The Indiana Supreme Court is preparing to ask for an increase in civil legal aid funding when the Indiana General Assembly convenes for the 2019 session. The request will come as legal aid nonprofits try to diversify their donor base while looking for new ways to help the steady flow of people in need.
Indiana attorneys will soon be required to report an additional type of financial contribution to the Indiana Supreme Court. Under amended Rule of Professional Conduct 6.7(a)(3), Hoosier attorneys will be required to report any monetary contributions made to an “IRC 501(c)(3) bar foundation in Indiana which provides financial support to a qualifying legal service organization or local pro bono district" starting Jan. 1.
Electronic filing now covers 90 percent of Indiana trial courts and nearly 80 percent of the state’s caseload is now handled through the Odyssey case management system, the Indiana Supreme Court highlighted Monday with the release of its annual report. The annual report includes a broad statistical overview of the work of the court during the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
The IndyBar ADR Section Executive Committee is pleased to announce that we will host our Fall Mediation Day on October 5, 2018, at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Through Mediation Day, we provide a service to our courts and community by volunteering our time to mediate several screened cases for litigants who qualify for modest means mediation.
Don’t have much time, but want to lend a hand? Ask A Lawyer, a two-hour legal advice program, may be right for you.
This fall, IndyBar members will be honored for their contributions to our legal community. The Indianapolis legal community is fortunate to be home to many talented, dedicated professionals, and we need your help in identifying our colleagues who went above and beyond this past year!
The Indianapolis Bar Association is proud to offer pro bono opportunities that fit nearly every practice area and schedule. Funded by an annual foundation grant, all of these programs are made possible by the generosity of Indianapolis Bar Foundation donors.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Leverenz was young and just married when she started at Indianapolis Legal Aid Society on Oct. 31, 1958. Ida Hayes was divorced with children to support when she began at Indiana Legal Services on Nov. 22, 1966. Today, the two women serve as office managers, bookkeepers, secretaries, problem-solvers and attorney cheerleaders while, combined, they have worked in legal aid for more than 110 years.
The National Association of IOLTA Programs grew up with nurturing care from the American Bar Association, but now, at 32 years of age, the nonprofit is having to become more responsible for its own needs as the ABA undergoes a major restructuring.
Saturday mornings, attorney Charles Braun answers questions about the law. He doesn’t know what legal issue or practice area the questions will cover. He doesn’t know who will be asking. He doesn’t keep a book or laptop close by to do quick research. Rather, he answers on the spot and with the public listening.
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter has taken over as chair of the Coalition for Court Access, while three additional members have been appointed to serve under him. He will take over for Justice Steven David, who had chaired the coalition since its 2016 inception.
As a 30-year-old Honduran woman seeking asylum with her two sons prepared for her credible fear interview scheduled for July 4, she thought that maybe, just maybe, being interviewed on Independence Day would mean her family would be free. Indianapolis immigration attorney Sarah Burrow hoped so too.
The Indiana State Bar Association and Indiana Legal Services are offering free legal assistance to victims of recent severe storm flooding in southeast and northwest Indiana.
The Southern District’s youngest group of leaders got right to work in their neighborhood just days after shaking hands with prosecutors and police officers at an unconventional graduation ceremony.
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association leaders said it was natural for the organization to pledge $25,000 for the national high school mock trial championships to be held in Evansville in May 2020.
While an overwhelming majority of attorneys surveyed by the American Bar Association support pro bono work as a part of the legal profession, less than half indicated they were going to provide such help in 2017.
Two times a year, the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the Indianapolis Bar Association organizes a Paternity Court Mediation Day where volunteer attorneys try to help fighting parents reach an agreement about the care of their children. The cases are selected by the court and deal with issues that arise after paternity has been established — custody, parenting time and child support.
On Tuesday, April 24, volunteer IndyBar attorneys drafted free wills and advance directives for members of the public at the John Boner Neighborhood Center and the Haughville branch of the Indianapolis Public Library.
Two women attorneys described as “silent leaders” were recognized by the Evansville Bar Association Friday for their service and contribution to the legal community.
While the need among unrepresented litigants continues to grow, state and federal courts in Indiana say recent efforts to encourage more pro bono service among attorneys are showing results.