Legal Basics for Communities Course
5-Week Online Course | Starts February 10, 2026
Untangle the world of complex legalities and learn about the basic legal structures that are the right fit for you community values.
Course fee: $120-$300 USD
Individual class fee: $20-$50 USD
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Legal Basics for Communities Course
Classes in this course are suitable for:
Community Newcomers | 
Community Starters | 
Community Residents
Course Description
Again and again intentional communities disintegrate because their legal agreements did not reflect their values. Trying to create a different world while operating within the current one is daunting. The good news is you don’t need to wade into the legalese alone.
Clifford Paulin Esq, your course instructor, has been advising groups on legal aspects of community for 15 years. More than just learning about the dry and confusing legal jargon, he will advise you on how to take your community vision and be empowered to manifest it.
Many times, communities create legal structures first before deciding what their values are, locking them into conflict down the road. In the Legal Basics for Communities course, you’ll learn from Clifford how to translate the values and vision of your group into clear and cohesive agreements. After all, you don’t want to be the community that says “let’s move in together and figure the details out later.”
Strong and responsive legal agreements within communities are key not only to be legally sound, but also to guarantee long-term success and healthy relationships between community members.
Course Syllabus
All Legal Basics for Communities classes are held on Tuesdays from 10am-12pm Pacific / 11am-1pm Mountain / 12pm-2pm Central / 1pm-3pm Eastern. You can view your local time here.
February 10: Land Holding Options for Intentional Communities
- Types of legal entities, including tenancy in common, LLC, non-profits, co-ops and more
- Pros and cons for different structures
- How financing impacts your legal structure
- Basics of security and tax implications
February 17: Developing Community Values & Agreements
- What values underlie your agreements
- How to create buy-in for your agreements
- Which agreements are most critical
February 24: Planning, Zoning & Permitting your Community
- What land use is and how to examine your local land use regulations
- Overview of environmental and other laws and how those may relate to your development
- How to work with your local planning agencies
March 3: Financing & Buying Community Land
- Options for buying land
- Implications of financing on legal structure choices
- Examining different real estate options with financing in mind
March 10: Starting your Community Business
- Overview of various legal structures
- How to finance launch
- Legal requirements for different businesses
March 17:Q&A Session
- Ask any additional questions
- Get personalized help
- Networking
The Q&A session is optional and will take place from 10am-11am Pacific / 11am-12pm Mountain / 12pm-1pm Central/ 1pm-2pm Eastern. You must register for the full course to attend the Q&A session. The Q&A session will NOT be recorded.
Your instructor
Clifford Paulin
Clifford Paulin provides a full suite of legal, facilitation, and mediation services to individuals, businesses, communities, non-profits, and government entities. His extensive background in serving these organizations, as well as being part of them, provides him with a unique understanding of their needs and desires.
Clifford holds a:
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona
- Juris Doctorate and a Masters of Study in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School
- Mediation certificate from the Center for Understanding in Conflict
- Advanced facilitation training from Synectics LLC
Clifford’s legal practice has focused on transactional law, non-profit law, and community law since 2006. He also has extensive experience in mediation in both individual and group settings. He has facilitated strategic planning and other processes for groups in both the private and public sectors. Mr. Paulin is also a co-founder of The Oak Granary, a land-based environmental education non-profit in Potter Valley, California.
Testimonials
Registration
You might also be interested in:
- Starting an Intentional Community (On Demand Course with Yana Ludwig)
- The Cooperative Culture Handbook (book)
- Power & Leadership in Community (10-hour pre-recorded course)
The elements of an online course
Online learning platform
Once you register, you’ll get access to our learning area that includes:
- class video recordings, audio files, and transcripts for learning on the go
- interactive presentations
- recommended books with access to course participant discount
- class slides and other course materials
Live interactive sessions
Each week you join a ~2-hour live class with the course instructor, where you learn in a group setting with:
- the opportunity for questions and answers, and personalized support
- break out sessions
- group discussions
Classes are recorded if you miss one, and you will have 30 days after the last class to view recordings.
Journey with a cohort
You’ll join participants from around the world how, like you, want to learn how to be better communitarians. Benefits include:
- opportunities to connect with like-minded people
- opportunities to share ideas and stories
- a network of support to carry your community project forward
