1. Equal Justice for All Hoosiers
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Equal Justice for All Hoosiers
Scott Wylie Vanderburgh Community Foundation
Charles Dunlap Indiana Bar Foundation
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The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

2. What is civil legal aid? “Civil legal aid assures fairness for all
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What is civil legal aid?
“Civil legal aid assures
fairness for all
in the justice system,
regardless of how much money you have”
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013
Research by the Public Welfare Foundation and Voices for Civil Justice

3. 1 of 6 Hoosiers 80% of civil legal needs are unmet for low income
live in poverty*
80% of civil legal needs are unmet for low income
Americans**
* U.S. Census
** Legal Services Corporation

4. What is civil legal aid?
Family safety and support - Protective orders - Divorce - Child support - Custody - Guardianships
Criminal

5. What is civil legal aid? Housing Criminal - Prevent homelessness
- Loans to repair homes
- Avoid foreclosure and eviction
- Unsafe housing concerns
Criminal

6. What is civil legal aid? Consumer Protection Criminal
- Bankruptcy - Credit issues - Employment - Consumer fraud and scams - Unfair debt collection - Predatory lending practices
Criminal

7. Where are the providers?
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Where are the providers?
Legal Aid &
Pro Bono Nonprofits
Marion Co:
Part time
Full time
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

8. How is Civil Legal Aid Funded?
Civil Legal Filing Fees
$400,000
Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts & Attorney Registration Fees
$600,000
Indiana Civil Legal Aid Fund
$1,500,000
Federal Funding
to Indiana Legal Services
$5,100,000

9. How is Civil Legal Aid Funded?

10. What is the unmet need? 8 Clients per attorney
My grandmother is being harassed by creditors. What can I do?
My bank increased my car loan interest to 32%.
My ex-husband won’t follow the visitation guidelines.
My husband threatened to kill me. How do I get help?
My landlord says I owe him more rent or I have to move out tomorrow.
I have been evicted and I need help making sure my kids can stay in school.
Indiana Unequal Access to Justice Report
2008 report
Prior to recession
Need likely worse as poor were more profoundly unable to obtain affordable house, jobs with benefits and wages for low skilled workers
My ex-boss won’t give me my last paycheck.
How do I get guardianship of my granddaughter?
8 Clients per attorney

11. 9/30/2017 4:59 PM
Family Safety 1,708 domestic violence victims received help in one day in September 2013.
For every case reported 25 go unreported.
Indiana likely had
42,700 victims on that September 2013 day.
National Network to End Domestic Violence – Indiana Summary
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013

12. Family Safety Civil legal aid helps protect family safety by:
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Family Safety Civil legal aid helps protect family safety by:
Addressing domestic violence, stalking, harassment, elder abuse, child abuse and neglect issues when they arise.
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013

13. Family Safety Civil legal aid helps protect family safety by:
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Family Safety Civil legal aid helps protect family safety by:
Obtaining and enforcing an order of protection for immediate safety.
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013

14. Family Safety Civil legal aid helps protect family safety by:
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Family Safety Civil legal aid helps protect family safety by:
Assisting with longer term protection and self-sufficiency for families moving away from violent situations including divorce, paternity and custody.
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013

15. 9/30/2017 4:59 PM
Family Safety
“Most victims who go to Protective Order hearings without legal representation fail to obtain their orders and are still at risk from their abusers.”
“Legal aid is the most effective public service for reducing domestic violence.”
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013
Missouri Legal Aid Network study

16. Family Safety Civil legal aid helps communities.
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Family Safety Civil legal aid helps communities.
$ 4 Million
Estimated savings
by Massachusetts Battered Women’s Legal Assistance Project
in medical and court costs
by preventing further assaults on clients
Family violence - domestic violence, elder or child abuse cases.
1,708 cases reported on September 17, 2013
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation

17. Housing
51% of tenants in eviction proceedings without lawyers lost their homes
21% with lawyers lost possession V.
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.
U.S. Department of Justice

18. Housing
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.”
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.
Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director, Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Los Angeles, CA.

19. Housing
“For every dollar spent representing families and individuals in housing court, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would save $2.69 in other services such as emergency shelter, healthy care, foster care and law enforcement.”
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.
“Investing in Justice, A Roadmap to Cost-Effective Funding of Civil Legal Aid in Massachusetts,” Boston Bar Association, October 2014

20. Housing Bank of America/ U.S. Department of Justice Settlement
Funds for “Foreclosure prevention legal assistance”
and “Community economic redevelopment legal assistance”
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.

21. Consumer Protection
400%
Annualized interest rate charged on payday loans for low- income customers.
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau

22. Consumer Protection
17,000
Number of U.S. servicemen and women who where harmed by
one predatory lending scheme in 2013.
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau

23. Consumer Protection
166
The number of companies sued by the Indiana Attorney General for mortgage rescue fraud since 2010.
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.
Indiana Attorney General

24. In your community
What innovations are you seeing with clients for consumer protection, housing or family safety?
Where can civil legal aid partner with your grantees?
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.

25. Legal Aid Funding Low in Indiana

26. Equal Justice Charles R. Dunlap, J.D.
Executive Director, Indiana Bar Foundation
Scott Wylie, J.D.
Executive Director, Vanderburgh Community Foundation,
“A lawyer can make a vital difference, even for the larger numbers who are unable to pay their rent, by negotiating a “soft landing” (i.e. extra weeks to move out, forgiveness of unpaid rent and agreement to seal the record and avoid a report to credit agencies.” NYTimes article quoting Cassandra Goodman, Eviction Assistance Center Director.