Indianapolis Legal Aid Society

Don't miss out on the Annual Roast Event.
It will be a roaring good time. Great food and great people to meet.

2024 CLE:
11th Annual
Timeless Tips from the Bench & Bar
Join us!

June 26, 2024

8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Indianapolis Marriott North

3645 River Crossing Parkway, Indianapolis, IN 46240
https://www.indylas.org/cle-event

As we further embark on the ILAS 2023 Annual Campaign, we invite each of you to be the key to unlocking a profound impact on lives entangled in legal challenges and limited resources. For over 80 years, the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (ILAS) has stood as a beacon, offering pro bono and no-cost legal representation in Marion and surrounding counties.
Yet, ILAS is not just an organization; it's a force committed to placing the legal profession at the forefront of solving problems, identifying critical issues, and making a lasting impact on our community. Attorneys, often unsung heroes, play pivotal roles in our communities—serving on boards, providing invaluable advice, and supporting clients through various challenges. Yet, they rarely find themselves in the proverbial trenches of directly addressing poverty and social issues.
ILAS is an exception; ILAS attorneys recognize the extensive costs associated with unaddressed legal needs in individuals with limited means. They know about the pain, trauma, and disparate impact legal issues have on our communities. They know that one of the biggest inequities in the United States is access to legal support. Our profession, our supporters, our board, and our partners in the community understand that this must change. Its why we have annual campaigns like this so that we can have the financial resources to make a difference, to stop harm, to right wrongs, to address root causes.
It’s why the ILAS annual campaign goes beyond raising money, it’s about making a difference. It’s about making a change in issues that we see and work with individuals on daily. To understand the profound impact let me share with you Andrea’s story:
Andrea, a resilient single mother raising three wonderful children while working tirelessly as a manager at her local McDonald's. Andrea's daily efforts extend beyond providing for her family; her warmth and companionship brighten the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. She stands as a pillar in her community, dedicating time to her children's school and generously using her free time to assist others.
Despite her unwavering dedication, Andrea, like many Hoosiers, finds herself living paycheck to paycheck. While she manages to put food on the table, the luxury of a vacation or the latest toy for her children remains out of reach. Hiring an attorney for help and support, an additional expense, seems like an unattainable dream.
Andrea's story takes a poignant turn as her sister, battling addiction relapses and takes a turn for the worse. Andrea, with limited resources, witnesses the profound impact of drugs on her sister and the innocent lives of her niece and nephew. Andrea relies on her nurturing instincts. She babysits, provides a safe and loving home, and becomes the beacon of stability for her family.
The situation takes a heartbreaking twist when Andrea's sister doesn't return home, leaving fear and anxiety in its wake. To make matters worse, her nephew Isaac falls seriously ill. Desperate for help, Andrea schedules a doctor's appointment, realizing during this moment that she is going to be facing legal challenges. The children are not on her health insurance, and she has no legal authority over them. The weight of the situation becomes overwhelming.
In a serendipitous turn, someone provides Andrea with the phone number to ILAS. Here, the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society becomes the lifeline for Andrea and others like her, thanks to the financial contributions from compassionate supporters like you. Andrea, unable to afford private counsel, finds the support and legal representation she deserves and establishes guardianship over her niece and nephew so they can access the medical and educational support they need. This is a wonderful ending to what could have been a tragic story.

The most important thing to learn from Andrea’s story is that tomorrow there will be a Sally, a June, a David. All facing similar issues, similar problems. There is a sn*******ng effect of the drug epidemic and what is happening to those who love, and support individuals consumed by addiction. We as a community, we as a profession, and we as Hoosiers have the chance to support the ILAS campaign to start making a difference.
ILAS is dedicating dollars raised from this campaign to do the following goals and objectives around the drug epidemic.
Goal: Raise awareness and funds to support ILAS programs that provide legal assistance to children and families affected by the drug epidemic through family law, guardianship, education support, and other key case types.
Objectives:
Raise funds to expand programs that offer legal support and resources to families affected by addiction.
Any monies raised will help expand collaboration with local addiction recovery organizations to reach and support families in need.
Any monies raised will expand collaboration with local shelters, community centers and other community-based organizations focusing on the drug epidemic in Marion County.
To contribute to this meaningful cause, please use ILAS's dedicated donation form for the Attorney Campaign, accessible via ILAS 2023 Annual Campaign on its website https://www.indylas.org/ or directly through this secure online link: https://www.indylas.org/donate-annual-fund

For those preferring checks or cash, contributions can be sent to the ILAS office at the following address, with "Annual Campaign" noted in the memo section:
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society
615 N Alabama St., Ste. 122,
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Your compassion and commitment to creating positive change in our community are genuinely appreciated.