More than $2.5M awarded to Indiana legal aid providers
Legal aid providers around the state that offer civil legal assistance to low-income Hoosiers have received a financial boost totaling more than $2.5 million from the Indiana Bar Foundation.
Pro bono
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Civil legal filing fee extended to 2025
The extra $1 tacked on to the cost of filing civil cases in Indiana state courts will continue to be charged for at least another three years, helping bolster the funds appropriated to provide legal assistance to low-income Hoosiers.
Justices split on whether unruly defendants must be told they can return to court if they behave
A split Indiana Supreme Court has denied transfer in a case involving an unruly defendant, disagreeing on whether trial courts are required to inform disruptive individuals who have been removed from the courtroom that they can reclaim their right to be present if they behave.
Southern District offering free training session on representing domestic violence victims
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will host an in-person and virtual training session next month for lawyers interested in receiving training on modest means and pro bono representation of domestic violence victims.
Braish and Phillips: Looking for pro bono opportunities? Consider TPS clinics
If you are looking for meaningful pro bono work without a long-term time commitment, consider hosting a TPS clinic. TPS, or temporary protected status, is a mechanism by which the executive branch can give migrants from certain unsafe countries the right to live and work in the United States for a temporary period of time.
Making litigants’ voices heard: Indy attorney Sniderman takes on additional role helping recruited counsel represent prisoners
Attorney Mark Sniderman is taking his respect for the client’s story to his new role as consulting attorney for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana’s Recruited Counsel Program. He will continue his private practice and serve in this new position, which started Feb. 1, on an as-needed basis, providing materials and offering guidance to attorneys in the program.
Free legal answers website hits record number of questions
In another sign of the overwhelming impact of the pandemic, data released from the American Bar Association shows the number of questions submitted by low-income individuals and families seeking help through the online program ABA Free Legal Answers has doubled since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Bills supporting pro bono legal services advancing in Statehouse
After the pro bono filing fee bill failed to get even a hearing last year, two bills extending the life of the $1 surcharge have passed through their respective chambers this year as the 2022 session of the Indiana General Assembly gets to the midway mark.
Indiana’s pro bono hours, dollars drop in pandemic
The pro bono hours and contributions Indiana lawyers reported in 2020 were down from the previous year, but the dip is attributed to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the numbers are expected to turn upward in 2022.
IndyBar: Earn Pro Bono Hours from the Comfort of Your Home or Office: Volunteer for the Virtual Help Desk
Are you looking to serve your community in an easy and convenient way? The IndyBar Virtual Help Desk is the opportunity you’ve been looking for!
Braish and Kile-Maxwell: School partnerships expand pro bono services
Recently, undergraduate institutions in more rural Indiana counties have stepped up to help provide access to pro bono legal services.
IndyBar: Thank You, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana Pro Bono Volunteers!
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana wishes to say thank you to the following attorneys for the many hours they’ve volunteered to assist underrepresented individuals.
Despite small number of applications, pro bono publico making a difference
As of Nov. 24, the Indiana Roll of Attorneys listed just eight pro bono publico attorneys active in the state. While the number of applications has been low so far, Indiana Office of Admissions & Continuing Education Executive Director Bradley Skolnik said he believes the rule change is still making a difference.
Report shows despite increase in funding, LSC grantees not able to meet demand
A report analyzing the 2020 activities of Legal Services Corporation grantees, which includes Indiana Legal Services, shows that even as federal funding for legal aid has climbed to $440 million, the highest amount ever appropriated, the number of cases closed has slumped and more than 70% of the assistance offered is classified as “limited.”
Sen. Grooms, advocate for legal aid, leaving Statehouse early
Indiana Sen. Ron Grooms, R-Jeffersonville, a retired pharmacist who championed legal aid, announced Thursday he will be stepping down from public office Nov. 2.
Rising eviction crisis bringing calls for attorneys to volunteer
The American Bar Association and Legal Services Corp. are echoing the open call U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has made, asking attorneys around the country to volunteer their services in their communities to help the millions of individuals and families facing evictions now that the moratorium protection has ended.
Training offered for attorney volunteers in Indiana Southern District Court
Indiana attorneys interested in joining the pool of volunteers at the Southern Indiana District Court are invited to attend a one-hour training session in October to learn more about representing indigent litigants as part of the court’s recruited counsel program.
Southern District again offering training on representing domestic violence victims
Lawyers interested in receiving training on modest means and pro bono representation of domestic violence victims will be offered a virtual training session hosted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in August.
Braish, Kile-Maxwell: In-house opportunities to be leaders in pro bono work
In-house counsel play an important role in growing and shaping the development of pro bono legal services in our communities. In addition to providing direct legal services, leaders from corporate legal departments encourage their own colleagues to get involved and support collaboration with outside counsel.
IndyBar Foundation offering solo/small firm grants again in 2021
The Indianapolis Bar Foundation is once again offering up to $2,500 to lawyers who work with local service providers to help central Indiana families in need of legal services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.