by Mitchell Showalter • Office of Judicial Administration
Several years ago, a young Hoosier and her mother were in jeopardy of losing their home. Nineteen-year-old Cassie sought assistance for her 59-year-old mother who had recently suffered multiple debilitating strokes and a massive heart attack leaving her completely incapacitated. During this troubling time, it was the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society that assisted Cassie in obtaining guardianship of her mother. Once guardianship was established, their attorney helped Cassie apply for Social Security and other disability programs for her mother. Their work enabled Cassie and her mother to remain in the home, allowing Cassie to supervise her mother’s care.
This has been something that has been over 20 years in the making
John Floreancig, chief executive officer at ILAS
This is just one of the many personal stories that ILAS has in its history of helping the Indianapolis community. For over 80 years, ILAS has provided free legal assistance in civil matters to vulnerable Hoosiers in Marion and the surrounding counties.
Before 2020, ILAS attorneys would meet with clients face to face in their offices downtown, but when COVID-19 hit, they needed a way to offer legal assistance without risking exposure. So, they introduced their “talk-to-a-lawyer” telephone program to Indianapolis and surrounding areas.
But they wanted to do more to assist people in areas of the state that might be described as legal deserts, with very few practicing lawyers taking civil and family cases. And the program was already successful, so in late 2022, they expanded it to offer service for all 92 counties in Indiana.
317-635-9538
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society
open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Best times to call are 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Judges: ILAS encourages you to reach out with your feedback.
“This has been something that has been over 20 years in the making” said John Floreancig, chief executive officer at ILAS. “We want to help unclog the system (in the remaining counties) and help prepare people for what they can expect in court.” So far, they’ve helped people in more than 60 counties.
Unrepresented litigants anywhere in Indiana can call and schedule a 30-minute appointment to take place in person or over the phone with one of the ILAS lawyers. Everyone who makes an appointment will have a chance to speak to a lawyer about their civil or family case, including divorce, custody, guardianship, housing and eviction, property damage, debt, probate, wills, and more.