Save the Date: 75th Anniversary Gala on October 3, 2025!

November 2023

Dunlap’s Download

A message from Charles Dunlap, Indiana Bar Foundation President & CEO

Celebrating Our Keystone Society!

Make a Difference. Forge Your Legacy.

Your gifts of time and funds matter in our Mission to champion Civil Legal Assistance and Civic Education for all Hoosiers!

We appreciate your support — whether through your employer or from you personally.

As we prepare for 2024, we want to give special recognition to members of our Keystone Society. These vital supporters give between $1,000 and $10,000 annually to make our work possible. We cannot do what we do without them.

Keystone Society members represent our most committed individual donors. Some joined the Foundation early in their careers — and have made our work a priority during their entire legal careers. Other members may just be starting out. We continue to count them as leaders in our Foundation and Profession for the next generation.

If you are a recent Keystone Society member — or would like information on joining the Keystone Society for the first time - please click the yellow button below.

I hope you will consider joining this group of distinguished attorneys, judges, and justices as a Keystone Society Member. We will be honored to have you!

Sincerely,

Chuck

2023 Indiana Civil Legal Assistance Conference A Success

A day of collaboration, conversation, and connection highlighted the sold-out 2023 Indiana Civil Legal Assistance Conference held October 26 in Indianapolis. The 250 attendees heard from keynote speakers, including Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter and the Hon. Maria Granger, a trial court judge in Floyd County.

Thirty sessions with 44 presenters covered various topics and current trends facing civil legal assistance.

An event highlight was the announcement of the prestigious Randall T. Shepard Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service, given to Kim Latimore-Martin of the Indiana State Bar Association (middle), and Marilyn Smith (right) of the Indiana Bar Foundation. The two received their awards from Scott Wylie, the Executive Director of Pro Bono Indiana (left).

We the People Regionals Underway

The first We the People Regional was held October 27 in Gary. The Central Regional high school competition is today (Nov 3). Additional regionals are scheduled throughout the month.

The Foundation continues to seek individuals to judge We the People regional and state competitions with the greatest need at the Fort Wayne and Evansville regionals.

The necessary training, materials, information, and resources will be provided so that any person can easily judge the competition. To see the full list of regional dates, the questions the students will answer, and the registration form, please visit this page.

Mock Trial Case Released

The Foundation has released the 2023-2024 Mock Trial Case. Find the case and Mock Trial competition information here. Continue to visit the website for updates. Follow the Foundation on social media throughout Mock Trial season. Good luck to all teams!

Mock Trial Law School Provided Key Resources to Teachers

The Foundation concluded its inaugural Mock Trial Law School workshops for teachers interested in starting mock trial or making their team better with an advanced workshop in Indianapolis October 12.

Beginner workshops were held in Lake County and Indianapolis, with an advanced workshop held in Indianapolis.



Beginner Workshops provided educators with the resources needed to start a mock trial program.

The Advanced Workshop offered tools to make a mock trial program stronger. Foundation Board Member, the Hon. Elizabeth Tavitas, spoke to the group about the Rules of Evidence and Objections. Indianapolis attorney Samuel R. Robinson, a partner with Church Church Hittle + Antrim spoke on Guiding the Witness: Question Writing. The group also heard from the Hon. Melissa May, a Foundation Fellow and former Foundation Board Member, who talked about Case Organization and Creating a Narrative. Information about the Foundation's civic education program is available here.

Mock Trial Diversity Initiative Enrollment Now Open

The Mock Trial Diversity Initiative (MTDI) Presented by Krieg DeVault was established to retain, expand, and diversify participating schools in the Indiana Mock Trial program by reducing financial and systemic barriers.

The program focuses on under-resourced schools with a large population of students of color.

The Foundation will partner with MTDI schools to offer:

·        Grants to fund costs associated with Mock Trial, including but not limited to: teacher stipends, transportation, food, business clothing, supplies, cost of registration, lodging, sub pay, and technology.

·        Grants begin at $2,500 with additional funding for those advancing to the state competition.

·        Training at Introduction to Mock Trial Workshops.

·        Professional Development opportunities.

·        Resources for teachers and students to learn mock trial, including introduction videos, graphic organizers, lesson plans, standards alignment document, past mock trial cases, annotated video of a mock trial.

Please contact Director of Civic Education Tim Kalgreen for additional information and to apply for available financial support. If you would like to learn about available opportunities to support the Mock Trial Diversity Initiative, please contact Director of Development Kim Berry.

Support the Foundation as a Keystone Society Member 

Individuals donating $1,000 or more are welcomed to the Foundation’s Keystone Society, which includes special recognition and unique events. Join our distinguished group of supporters and become a Keystone Society member today. Keystone Society contribution levels are listed below.

·        The Barrister level – annual donation of $10,000

·        The Advocate level – annual donation of $5,000

·        The Counselor level – annual donation of $2,500

·        The Partner level – annual donation of $1,000 



The Foundation congratulates board members Caryn Glawe, Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP and Lucy Dollens, Partner, Commercial Litigation, Quarles & Brady LLP, for their selection as 2023 Indianapolis Business Journal Women of Influence. The honor recognizes those rising to the highest level in central Indiana in business, the arts, and community and public service. Learn more here.

The Foundation was a contributor to Professor Victor Quintanilla's research study, "Accessing Justice with Zoom: Experiences and Outcomes in Online Civil Courts." These findings highlight the importance of understanding the experiences and outcomes of unrepresented litigants when engaged in civil justice design and underscore the benefits of continuing to make civil proceedings widely available through remote platforms such as Zoom and Webex. Find the full report here.

The National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) presented Indiana Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush with the Lady Justice Award. The NAWJ President and Executive Committee honored Chief Justice Rush with the recognition at their annual convention, which was held late last month in Indianapolis. 

The Lady Justice award honors a member of the NAWJ community who uses their position to promote the rule of law through strong and diverse leadership; fairness and equality in the courts; and equal access to justice. Learn more about the NAWJ.

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis runs the Future Presidents of America program, a week-long youth leadership camp whose mission is to develop “individual confidence, civic literacy, and good citizenship to reveal the exceptional qualities of character that make for great presidents and leaders.” Students aged 13-16 may now apply, and the camp will run from June 24-28, 2024. The number of participants is limited to 20. If selected, all participants will receive full scholarships. Contact Roger Hardig, Vice President of Education. Additional Information can be found here.

New staff and expanding programs reflect the Foundation's continued growth. We are proud of our team and want to introduce them to you! Please take a moment to Get to Know Civic Education Specialist Joseph O'Connor.