Pro bono - The Indiana Lawyer

Making litigants’ voices heard: Indy attorney Sniderman takes on additional role helping recruited counsel represent prisoners

March 16, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

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

February 10, 2022 | IL Staff

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

February 3, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

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

January 21, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

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

January 19, 2022 | From IndyBar

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

December 22, 2021 | Zena Braish and Emily Kile-Maxwell

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!

December 22, 2021 | From IndyBar

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

December 8, 2021 | Jordan Morey

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

December 6, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

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

October 28, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

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

September 3, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

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

September 1, 2021 | IL Staff

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

July 1, 2021 | IL Staff

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

June 23, 2021 | Emily Kile-Maxwell and Zena Braish

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

May 6, 2021 | IL Staff

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.

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic gets $1M grant from Lilly Endowment

April 14, 2021 | IL Staff

Indianapolis-based Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic has been awarded a grant of just over $1 million from Lilly Endowment’s Enhancing Opportunity Initiative, allowing the legal aid provider to bolster its assistance to individuals who are reentering society after being incarcerated.

Ramsey Clark, attorney general under Johnson, dies at 93

April 12, 2021 | Associated Press

Ramsey Clark, the attorney general in the Johnson administration who became an outspoken activist for unpopular causes and a harsh critic of U.S. policy, has died. He was 93.

LSC prepares another supplemental legal aid funding request

April 7, 2021 | IL Staff

Saying civil legal aid can help make the American Jobs Plan “work the way Congress intends,” the Legal Services Corp. is requesting supplement funding between $350 million and $500 million be included in the infrastructure package proposed by the Biden administration.

Attorney: Order that police pay for OWI blood draws may end ‘unfair’ practice

April 1, 2021 | Katie Stancombe

A Washington County trial judge has issued an order that a southern Indiana attorney said may uproot a long-standing practice requiring people suspected of drunk driving to pay for hospital blood-alcohol tests ordered by law enforcement, calling the practice “blatantly unfair.”

ILAS gets $250,000 boost from Lilly Endowment

March 15, 2021 | IL Staff

Indianapolis Legal Aid Society has received a $250,000 COVID-19 relief grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., providing much-needed support for legal assistance to low-income Hoosiers in central Indiana who have been acutely affected by the ongoing pandemic.

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