Advocating with Passion and Purpose

FEBRUARY 2022
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS - -
We Couldn’t Do It Without You!
The Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is still going strong after 80 years thanks to our generous donors. We are pleased to announce that our 2021 Attorney Holiday Campaign raised more than $255,000 - the most in our history. We wish to thank all of you who gave to our campaign. Without your financial support, Indy Legal Aid would not be here to provide much-needed legal assistance to the most vulnerable in our community. Not only do we work with our clients to resolve their legal issues, we help promote economic self-sufficiency, preserve dignity,
and strengthen our communities.

We would like to also express our deep appreciation to our law firm campaign team captains and our outstanding campaign committee members who made the campaign possible.

Lee Christie, Campaign Chair, Christie Farrell Lee & Bell
John McLaughlin, Campaign Co-Chair, Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse
Ali Bartlett, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
Michael Griffiths, Dentons
Renea Hooper, Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary
Ryan Hurley, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Travis Jensen, Johnson Jensen LLP
Derek Molter
Scott Oliver, Lewis & Kappes
Dylan Pittman, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
John Trimble, Indy Legal Aid Board President, Lewis Wagner LLP
Kent Winingham, Wilson Kehoe Winingham

We would like to recognize and thank the following law firms for the support we received for our 2021 Attorney Holiday Campaign:
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Boren Oliver & Coffey LLP
Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
Christie Farrell Lee & Bell
Cohen & Malad LLP
Coots Henke & Wheeler
DeFur Voran LLP
Densborn Blachly LLP
Dentons
Dinsmore & Shohl
Eskew Law
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Frost Brown Todd
Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman
Hensley Legal Group PC
Hoover Hull Turner LLP
Hovde Dassow + Deets
Ice Miller LLP
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society
Johnson Jensen LLP
Katz Korin Cunningham
Kightlinger & Gray LLP
Krieg DeVault LLP
Kroger Gardis & Regas LLP
Ladendorf Law
Lewis & Kappes
Lewis Wagner LLP
Metzger Rosta LLP
Marion County Judges
Norris Choplin & Schroeder
Ogletree Deakins
Paganelli Law Group
Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse
Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP
Riley Bennett Egloff LLP
Rubin & Levin
Schultz & Pogue LLP
Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary
Skiles DeTrude
SmithAmundsen
Stephenson Rife
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Wilson Kehoe Winingham
February Success Story
One of our non-profit partners recently referred a woman named “Kristy” to our office. Kristy was living at a residential recovery program. She had battled addiction for years but was doing well and had great hopes of getting a job and being able to move into her own apartment. 

Unfortunately, there was a tremendous roadblock that stood in her way. Kristy had a suspended driver’s license as a result of two tickets that she had gotten years ago but could not afford to pay. In addition, the BMV had imposed a reinstatement fee of $2,000. These were hurdles that seemed insurmountable to Kristy.

Once our office had the referral, our attorney, Andrea Sneden, met with Kristy to discuss ways we might be able to help her. Following their discussion, Andrea reached out to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and they agreed to waive the $500 in tickets that Kristy owed. Andrea then represented Kristy and helped her petition the court to waive the reinstatement fee that had been imposed by the BMV. 

Within a short time, the Court ordered the reinstatement fee waived. In just over a month, Indy Legal Aid was able to save Kristy $2,500 in tickets and fees. We are so pleased to share that Kristy has been able to get her driver’s license reinstated and is now able to work towards getting a job and moving into her own apartment!
Indy Legal Aid Receives Funding from United Way of Central Indiana's Social Innovation Fund
The legal - social work connection has become very apparent to Indy Legal Aid, particularly in the last few years, regarding helping our clients with the complex issues they face.

In 2021, United Way of Central Indiana funded a social worker for Indy Legal Aid through the Social Innovation Fund that allowed us to hire a full-time social worker who has played a critical role in working with our Driver’s License Reinstatement program. For 2022, we received additional funding to continue and expand our social work services.

In 2021, we quickly learned that having a social worker on staff was enormously helpful as attorneys began consulting with her for other types of cases. Specifically, we realized we needed assistance from our social worker to help with other clients who have housing issues, especially landlord/tenant issues, where we partner with the Marion County Small Claims Courts, and our employment program, BY PLUS, where we partner with Indiana Construction Roundtable that helps employment seeking individuals with civil legal needs.

Indy Legal Aid has seen an increase in the number of clients who have both legal and social service issues. For example, a client who has a legal issue related to mold in his apartment, may have to find a new place to live. The Indy Legal Aid social worker can help with this process and even direct the client to rental assistance programs, if needed. Our program is unique in that individuals meet directly with an attorney to assess their cases and can be referred to the our social worker the very same day.

Another example is a client who has a suspended driver's license. The legal problem may be resolved so the client has a valid license, but now the client may need help accessing childcare so that he or she may pursue employment. This is another area where our social worker can be a valuable resource. We understand that the lives of the people we serve are complicated and have many barriers. Indy Legal Aid's goal is to create a one-stop shop that will remove these barriers so that our clients may be restored to economic and social stability.
Volunteer Opportunities

Indy Legal Aid has a number of volunteer opportunities for attorneys, students, and the general public. For attorneys, we have pro bono cases, internships for students, and our spring and fall events, along with
light office work.

For more information, click here.

No time to volunteer? Donate now!

We have several ways for you to make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable Hoosiers in Central Indiana. Approximately $.90 of every dollar donated to Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is directly used to provide programs and services. For more information, click here.
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Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 635 - 9538
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"The Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is dedicated to ensuring that qualified low-income persons living in the Central Indiana community have access to quality legal assistance for civil disputes."
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