The Volunteer Lawyer Program

The Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana, Inc. (VLP) is a 501 (c)(3) organization founded in 2002 by a group of local attorneys and judges committed to providing a program that would offer free legal help for low-income individuals and families. The VLP does not employ attorneys. Intake paralegals field the inquiry calls of over 10,000 annually; screen for income qualification and case type; process and open files; and place qualified cases with volunteer attorneys willing to help the clients without charge. Over the past 20 years, hundreds of attorneys in northeast Indiana have volunteered thousands of hours of legal expertise to help individuals and families get equal access to the civil justice system. The VLP is governed by a board of attorneys, judges, and community members representing nine counties served in northeast Indiana. The daily operations of the VLP are managed by an executive director, a volunteer coordinator, and four intake paralegals.