Frequently Asked Questions

Indiana Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm that handles civil (non-criminal) legal matters for people who cannot afford attorneys.

Pro Bono is when an attorney volunteers to handle a client’s case without charging the client any money. A Pro Bono organization is an organization that connects Pro Bono attorneys with clients who need legal help.

Civil cases are disputes between two people or a person and a business or governmental agency, such as a divorce case, a landlord-tenant case, or an appeal of disability.

Criminal cases are always brought by a prosecutor against a person charged with committing a crime.

Indiana Legal Services handles only civil cases, not criminal cases. In general, Indiana Legal Services handles cases involving family law like divorce, custody, and support, housing issues like evictions or substandard conditions, consumer law like debt collection, government benefits, expungements, driver’s license cases, elder law issues like wills and guardianships, some immigration cases, worker’s rights and unemployment compensation.

Public defender programs handle criminal matters. In a criminal case, the judge can assign a public defender to represent the person accused of a crime if that person cannot afford to hire an attorney. Legal services/legal aid programs generally handle civil cases.

At Indiana Legal Services, the person who wants an attorney usually must meet financial eligibility requirements relating to their income and assets, but for some types of cases there are no eligibility requirements. ILS also has to inquire whether the applicant is a citizen or has other immigration status.

If you are looking for a private attorney (generally, a lawyer you pay for help), you may want to ask friends or family members what attorney they would recommend. Most bar associations have lawyer referral programs.

If you are looking for a private attorney (generally, a lawyer you pay for help), you may want to ask friends or family members what attorney they would recommend. Most bar associations have lawyer referral programs.

Be sure to check with all the legal services programs that serve your area.

You can find your local legal services program through the Indiana Legal Help website. You can contact that program directly to get more information about the program and its eligibility requirements.