Family Law

Indiana Legal Services, Inc.: Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:02:45 +0000

Indiana Legal Services, Inc.: Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults sierra-chacona… Fri, 06/26/2026 - 11:02

Learn how Indiana Legal Services, Inc., addresses the complex and often unaddressed crimes of elder abuse through its Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults Project.

Indiana Legal Services, Inc.: Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults

Grantees will learn how Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILSI):

1. Identified service gaps in elder abuse cases that required extensive attention and specialized services

2. Developed and implemented the Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults (LAVA) Project to specifically address elder abuse cases

3. Created a collaborative infrastructure that integrates internal and external partners to sustain a statewide model.

Hear from ILSI's Executive Director Jon Laramore, Senior Law Project Director Dennis Frick, and LAVA Project Director Nadine McSpadden about the LAVA Project's replicable practices and lessons learned for other ��è��Ƶ grantees.

Read Project Brief

"The clients are complex, and their needs are complex. And having the right people doing this work is critical and foundational."

Nadine McSpadden, LAVA Project Director

Indiana Legal Services, Inc.

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Family Law Domestic Violence Seniors

Domestic Violence Legal Advocate Program: Justice for Survivors in Arizona

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:44:55 +0000

Domestic Violence Legal Advocate Program: Justice for Survivors in Arizona sierra-chacona… Tue, 08/05/2025 - 11:44

Read how Innovation for Justice trains community-based justice workers to provide trauma-informed, limited-scope legal advice and assistance to domestic violence survivors.

Domestic Violence Legal Advocate Program: Justice for Survivors in Arizona

Grantees will learn how Innovation for Justice (i4J):

1. Leveraged unauthorized practice of law reform to open a pathway for community-based justice workers to provide legal assistance;

2. Employed a design- and systems-thinking approach to develop a course to train Domestic Violence Legal Advocates (DVLAs);

3. Piloted and launched the DVLA program across Arizona.

View Case Study

"Thanks to the continued demonstration of the [DVLA Initiative], Arizona became the first state to codify CBJW service models."

Antonio Coronado

Professor of Practice, Innovation for Justice

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Family Law Domestic Violence

Arizona

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty

richardsons@lsc.gov — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:59:15 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty richardsons@lsc.gov Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:59

What is Legal Aid?

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 19:25:32 +0000

What is Legal Aid? admin Mon, 02/15/2021 - 14:25

Legal Aid is free legal assistance provided to people who cannot afford an attorney in civil matters. Although Americans have a right to an attorney when accused of a crime, they do not have a right to a lawyer when facing civil issues.

Ensuring Equal Access to Justice

For millions of Americans, navigating the legal system can be overwhelming – especially for those who cannot afford an attorney. Civil legal aid seeks to ensure that all individuals, regardless of financial status, have access to legal assistance in critical civil matters that affect their safety, stability and well-being.

Since it was established by Congress in 1974, ��è��Ƶ has been the largest funder of civil legal aid programs in the United States, distributing federal grants to nonprofit organizations that provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families.

How We Work

��è��Ƶ is a grant-making organization, distributing nearly 94% of its congressional appropriation to nonprofit legal aid organizations. ��è��Ƶ funds 129 independent legal aid organizations that serve low-income individuals in every district in every U.S. state and territory.

With more than 800 offices nationwide, these organizations provide direct legal assistance, legal education and self-help resources to ensure access to justice for those in need.

How Legal Aid Helps

��è��Ƶ-funded legal aid organizations assist individuals and families navigate critical and complex civil legal matters, including:

Housing
Family
Disaster Recovery
Employment & Income Stability
Consumer Rights & Financial Security

Preventing wrongful evictions or foreclosures and ensuring families remain in stable housing
Addressing unsafe or unhealthy living conditions
Protecting tenant and homeowner rights and ensuring fair housing protections are enforced

Securing protective orders for survivors of domestic violence
Assisting with child custody, child support, and divorce proceedings
Advocating for foster youth to ensure their rights are protected

Helping survivors of natural disasters access FEMA aid and file insurance claims
Resolving title and documentation issues that prevent recovery assistance
Protecting homeowners and renters from fraudulent recovery schemes
Helping survivors obtain duplicate paperwork like driver’s licenses and birth certificates to enable them to rebuild their lives

Learn More About Disaster Legal Services

Securing rightful wages and benefits
Ensuring access to Veterans, disability and Social Security benefits
Helping those with sealable criminal records get a fresh start through expungement

Fighting fraud, predatory lending, and unfair debt collection
Assisting with bankruptcy and financial disputes
Preventing wrongful repossessions

Why Legal Aid Matters

Legal aid not only protects individuals, but also strengthens communities by:

Reducing Homelessness – Keeping families housed and decreasing reliance on emergency shelters and public assistance programs

Supporting Financial Independence – Helping individuals gain employment and financial independence

Enhancing Public Safety – Providing legal protections for survivors of domestic violence and other vulnerable populations

Reducing Public Costs – Ensuring access to healthcare, disability benefits, and other essential services, reducing emergency medical and social service needs

Read More About ��è��Ƶ's Impact

Who We Help

��è��Ƶ-funded legal aid programs serve individuals and families who meet income eligibility requirements – generally, 125% or below the federal poverty guidelines. This includes:

Seniors
Veterans and military families
Domestic violence survivors
People with disabilities
Families and individuals facing financial hardships

Learn More About Grantees Serving Your Community

Find Legal Help

If you or someone you know needs legal assistance, locate an ��è��Ƶ-funded program in your area.

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Family Law Outreach

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Family Law

Indiana Legal Services, Inc.: Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults

Indiana Legal Services, Inc.: Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults

Nevada Legal Services: Building a Statewide Legal Kiosk Network

Serving Rural Veterans: Pine Tree Legal Assistance's Veteran Medical-Legal Partnership Model

Domestic Violence Legal Advocate Program: Justice for Survivors in Arizona

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices and Innovations

Domestic Violence Legal Advocate Program: Justice for Survivors in Arizona

Domestic Violence Legal Advocate Program: Justice for Survivors in Arizona

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Alaska ��è��Ƶ: Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Colorado Legal Services: Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices and Innovations

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty

What is Legal Aid?

Ensuring Equal Access to Justice

How We Work

How Legal Aid Helps

Why Legal Aid Matters

Who We Help