At Southern Indiana Pro Bono Referrals we must first determine if you are eligible for our services before we can refer you to a volunteer attorney. Applicants must be a resident of Indiana and meet financial and other case specific qualifications set by our board. Financial eligibility alone does not guarantee a referral. Our board reserves the right to review factors on a case-by-case basis as needed to fulfill our mission of serving low-income individuals.
It generally takes about 2 weeks to process applications. If you qualify for services, the referral process could take 2-3 months. If you have an emergency, a court hearing, or a deadline, you should make every attempt to obtain private counsel of your own choosing. Advise us of any urgency in your case so that we may attempt to assist but understand that we may not be able to find a volunteer in time for your deadline.
No. Our staff cannot answer legal questions. Our staff makes eligibility determinations and attempts to make referrals with local volunteer attorneys.
Applicants whose household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines will qualify financially. Consideration is given to applicants whose household income is between 150% and 200% depending on the type of case. (Federal Poverty Guidelines are determined by the Dept. of Health and Human Resources)
We are primarily funded through the Interest On Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) program. In 1997, the Indiana Supreme Court formally approved court rules that allow interest on lawyer trust accounts to be collected by the Indiana Bar Foundation and used to fund programs that encourage pro bono work by Indiana lawyers.
Applicants who meet the following criteria will be considered for pro bono referral through SI-PBR:
Below is a listing of available resources and contact information. Click on the organization name for a link to their website.