The omnibus spending bill passed by Congress on Thursday includes not only funding for the Legal Services Corporation but a raise as well. The legislation provides $410 million for legal aid in fiscal year 2018, the highest appropriation since 2010.
Despite a continued need for legal representation, few Americans hire attorneys. Legal aid experts said there are two questions the legal community should consider: what’s keeping people, particularly those from low-income communities, from hiring legal help; and how can the profession reverse the trend?
As part of the $400 billion budget deal passed by Congress early Friday morning, Legal Services Corp., which provides financial support to Indiana Legal Services, will continue to receive funding about equal to its fiscal year 2017 appropriation. The White House had once proposed completely defunding the agency.
A new initiative launched at Indiana Legal Services is aimed at helping nonprofits with their legal needs. The Community Development Legal Project, which officially started in September, is designed to provide services to 501(c)(3) organizations that stretch their dollars to serve the indigent population and have little or no resources to spend on hiring attorneys to draft agreements, file for tax-exempt status, or handle other legal issues.
Indiana Legal Services is partnering with a Valparaiso-based health care provider to launch a first-of-its-kind medical-legal partnership program in northwest Indiana.
With the budget looming on the agenda of the U.S. Senate, Indiana’s two senators are both supportive of federal funding for legal aid, but neither are putting any dollar amount to their support.
The Tenant Assistance Program clinic offers triage services for tenants who have eviction notices and are appearing in court that day.
Indiana Legal Services Inc. has launched a pilot program in Indianapolis specifically to help individuals and families facing eviction.
The April 22 gala marking the 50th anniversary of Indiana Legal Services Inc. had the feel of a family reunion.
Saturday night’s gala marking the 50th anniversary of Indiana Legal Services had the feel of a family reunion.
Looking ahead to the next 50 years, Indiana Legal Services Inc. is certain one thing will remain constant — the need for legal assistance among low-income individuals. However, the manner in which clients come to the agency and the kind of representation offered will likely change.
Members of Indianapolis’ legal community are offering assistance today to help recently incarcerated people find the jobs and resources they’ll need to build their future.
The Trump Administration’s proposed budget would eliminate funding to the Legal Services Corp., which provides grants to 134 legal aid organizations around the country including Indiana Legal Services Inc.
The legal aid groups are working on finding new housing for people as well as securing assistance.
In what is believed to be a first, Indiana Legal Services Inc., Indianapolis Legal Aid Society and the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic are hoping to collaborate on a single project that they say will help people overcome hurdles to employment and give communities an economic boost.
A group of Indianapolis attorneys, determined to provide support to their African counterparts, traveled to Rwanda in late January to get a firsthand look at what it means to be an attorney in a country filled with blatant corruption and intentional oppression.
As the nation witnessed chaotic scenes over the weekend of immigrants detained at major American airports, Indiana immigration lawyers said President Donald Trump’s executive orders tightening immigration enforcement and banning immigrants from seven nations are dividing families and sowing fear with their clients.
The clinic at Horizon House provides advice and counsel to people most in need of legal assistance.
A Marion County resident, whose bank account of $155.44 was frozen by the Indiana Department of Revenue, is suing to prevent the state from taking assets for income tax debts without leaving the debtor something to pay for basic necessities like food and shelter.
With the help of a federal grant, Indiana Legal Services will be launching a new pilot project to recruit more attorneys from private practice into providing pro bono legal assistance for low-income clients.