INDIANA – One hundred fifty kiosks providing Hoosiers access to civil legal self-service at IndianaLegalHelp.org are being installed on sites across the state.
The IndianaLegalHelp.org website includes legal forms, instructional videos, referrals to free and low-cost legal services, and a statewide calendar of free legal advice clinics. All 92 counties are anticipated to have at least one kiosk host site, and some counties have requested additional kiosks if more funding becomes available.
The project is managed by the Indiana Bar Foundation, which runs the website in partnership with the Coalition for Court Access, and the kiosks are funded by a grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
The kiosks are intended to provide Hoosiers without reliable home internet a way to access the civil legal system and the resources on IndianaLegalHelp.org. Currently, the kiosks are designed to primarily serve Hoosiers facing eviction or housing instability and will expand to include other legal topics.
“These kiosks are an example of the courts embracing innovative solutions to increase access to justice. Indiana has some of the highest eviction rates in the country, said Chief Justice Loretta Rush. “To ensure solutions we must implement an avenue for people in the justice system to seek help.”
The first kiosk was installed in November 2022 at the Lawrence Township Small Claims Court in Marion County, where Judge Kimberly Bacon hosted the unveiling. Several state leaders spoke to the crowd, thanking project participants and describing the work and funding needed to provide the kiosks.
“This is a major investment in the delivery of legal services to Hoosiers,” said Indiana Bar Foundation President & CEO Charles Dunlap. “Our goal is to build this network so it will be long-term and enduring into the future for people who need legal assistance for any number of reasons.”
Similar to an ATM, the kiosk stands freely in the corner of a room at the Small Claims Court providing touchscreen access to online resources and the ability to print forms. Some sites will receive the same type of kiosk, while others are more suited for a desktop version.
To supplement the kiosks, the Bar Foundation and seven statewide partners are collaborating to offer a network of legal services, including brief advice legal clinics, legal aid attorneys, and non-attorney legal navigators to support Hoosiers facing eviction. The partners include:
- Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc.
- Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
- Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, Inc.
- Legal Aid Corporation of Tippecanoe County
- Legal Aid Society of Evansville, Inc.
- Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
- Pro Bono Indiana, Inc.
Information: Indiana Court Times
