Civil Legal Assistance
For every $1 invested
in civil legal assistance,
$6.70 goes back into the community.
The Indiana Bar Foundation is a leader in improving access to the civil legal system for all Hoosiers. By supporting civil legal assistance and pro bono organizations, law students, attorneys, and self-represented litigants, the programs of the Indiana Bar Foundation advance our legal system and improve civil legal assistance for all Hoosiers.
Indiana Legal Help
The legal system can be hard to navigate alone. Through the Indiana Legal Help website, individuals can access legal service providers in their area and forms and resources specific to their legal needs.
Scholarships
Through the support of generous donors, the Indiana Bar Foundation offers several scholarships for current law students. Loan repayment assistance is also available for licensed attorneys working at civil legal assistance organizations.
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Helling Scholarship was created to provide scholarships to young attorneys in Indiana to give them the opportunity to participate in the Indiana State Bar Association’s annual meeting each year. Applications will open later this fall.
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Phelps & Fara Scholarship assists a law student enrolled at the IU McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis with an interest in family law. Applications are open here and must be submitted by March 31, 2026
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Hon. Cale J. Holder Scholarship was established in 1984 in memory of Judge Holder and is awarded annually based on dedication to the administration of law, financial need, desire to be a practicing litigator, capacity for leadership, academic achievement, and military service record if any. Applications will open here and must be submitted by March 31, 2026
Loan Repayment Assistance
The Indiana Bar Foundation Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is designed to help offset student loan costs for law school graduates who enter into a professional career with a qualifying Indiana civil legal aid program and to assist civil legal aid organizations in recruiting and retaining qualified lawyers. Applications are open now through November 7, 2025.
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Hon. Richard M. Givan Loan Repayment Assistance Fund was established in 2006 as a statewide loan assistance program for law school graduates employed in non-profit organizations serving the civil legal needs of low income individuals and families in Indiana.
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Hon. J. Terrence and Peggy Cody Loan Repayment Assistance Fund was established in 2019 to help enable graduating law students to pay for their law school loans and be employed at civil legal aid providers, county Department of Child Services offices and county Public Defender’s offices throughout the state of Indiana, with preference given to those employed or living in Floyd County, Indiana.
Civil Legal Aid Grants
The Indiana Bar Foundation provides annual grants to qualifying Indiana civil legal aid organizations through the Indiana Civil Legal Aid Fund and Indiana Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. Applications are open each spring.
IOLTA
The Indiana Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program was created in 1997 as a mechanism to enable low-income Hoosiers to have access to the civil justice system. The program requires attorneys to place commingled Indiana client trust funds that are nominal in amount and/or held for short periods of time into interest-bearing trust accounts with interest earned on these funds remitted periodically to the Indiana Bar Foundation.
Unclaimed & Unidentified Funds
Starting January 1, 2023, the Indiana Bar Foundation (Foundation) is accepting unclaimed and unidentified lawyer trust account funds from attorneys, law firms, or estates of deceased attorneys after diligent efforts are made to identify and locate the rightful owner pursuant to Rule 1.15(j) of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct.
Pro Bono
Pro Bono Reporting
Please access this Pro Bono Frequently Asked Questions resource providing answers to key questions often asked about Pro Bono reporting.
The Pro Bono Opportunity Guide
The Pro Bono Opportunity Guide is a statewide volunteer matching tool for legal professionals interested in volunteering and legal assistance providers who need volunteers.