesses should “create benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.” We hold ourselves accountable to that standard. If you have feedback for us, please let us know and we will grow.

Our Roots

Building Block Legal is a Pittsburgh firm, and we are proud of that. This city has a long history of producing world-changing ideas and world-class art, and its creative, cultural, and tech communities are growing fast.

We exist to build the legal support system that helps creators and entrepreneurs succeed here, so they don’t have to leave for bigger cities to find it. Inspired by figures like Mr. Rogers, we believe that strong communities are built from the bottom up, by local people doing what they can to make their place a little better. Every small business we help form, every contract we help negotiate, every creative work we help protect is an investment in Pittsburgh’s long-term prosperity, not the kind that depends on the next big development deal, but the kind that compounds through the energy and ambition of the people who live here.

Pittsburgh knows what happens when businesses treat people as line items. Carnegie and Frick built enormous wealth here, and contributed broadly to the arts and to education, but then left town and sent Pinkerton agents against their own workers at the Homestead Steel Strike in 1892. A steelworker later asked of Carnegie’s famous libraries, which display proudly FREE TO THE PEOPLE; “After working 12 hours, how can a man go to a library?”

But Pittsburgh also produced George Westinghouse, who took a different path. His companies introduced the nine-hour workday and the Saturday half-holiday, believed to be among the first in American industry to do so. He sold company-built homes to employees at-cost, established disability and death benefit funds backed by the company’s own balance sheet, and invested in apprenticeship programs and continuing education. He encouraged community gatherings and baseball games. He focused on quality engineering over clever marketing. His standard was product quality and human dignity: “If some day they say of me that with the airbrake I contributed something to the safety of human life, it will be sufficient.”

We know which legacy we are building on. The philosophies behind our practice run deep, and we are always happy to talk more about what inspired them.

We started the Firm because of fortunate connections and resources in Pittsburgh, and we are honored to use the flame that has been passed to us to light the torches of others. When our clients grow, Pittsburgh grows.

17. General

Choice of Law. This agreement is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regardless of any conflict of law provisions. If we end up in court (or arbitration), the dispute will be resolved in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Force Majeure. Neither party is liable for delays caused by events beyond reasonable control (natural disasters, pandemics, government shutdowns, cyberattacks, civil unrest, war, infrastructure failures), provided we each take reasonable steps to minimize impact. Legal deadlines may continue to run during disruptions. We will do our best to protect your rights.
Complete Agreement. These Standard Terms, together with your Engagement Letter (including any attached schedules and any Subscriber Agreement), constitute our complete agreement. They replace any previous discussions or agreements about this matter. Changes to these Standard Terms or your Engagement Letter must be agreed to in writing by both parties.

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