Indianapolis high school wins state mock trial contest
Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis is the 2022 Indiana High School Mock Trial Champion and will represent Indiana in the National High School Mock Trial Championship in May.
Indiana Bar Foundation
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Court seeking comment on proposed rule amendments that could benefit bar foundation
The Indiana Supreme Court is requesting public comment on proposed rule amendments that, if approved, could provide additional legal aid funds to the Indiana Bar Foundation.
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 still has work to do to reach better civic health
Two years after undertaking specific steps to improve Hoosiers’ civic engagement, the Indiana Bar Foundation and its partners are celebrating advancements in the education arena but are also continuing to find challenges in getting voters to the polls.
New report shows Indiana’s civic health improving but chronic problems remain
After offering recommendations to improve the state’s civic health in 2019, the Indiana Bar Foundation and its partners recently took an assessment and found Hoosiers are excelling at improving civic education but continuing to stumble at increasing voter turnout.
Indiana Bar Foundation launching series of initiatives thanks to $13M grant
With a big boost from what is possibly the largest influx of financial support it has ever received, the Indiana Bar Foundation is preparing to use a $13.1 million grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to launch a series of initiatives to help guide Hoosiers facing housing problems through the civil legal system.
Indiana Bar Foundation unveils new logo, celebrates We the People competition
With a name that easily gets confused with other Hoosier legal organizations, the Indiana Bar Foundation realized it needed to make a change. But after stakeholders said they wanted to keep the moniker, the nonprofit opted to refresh its logo.
14 middle school teams advance to We the People state competition
The We the People 2021 Middle School Regional Championship hosted by the Indiana Bar Foundation has concluded, with the top three champions from 2020 again being among the 14 teams advancing to the state championship.
Regional We the People winners heading to state finals
Fishers bested its rival Hamilton Southeastern to capture a first place in the high school regional round of the Indiana Bar Foundation’s We the People competition held Nov. 2 and Nov. 4.
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.
Indiana’s efforts in civic education part of national conversation
Indiana’s new civic education law will be showcased during the second day of a national civic education policy summit hosted by CivXNow, which is bringing legislators, educators and civic leaders from across the country together to discuss ways to improve children’s understanding of democracy.
Volunteer judges needed for mock trial competition
The Indiana Bar Foundation is making a final call for volunteers to serve as judges during the 2021 National High School Mock Trial Championship in mid-May.
Indiana Bar Foundation launches mock trial diversity program
The Indiana Bar Foundation, with the support of several major law firms, has launched a diversity initiative designed to remove financial barriers that can prevent high school students from participating in mock trial programs.
Indiana lawmakers require civics class for middle schoolers
A bill incorporating civics education into Hoosier students’ middle school curriculum is headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk after House lawmakers voted Thursday to pass the measure.
Pro bono filing fee bill needs buzzer-beating play to pass Legislature
Although the Indiana General Assembly has unanimously supported a $1 pro bono surcharge tacked onto the state’s filing fee for civil cases since 2012, a bill that would have increased the amount to $3 did not get a committee hearing this session, raising alarm that the key funding stream for legal aid could run dry just as the need is growing.
Indiana Bar Foundation condemns attack on Capitol
Saying the rights provided in the Constitution come with obligations, the Indiana Bar Foundation has issued a statement condemning Wednesday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol Building.
Pandemic pressures legal aid
Looming evictions with so many Americans unable to pay their rent have been at the forefront of concerns, but legal aid offices and pro bono attorneys see other issues on the horizon. They expect more filings for bankruptcy and guardianships, and they believe more people will reach out for legal assistance with problems connected with consumer debt and domestic violence. Underpinning their ability to help is the need for money.
Building civic-minded Hoosiers: Task force recommends expanding civic education statewide
The 2019 Indiana Civic Health Index called attention to the issue of community participation and recommended the appointment of a committee to examine civic education. As a result, the Indiana Bar Foundation Civic Education Task Force was formed. At a Nov. 18 press conference, officials presented a final report urging a series of recommendations to improve civic education in Indiana.
Task force makes recommendations to bolster civic education in Indiana
The Indiana Bar Foundation Civic Education Task Force released a series of recommendations Wednesday for improving Hoosier students’ understanding of American democracy. The proposals include revising academic standards, providing more professional development for teachers and strengthening ties to the community.
Bar Foundation supporter encouraging donations
Timothy Abeska, a retired South Bend attorney, is providing needed financial support to the Indiana Bar Foundation and, through a just-announced matching initiative, is incentivizing others to do the same.