Pro Bono Support

The phrase “pro bono” is short for the phrase “pro bono publico,” which means “for the public good.” It can refer to the gratis provision of any type of professional service, but is typically understood to mean attorneys using their legal training and skills to improve society without expectation of payment.

The concept of donating our skills is so important that it has been incorporated into Indiana’s Rules of Professional Conduct. The preamble to these Rules reminds us that:

• A lawyer should be mindful of deficiencies in the administration of justice and of the fact that the poor, and sometimes persons who are not poor, cannot afford adequate legal assistance. Therefore, all lawyers should devote professional time and resources and use civic influence to ensure equal access to our system of justice for all those who because of economic or social barriers cannot afford or secure adequate legal counsel.

This directive is also the basis of Rule 6.1, which encourages all attorneys to render “public interest legal service,” and to “provide uncompensated legal assistance to poor persons.”

The 2019 Indiana Civil Legal Needs Study and Legal Aid System Scan found that Indiana’s legal aid providers were able to provide full representation to only about 20% of all eligible applicants, with another 25% receiving limited advice or services, and 10.4% referred to pro bono attorneys. The rest received the most basic of help, such as an advice letter, directions to a clinic, or links to self-help materials.

Those numbers are just the people who actually applied for assistance. The same study estimated that only 25% of Hoosiers with a legal need take action and seek legal assistance for that need, and that 96% of all civil legal problems experienced by low-income Hoosier households are not served at all by Indiana’s civil legal aid system.

Pro bono not only serves Hoosiers who can’t afford legal services, it also benefits the courts, the attorney providing the services, and society as a whole.

• It’s good for the clients. Having a pro bono attorney significantly improves outcomes for clients and their families. For tenants, getting advice and counsel from an attorney greatly increases the chances of delaying or avoiding eviction.1 For domestic violence survivors, having an attorney stand between them and their abuser can relieve some of their fear, and help them break the cycle of abuse for themselves and their children. For immigrants facing the possibility of deportation or removal, getting help with creating a safety plan can ensure that their children and assets remain protected. For seniors, having a basic estate plan prepared by a volunteer attorney can avoid an unnecessary and contentious guardianship.
• It’s good for the court system. Approximately 25% of all civil cases filed in Indiana have at least one unrepresented party.1 This percentage is even higher in the areas of domestic relations, small claims, debt collection, guardianships, and criminal expungements. 2 Courts report that unrepresented parties tend to require more court assistance, have trouble following court rules, cause unwelcome delays, and clog the court’s docket with more contested hearings. 3 Having more volunteer attorneys available to help “clear the clutter” would go a long way towards greater court efficiency.
• It’s good for society. Providing pro bono services helps bridge the divide between those with the means to afford legal services and those who don’t. Helping people obtain child support, avoid default judgments, or recover unpaid wages can also help them avoid or reduce reliance on public welfare programs. Doing presentations about legal rights and responsibilities to students and communities can prevent costly legal mistakes in the future.
• It’s good for you. Doing pro bono develops professional skills, particularly interviewing, writing, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy. Clinics give attorneys a chance to interact with and learn from people from a variety of backgrounds, and to gain exposure to a wider range of subject areas. Volunteering can also create a sense of personal satisfaction, and remind attorneys why they decided to become lawyers.

There is no requirement for Indiana attorneys to do pro bono; the only requirement is for attorneys to report their pro bono activities to the Indiana Supreme Court each year.

Attorneys are, however, highly encouraged to contribute 50 hours of pro bono service (or comparable financial contribution) annually.

Attorneys can discharge their responsibility to do public interest legal service by providing professional services at no fee or a reduced fee to persons of limited means, public service groups, and/or charitable groups or organizations; participating in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession; and financial support for organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means.

The comments to Rule 6.1 also ask attorneys to provide free or reduced fee services in the areas of “poverty law, civil rights law, charitable organization representation and the administration of justice.” This broad definition of “pro bono service” offers attorneys and other legal professionals a wide range of potential opportunities to be of service to those who need, but can’t afford, legal services or information.

To be “pro bono service,” the work must be performed with no expectation of payment at the time the service is provided. Work billed to clients who don’t pay, hours written off after the service was performed, or contingency fee arrangements where nothing is recovered are not considered “pro bono,” because the work was performed with the understanding that the attorney would be compensated for their work.

Not necessarily. There are two ways an attorney can be paid for doing “pro bono” work. First, if an attorney charges less than one-half of their current market rates to an individual reasonably believed to be of limited means, then the representation is still considered “pro bono” for reporting purposes.

Second, if an attorney accepts a case with no expectation of payment, but a court later orders another party to pay some or all of the pro bono attorney’s fees, the attorney is allowed to accept those fees for their services and still consider their services “pro bono.” Of course, Rule 6.1 encourages attorneys to donate an “appropriate” portion of those fees to an organization or project that serves low-income persons.

Pursuant to Rule 6.7, every attorney licensed in Indiana – unless categorically exempted – must report certain information regarding their prior year’s pro bono activities during the annual attorney registration process.

Not all activities that qualify as “pro bono” under Rule 6.1 qualify as “reportable” under 6.7. The only activities that have to be reported are:

• Legal services provided “directly” to persons of limited means, either for free or for a fee less than 50% of the attorney’s “normal” hourly rates; and
• Financial or in-kind donations to qualified organizations that serve persons of limited means, or that provide financial support to organizations that directly serve persons of limited means.

In contrast, activities intended to improve the law, the legal system, and/or the legal profession, or legal services provided to an organization rather than an individual, would not be considered direct services to an individual, and therefore are not reportable under Rule 6.7, even though they meet the definition of pro bono under Rule 6.1.

Only the following categories of attorneys are exempt from the reporting requirement:

• Members of the judiciary or judicial staff;
• Government lawyers prohibited by statute, rule, regulation, or agency policy from providing pro bono legal services; and
• Retired and inactive attorneys, even if they hold an active Pro Bono Publico license.

Everyone else must complete the reporting fields as part of their annual registration.

Estimates are okay. Just make your best guess!

If you aren’t exempt, and you didn’t perform any pro bono services or donate to a qualified organization, just enter -0- into those fields, then sign up for a pro bono opportunity now so you don’t have to enter -0- next year.

Absolutely! Accepting clients and opportunities through an organized pro bono program has many benefits, but is not required. As long as the services are being provided directly to individuals reasonably believed to be of limited means, and either there is no expectation of payment or the work is done at a substantially reduced fee, it counts toward your reportable pro bono hours.

Indiana does not offer CLE credit for pro bono service, but other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, and West Virginia, do. If you are licensed in one of these states, check that state’s rules to see if your pro bono service can be converted into CLE credit.

The general definition of “poverty law” is representation of a client that “does not have the financial resources to compensate counsel.” For real world applications, we look to Indiana’s civil legal aid organizations and their rules and guidelines for determining eligibility for their services.

Each civil legal aid organization has their own rules for what types of clients and cases they can and will accept. These rules are dictated by grant funders, organizational priorities, and availability of legal professionals to provide the services.

Typical eligibility factors include:

• Financial, such as the applicant’s household income and available assets;
• The type, difficulty, and urgency of the legal issue presented;
• Residency and/or jurisdiction;
• The applicant’s citizenship or legal residency status; and/or
• If the applicant is a member of a special population, such as veterans, LGBTQ, or over 65 years old.

Of course, not everyone that qualifies for civil legal aid services will get them, because there are simply not enough legal aid attorneys to meet the need.

“Low-income” for civil legal organizations goes deeper than just not being able to afford legal services. Being “income-qualified” means that the person meets approved specific income and documentation requirements, and these requirements may vary by the type of client, the type of services, and who is funding the program.

Most organizations use the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) to determine eligibility. In this model, annual household income must be below a certain percentage, typically between 125% and 200%, of FPG. Some organizations just look at gross income; others allow certain deductions, such as rent, medical bills, or child care, when determining eligibility. For example, an individual with a household of four applying for assistance from an organization that requires gross household income under 200% would qualify with household income under $62,000, while the same individual applying to an organization that uses 125%, but allows deductions, cannot have more than $39,000 of annual household income remaining after the allowed deductions.

Some programs use state median income figures to determine eligibility. This is more commonly used for housing assistance programs, but legal assistance programs funded by a housing agency, such as HUD or the IHCDA, may be required to follow HUD’s income restrictions.

Other programs, such as programs that serve veterans, the elderly, and victims of domestic violence, may have no income restrictions at all, although applicants must meet other, non-income requirements to be eligible for services.

Indiana has several organizations that provide access to free and low-cost legal services, but each organization has a different approach to providing these services. The main approaches used by organizations to provide free and low-cost legal services are:

• Non-profit law firms. These organizations employ staff attorneys and other legal professionals to provide direct legal services, but most will work with volunteer attorneys for certain projects, cases, and/or services. Funding comes primarily from public and private grants, private donations, and fundraising events, and some may charge a less-than-market fee for their services.

  Indiana organizations that use this model include Indiana Legal Services (ILS), the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, the Legal Aid Corporation of Tippecanoe County, the Metro Legal Clinic, and the Center for Victim and Human Rights.

• Pro Bono Organizations. These organizations recruit private attorneys and other legal professionals to provide legal services for low-income clients, either on a pro bono or reduced fee basis. These organizations may have attorneys on staff, but their main role is to manage client referrals and support the volunteer attorneys instead of representing clients. Funding comes primarily from public and private grants, private donations, and fundraising events.

  Indiana organizations that use this model include Pro Bono Indiana, the Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana (VLPNEI), and the Whitewater Valley Pro Bono Commission.

• Specialized Programs. These organizations focus on a specific population, such as children, immigrants, or victims of domestic violence, and legal assistance may be one of several services provided to members of that population. Legal assistance is typically managed by staff attorneys, but volunteer attorneys are used to provide day-to-day representation and services whenever possible. Funding comes primarily from public and private grants, private donations, and fundraising events.

  Indiana organizations that use this model include Kids Voice Indiana, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), and the National Immigrant Law Center (NILC).

• Bar Associations. Many bar associations offer pro bono opportunities for their members. Some events are also done in partnership with another civil legal aid organization, such as a non-profit law firm or a pro bono organization. Funding comes primarily from member dues, with some receiving funding from a related bar foundation that accepts charitable donations. Volunteers typically must be members of the bar association in order to participate.
• Law Schools. Every law school in Indiana encourages its students to use their new legal skills to help low-income people, whether by applying for a clinic program, participating in a student-run legal information clinic, or volunteering for a non-profit organization. Some of these clinic programs also use volunteer attorneys as supervisors or advisors.

There are a variety of programs and opportunities:

• Services to individuals: Opportunities include taking a shift for an in-person or virtual help desk, answering questions on Indiana Free Legal Answers; giving legal advice during a clinic, helping clients prepare standard forms; drafting letters, pleadings, or other documents under a limited scope agreement, or providing extended representation services. Many available opportunities of this type can be found on this website. These types of services are typically considered “reportable” pro bono under Rule 6.7.
• Services to organizations: Assist a new non-profit organization with their tax, business, or legal needs. Common needs include business formation and governance, securing tax-exempt status, drafting or reviewing legal documents, protecting intellectual property, and developing HR policies. [Example: Pro Bono Partnership]
• Service to the community: Look around and see what your community needs. This can take the form of doing a know-your-rights presentation to a school, church or civic organization;
• Service to the profession: You can serve on your bar association’s Pro Bono Committee (No committee? Start one!), volunteer to present a CLE for a pro bono organization or bar association, or work with your local judiciary to improve access for unrepresented litigants. Of course, always be willing to share your support of doing pro bono.

Absolutely! Legal clinics are a good way to give back without a major time commitment. Go to our Volunteering page to find a legal clinic that needs volunteers, or answer questions posted on Indiana Free Legal Answers.

Individual pro bono programs provide a variety of benefits and resources for their pro bono volunteers, such as:

• Malpractice insurance coverage for volunteers and volunteer events;
• Clients and cases that have been pre-screened for financial eligibility and legal merit;
• Subject-matter experts willing to assist and to answer questions;
• Access to free or low-cost training and CLE;
• Meeting space for client consultations;
• Access to copiers and other office equipment; and
• Waiver or reimbursement of litigation expenses.

Not all pro bono programs offer all of these benefits, so check to see what is offered before accepting a case or incurring expenses.

Every pro bono attorney in Indiana, whether or not they are working with a civil legal aid organization, has access to the resources on this website.

No. There may be some limitations on the types of pro bono and access to justice work you may do because of your specific role and any potential conflicts of interest, but government lawyers are not generally prohibited from doing pro bono work (See, Conflict of Interest Rules generally, RPC 1.7, 1.8, 1.9,1.10, and 1.11). Further, some government employers may limit the scope of pro bono work that you might be able to do or otherwise impose restrictions on legal work beyond that of the government client or the government office employer.

Note: Restricting pro bono work of government lawyers may infringe on attorneys’ rights of free speech and association. But see Garcetti v. Caballos 547 U.S. 410 (2006) (holding that when speaking as a public employee and pursuant to official duties, public employees’ speech has no First Amendment protection; however, a citizen who works for the government is still a citizen and, as such, has First Amendment rights that cannot be limited, incidentally or intentionally, by a government employer).

There are limitations on your ability to provide pro bono legal services due to the additional limitations of extra-judicial activities of officers and staff of Indiana courts. For example, the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct limits the extrajudicial activities of all court officers ( Ind. CJC 3.1 ) and requires the judge’s staff to act consistently with the judge’s obligations under the Code (Ind. CJC 2.12). Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct (CJC 3.10) specifically prohibits judges from practicing law with very narrow exceptions. As a judicial officer or a member of court staff, you should always check with your judge or court about practicing law outside of your government employment before commencing such work.

No. RPC 6.1 provides no blanket exemption from the responsibility to provide pro bono legal assistance for government lawyers. Indeed, Indiana faces a critical shortage of attorneys and legal resources to provide legal service and access to civil legal resources to underserved individuals and communities. There are many service opportunities for government lawyers that can addresses these needs in varied, important, and manageable situations and contexts. 

RPC 6.1 identifies the following ways to carry out our pro bono responsibilities:

• Providing professional legal services at no fee or a reduced fee to persons of limited means or to public service or charitable groups or organizations
• Providing service in activities for improving the law, the legal system, or the legal profession
• Providing financial support for organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means

The Comment to RPC 6.1 provides that service under this rule includes work provided without fee or at substantially reduced fee in several areas, which include:

• Poverty law – work for a client who does not have the financial resources to compensate counsel;
• Civil rights law – representation of the right of an individual that society has a special interest in protecting;
• Public rights law – legal representation involving an important right belonging to a significant segment of the public;
• Charitable organization representation – meaning representation of a charitable, religious, civic, governmental and educational institution on a matter in furtherance of the organization’s purpose where payment of customary legal fees would significantly deplete an organization’s economic resources or otherwise be inappropriate;

The Final Report of the Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future (July 1, 2025) makes numerous recommendations regarding solutions to address the lawyer shortage in our state: supporting and growing the legal profession, creating and supporting undergraduate to law school pipelines, and establishing mentorships around the practice of law and the legal profession.

• Administration of justice – activity designed to increase the availability of legal representation or improve the administration of justice;

Examples of pro bono adjacent work that would qualify as pro bono work include:

• Hours spent doing legal research or drafting for a case in which you, as a government lawyer, would be prohibited from filing an appearance in court
• Hours spent helping to plan, organize or set up a pro bono clinic
• Hours spent on preparing training for pro bono opportunities or taking such training (both as the lawyer/teacher and the lawyer/learner)

An example of pro bono adjacent work that would not count as pro bono work would be drafting an office policy on pro bono work. Such work would be a part of your work responsibilities and therefore would not be counted as pro bono work.

Yes. Government lawyers face some distinct issues regarding pro bono and access to justice service, including certain kinds of work that are not appropriate for a government attorney to do.  For example, a government lawyer should not perform pro bono work in a substantive area that might implicate the attorney’s work or the work of the attorney’s public agency. Any pro bono policy should be discussed and approved by the agency head of your office. 

Examples to draft or update your office’s pro bono policy include decades of federal and state government efforts that are successfully combatting the myth that government lawyers cannot participate in pro bono work:

• US Department of Justice Pro Bono Information and Resources for Government Lawyers
• Minnesota Example (state bar association) of State Government Pro Bono Information and Resources for Government Lawyers
• Montana Example (Montana Department of Justice) of State Government Pro Bono Information and Resources for Government Lawyers
• New York Example (from the Office of the Attorney General) of State Government Pro Bono Information and Resources for Government Lawyers
• Eight Questions a Government Lawyer Should Ask Before Taking a Pro Bono Case
• Pro Bono Project Development: A Deskbook for Government and Public Sector Lawyers
• Example Provisions for Government Lawyer Office or Agency Pro Bono Policy

A well-crafted government office pro bono policy might include:

• An introduction about the purpose of the policy, the why and how of the policy’s adoption
• A recognition of attorney pro bono responsibilities under RPC 6.1, including that government agencies and offices might impose stricter standards than those imposed by the rule.
• A definition of pro bono service
• Reference to applicable government laws and rules on workplace ethics. E.g., in Indiana, ethics laws for state government employees are found in I.C. 4-2-6 and 42 IAC 1. For local government lawyers, codes of ethics may be found in local ordinances, codes, regulations, or policies.
• The process for approval of pro bono activities
• Accounting for attorney time devoted to pro bono work. Professional time spent on pro bono work: Government lawyers will be required to make up the time spent on a pro bono case or effort if the case required attention during regular work hours. As such, flexibility in a work schedule may allow the attorney to compensate the public agency for any time spent on a pro bono case during the normal wok day, provided the employing agency consents to this arrangement.
• The government office responsibilities for volunteer pro bono work by government lawyers (e.g., that pro bono work must not interfere with official duties and responsibilities, that official government work must be given top priority, that all potential or apparent conflicts of interest must be prevented)
• Use of government resources for pro bono work (e.g., no government supplies or equipment shall be used for pro bono work; no government administrative support shall be used for pro bono work)
• Clear statement about the volunteer lawyer’s identification as a government lawyer acting in a non-government capacity
• A statement and procedure about how potential or apparent conflicts of interest will be assessed and resolved
• A clarification that the government office does not provide professional liability coverage for pro bono work and direction about how volunteer government lawyers might acquire professional liability insurance
• Effective date and sunset date, if applicable.

Surveys suggest that a government office or agency coordinating with a particular pro bono project that seeks to accommodate government lawyers can be very helpful. For example, providing opportunities outside of working hours, providing a location to meet with clients, or finding an area of law that does not present a conflict of interest to the lawyers or the government agency might make the opportunity to volunteer pro bono time and expertise more compatible with a government lawyer’s professional responsibilities. Additional incentives: leadership, mentorship, practice, appreciation, connection, joy. See, e.g., Supporting Justice V: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America’s Lawyers (2025).

Probably yes, but you should check with your office policy before committing to such work. Prosecutors, including deputy prosecutors, have a duty of loyalty to the state of Indiana. Further, RPC 1.8(l) outlines limitations on part-time prosecutors and deputy prosecutors when they are representing private clients, which would include pro bono clients. However, the rule recognizes that upon express written limitation of responsibility to exclude prosecutorial authority in matters related to family law, a part-time deputy prosecutor may fully represent private clients in cases involving family law. If pursuing pro bono work as a prosecutor or deputy prosecutor, it would be wise to enter into a written agreement with your private client that notes the exclusion of the use of prosecutorial authority as a part of the private, pro bono representation.

Likely, yes, but you should check with your office policy before committing to such work.

No, any work assigned by your employer does not qualify as pro bono work. In contrast, if your employer allows you to participate in pro bono work similar to your daily workload, but outside of government employment hours, this could be considered pro bono work.

You may do so under certain circumstances. Ind. RPC 1.7 addresses current conflicts of interest and requires that affected clients give informed consent, confirmed in writing, should a direct conflict of interest present itself. Beyond the circumstance of a direct conflict of interest, representing pro bono clients before judicial tribunals in which you conduct or could conduct your government representation might cause confusion. If you are providing outside legal work, you must ensure that all parties involved realize that you are acting solely in a personal capacity rather than in your official capacity on behalf of the government. As with all pro bono work by government lawyers, every step should be taken to check to make sure that such work is within the bounds of your agency or office’s pro bono policy.

Yes, but out of an abundance of caution, you should ensure that all parties involved realize that you are acting solely in a personal capacity rather than in your official capacity on behalf of the government. As with all pro bono work by government lawyers, every step should be taken to check to make sure that such work is within the bounds of your agency or office’s pro bono policy.

As with all pro bono work by government lawyers, every step should be taken to check to make sure that such work is within the bounds of your agency or office’s pro bono policy. Beyond that, connecting otherwise self-represented-litigants (SRLs) before your agency or office to pro bono resources (e.g., Indiana Legal Help) would also have to be approved by your agency leadership and follow laws regarding government recommendations and communications. For example, RPC 4.3 limits what a lawyer can tell an unrepresented litigant. Under this rule, you would have to tell the unrepresented litigant (or SRL, self-represented-litigant) that you are not representing the litigant’s interest.

Further, if you are a government lawyer who works for the courts or a judge, you may not show any preference to a firm, agency, or office. See CJC 1.3, requiring the judge and staff to not abuse the prestige of the judicial office by advancing the personal of economic interests of others.

A pilot program might involve the following steps:

1. Draft a formal pro bono implementation plan that includes a screen for indigency and need for an attorney.
2. Create or share publicly available training materials for SLRs and/or attorneys interested in providing pro bono services in agency/office matters.
3. Give the otherwise self-represented-litigant contact information for potential pro bono representation (Indiana Legal Services, Pro Bono Indiana, Indy Bar).
4. In some appropriate manner, recognize the pro bono service by the lawyer (in issued orders or otherwise).

Maybe, RPC 6.7(a)(4) provides an exemption to any pro bono reporting obligation for government lawyers who are prohibited by statute, rule, regulation, or agency policy from providing legal services outside his or her employment. If you are not prohibited from providing pro bono legal services outside of your government employment, you are obligated to report your annual pro bono hours, even if the number is zero.

Yes. For example, full-time prosecutors and full-time deputy prosecutors are required to devote their full professional time to the duties to the prosecuting attorney office. I.C. 33-39-6-6.
Even if no law prohibits pro bono service, you should always check with the leadership of your agency or office about practicing law outside of your government employment before commencing such work.

No, you should not assume a prohibition of pro bono work. However, you should recognize that many government lawyers are prohibited from practicing law outside of their employment and that even if such legal work is not prohibited, it may be strictly limited. For example, a policy may limit such work to that which does not involve the entry of an appearance in any federal, state, or local court or work that does not “involve a matter of public controversy.” As a public employee, you should always check with the leadership of your agency or office about practicing law outside of your government employment before commencing such work.

Not necessarily. As a government lawyer, RPC 6.7(a)(4) may provide an exemption from reporting your pro bono hours devoted directly to an individual or individuals of limited means. Specifically, if you, as a government lawyer, are “prohibited by statute, rule, regulation, or agency policy” from providing legal services outside of your employment, then you are exempt from reporting. If no law or policy prohibits you from providing legal services outside of your government employment, you are required to report pro bono hours spent in providing legal services directly to individuals of limited means, whether the number of hours is zero or 100 or somewhere in between.

Note: if you are a government lawyer employed by a judge or a court, you are exempt from reporting without limitation.

Yes, RPC 6.7(a)(4) provides a blanket exemption to any pro bono reporting obligation for lawyers who are members of the judiciary or judicial staff.

Yes. The public interest responsibilities encouraged by RPC 6.1 casts a wider net of activities than the reporting requirement of RPC 6.7. The latter makes clear that the Indiana Supreme Court’ reporting requirement gathers “only a subset” of the pro bono public interest work encouraged by RPC 6.1.

It seems the court is particularly interested in tracking only the information sought, reportable pro bono hours. While the court encourages a wide range of pro bono pro bono public interest work through RPC 6.1. ,the annual registration is not built to collect data on other good pro bono work.

As it currently exists, you are invited to include additional information about helping others in a short survey included with the annual registration process. In addition, you may opt to share your perspectives on this work with future law students.

Most civil legal aid organizations in Indiana that use pro bono attorneys will provide malpractice coverage for those attorneys. Some of these polices provide first-dollar defense for their volunteers; other polices provide coverage that is secondary to any malpractice coverage the attorney may have through their law firm.

The following civil legal organizations in Indiana have said that they provide malpractice insurance coverage for their pro bono volunteers:

• Ability Allies (f/k/a Disability Legal Services of Indiana) (Indianapolis)
• Center for Victim and Human Rights (Indianapolis)
• Indiana Justice Project (Indianapolis)
• Indiana Legal Services, including their local offices:
  • Bloomington
  • Indianapolis
  • Evansville
  • Fort Wayne
  • Lafayette
  • Merrillville
  • New Albany
  • South Bend
• IU McKinney Law School Legal Services (Indianapolis)
• Indianapolis Bar Association (Indianapolis)
• Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (Indianapolis)
• Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (Indianapolis)
• Pro Bono Indiana, through their local offices:
  • Heartland Pro Bono Council (Indianapolis)
  • NWI Volunteer Lawyers (Hobart)
  • The Volunteer Lawyer Network (South Bend)
  • Wabash Valley Volunteer Attorneys (Lafayette and Kokomo)
  • Legal Aid of East Central Indiana (Richmond)
  • District 10 Pro Bono Project (Bloomington)
  • River Valley Legal Aid (Columbus)
  • Legal Volunteers of Southeast Indiana (Lawrenceburg)
  • Volunteer Lawyer Program of Southwestern Indiana (Evansville)
  • Southern Indiana Pro Bono Referrals (New Albany)
• Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne)

If you work for an Indiana-based civil legal organization that provides malpractice coverage for its volunteers, but you don’t see your organization on this list, please let us know

Although we try to keep this list up to date, things may change. Don’t assume that the organization you want to work with will provide coverage for a specific pro bono opportunity, even if it is on this list.

Every prospective volunteer should verify coverage, and whether that coverage will be primary or secondary, before starting a specific volunteer opportunity. Volunteers can do this by checking the organization’s profile on IndianaProBonoNetwork.org, or asking the organization directly.

The answer depends on whether the civil legal aid organization’s policy is “primary” or “secondary” to your coverage. “Primary” coverage means that the organization’s policy will cover first if there is an issue. “Secondary” coverage means that your policy will be responsible for coverage, with the organization’s policy providing supplemental coverage; if you don’t have separate coverage, then the organization’s policy will be primary.

The following organizations offer primary coverage for their volunteers:

• Indiana Legal Services
• Pro Bono Indiana

Other organizations may also provide primary coverage; you should verify what type of coverage the organization provides for its volunteers.

If you have a client you want to assist pro bono, but you want (or need) support from a civil legal aid organization, you may be able to get a “reverse referral.” To do this, contact your local pro bono or civil legal aid organization before you start working on the client’s case, ask what their process is for doing a reverse referral, and promptly submit the required information. The organization will screen the client and case to be sure that they are eligible for that organization’s services and, if eligible, refer the client back to you as a pro bono matter.

The following organizations have said that they would consider doing a “reverse referral” if the case and client meet their eligibility requirements:

• Ability Allies
• Indiana Justice Project
• Indiana Legal Services
• Pro Bono Indiana
• Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana

Maybe. Some civil legal aid organizations are open to providing insurance coverage for legal clinics presented by private attorneys and community groups, and may be willing to provide expertise, materials, and even help with recruiting volunteers or publicizing the event. Organizations that have done this in the past include:

• Pro Bono Indiana
• Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana

Contact that organization immediately and let them know what is going on. They will notify their carrier, who will take it from there.

Probably not. Coverage must have started before the issue arose. You will be responsible for providing coverage.

Maybe – it will depend on the terms of your tail coverage policy. Some tail coverage policies prohibit any future legal work; others simply won’t cover any future legal work. You should contact your insurance agent or provider to verify that you are able to provide pro bono services without jeopardizing your prior coverage.

This website provides a range of resources for attorneys and other pro bono legal professionals, including practice manuals on various legal issues, links to on‑demand and upcoming live CLEs, pleading and discovery templates, checklists, and client-facing forms to help address legal needs.

Registration is required because many of our materials, particularly templates, checklists, and practice documents, are intended exclusively for individuals with legal training and experience. These resources are not appropriate for use by unrepresented litigants. For individuals without legal representation, Indiana Legal Help provides forms and legal information that have been specifically developed and vetted for use by the public.

To access these resources, you must be a licensed Indiana attorney, a current law student or law school graduate preparing to take Indiana’s bar exam, or other professional providing legal services in Indiana under the supervision of a licensed attorney. “Licensed Indiana attorney” includes attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions and registered in Indiana as a Pro Bono Publico attorney.

To request access, complete and submit the “Request Access” form on this site and confirm your email address. Your request will then be reviewed and the information verified before access is approved. This process may take up to five (5) business days.

No. The resources on this site are intended for users with formal legal training and experience and are not appropriate for unrepresented litigants. Individuals seeking help with their own legal issues should visit Indiana Legal Help, which provides forms and legal information specifically developed and vetted for use by the public.