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The Indiana State Bar Association will be honored with the 2025 Harrison Tweed Award on Aug. 8 during the American Bar Association Annual Meeting.
The bar association will be recognized for its work to expand legal services across Indianapolis through its Walk-In Legal Clinic Series.
The state bar association was selected for this year’s award for its efforts to make legal services more accessible to underrepresented communities and Hoosiers facing immigration concerns, family law issues and expungement barriers.
“I’m incredibly proud of ISBA’s Pro Bono Committee and the volunteers who made this work possible,” said ISBA President, Mike Jasaitis. “The Harrison Tweed Award is more than a recognition. It’s a reflection of our commitment to showing up for Hoosiers who need help navigating the legal system. These clinics were built on trust, partnership, and a belief that justice should be accessible to everyone, no matter their background or income. It’s been inspiring to see lawyers from across the state step forward to serve their communities in such a meaningful way.”
Formed in 2022, the clinic series addresses the needs of underserved communities on Indianapolis’s northside, which included issues of landlord-tenant conflict, evictions and immigration.
In January 2023, the clinic series brought free, in-person clinics into the community. Since then, the program has grown significantly. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the bar association co-hosted six clinics, serving more than 250 clients.
The association’s Pro Bono Committee also launched themed one-off clinics alongside other community organizations. For example, the bar association partnered with the Immigrant Welcome Center for an immigration-focused clinic in February, which included multilingual interpreters and a safe meeting space among rising fears of ICE intervention.
The Harrison Tweed Award was created in 1956 to recognize the achievements of state and local bar associations that develop programs to increase access to civil legal services in underserved communities. The award is named after Harrison Tweed, a lawyer and leader in the promotion of free legal services to the poor.
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