When Ben Hein founded a church in Haughville, he didn’t start with Sunday services. Hein and other church leaders met with people in the community to see what their biggest needs were — and legal issues came up again and again.
So three years ago, Hein and Hope Church of Haughville started Near Westside Legal through the national organization Administer Justice. Since then, volunteer lawyers have advised 63 clients on getting divorced, expunging their records or avoiding eviction.
Before clients show up to the clinic, Hein wants them to know: “You don’t have to face injustice alone, and there are resources and people who want to help.”
Every second Saturday of the month, those helpers show up with their kids, put out pastries and make a pot of coffee at Matchbook Learning at Wendell Phillips 63.
Amy Lurker is the Indianapolis center’s “Justice Champion,” which means she has been organizing the legal aid clinics since they started. At the Dec. 13 event, Lurker got to the snowy parking lot early and opened the school to start setting up.
Three years of serving clients inspired Lurker, a stay-at-home mom, to apply to law school. So far, she’s thinking she will focus on immigration law. She also started volunteering at the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic on Mondays.
Free or low-cost legal aid
Near Westside Legal Gospel Justice Center
🗓️ 9 a.m. to noon every second Saturday of the month
📍 Matchbook Learning at Wendell Phillips 63, 1163 N. Belmont Ave.
🎟️ $30
It costs $30 for a 45-minute session with a lawyer, who can give you advice on civil or immigration issues but can’t represent you in court. If you call to make an appointment or show-up in person, they can cover the $30 fee using scholarships that donors provided.
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
🗓️ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday
📍 3333 N. Meridian St., Suite 201
🎟️ Free
Lawyers can coach you through housing, immigration, taxes, expungement and other civil matters. It’s all free, and you can complete an intake form to get help from a lawyer online.
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society
🗓️ 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed from noon-1 p.m.
📍 615 N. Alabama St., Suite 122
🎟️ Free
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is a public service law firm, so it’s free for clients who make less than 125% of the federal poverty guideline levels. For a family of four, that would mean making $39,000 per year.
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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