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The Indiana Bar Foundation announced it has awarded $3.6 million for civil legal services to 13 organizations.
“Funding these outstanding civil legal assistance providers and supporting individuals interested in a legal career reflects the Foundation’s commitment to direct funding where it has the greatest impact,” the foundation’s president and CEO, Charles Dunlap, said in a statement.
Groups that received funding include:
- Center for Victim and Human Rights: $69,722.53
- Child Advocates: $69,722.53
- Disability Legal Services of Indiana: $80,869.36
- Indiana Legal Services Inc.: $917,847.88
- Indianapolis Legal Aid Society Inc.: $361,646.96
- Law School Legal Services Inc.: $69,722.53
- Legal Aid Corporation of Tippecanoe County: $11,653.84
- Legal Aid Society of Evansville: $37,755.09
- Metro Community Outreach: $45,127.45
- Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic: $344,745.38
- Pro Bono Indiana: $1.5 million
- Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana: $166,079.15
- Whitewater Valley Pro Bono Commission Inc.: $10,072.62
Two Indianapolis law students have also received support from the foundation.
Timara Turman was awarded $1,245.68 from the Phelps And Fara Scholarship, which assists an Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law student who is interested in family law.
Also, Joseph Barnett received $2,000 from the Hon. Cale J. Holder Scholarship, which assists an IU McKinney student who demonstrates dedication to the administration of law, financial need, a desire to be a practicing trial lawyer, a capacity for leadership, academic achievement and a military service record, if any.
Meanwhile on the national level, the Legal Services Corporation is expressing concern that a U.S. House of Representatives proposal to cut its funding to $489 million would have a “devastating impact” on civil legal aid in the U.S.
The Appropriations Subcommittee’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 includes a $71 million reduction for LSC, according to the nonprofit.
The cut in funding, LSC said, would result in about 272,000 fewer low-income people getting legal assistance.
In March, LSC asked Congress for $1.5 billion — more than double its appropriation for fiscal year 2023 — to address a “widening justice gap.” More than nine in 10 low-income Americans didn’t receive any or enough legal help for their civil legal problems, according to a 2022 LSC report.
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