Indiana Legal Services, Inc.

Legal aid programs work to ensure fairness in the justice system. Almost 47 million people, and more than one in five children, live in or near poverty in the United States. Legal aid providers work protect the rights of millions of Americans with low-income each year in areas such as housing, consumer, family, education and employment, and defend access to services for people of all backgrounds, including children, veterans, victims of domestic violence, the elderly, and those living with disabilities.

Legal assistance is often the only lifeline available to people facing life-altering consequences, such as losing their home, employment, or custody of their children. Legal aid lawyers advocate for clients in a variety of matters outside of court, litigate on their behalf in court, and often lead complex legal actions seeking systemic changes that affect large numbers of people facing similar circumstances.

Indiana Legal Services, Inc. operates under a strategic plan. The plan helps to make sure the organization achieves its vision and goals. ILS’ vision is to provide Dignity, fairness, and equality for all people under the law.

There are four specific goals in the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan:
• Uniformly deliver excellent services and representation to low-income and elderly clients.
• Advocate for clients and client communities, especially marginalized populations, to ensure just outcomes.
• Increase visibility and financial support for ILS.
• Enhance organizational and individual accountability and effectiveness.

Indiana Legal Services and other legal aid providers lead the legal profession when it comes to innovations and new technology, making it easier for all Americans to access information and know their rights. Creative programs, from easy-to-understand forms to legal self-help centers, are benefiting the civil justice system by making legal proceedings more accessible and efficient for all.

ILS works to form broad and creative partnerships with service providers such as the courts, local, state, and federal government, community-based organizations, and others to share resources and coordinate service delivery to leverage scarce resources. We have lawyers dedicated to improving their communities and providing access to the legal system. We also leverage limited resources by partnering with pro bono attorneys and other volunteers who donate their time.

Indiana Legal Services provided extended legal services to 1709 clients, including…
• 477 whose family stability improved
• 196 whose access to health care was increased
• 295 whose household debt was eliminated or reduced
• 60 who did not become homeless because of our advocacy.

We helped 1,090 clients with brief services like calling a landlord or filling out court forms, and we helped 7,988 clients through individually tailored legal advice. Our advocacy led to monetary gains in public benefits, child support, court judgments, etc. totaling more than $1,955,085 and helped our clients avoid more than $3,745,245 in obligations that were otherwise legally due.

We strive to increase the number of clients we are able to serve, while ensuring that the quality of our services maintain the highest standards. We will continue advocating for our clients in the courts, educating the community and further developing strategic partnerships to extend our services and limited resources.