For over 75 years Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (Legal Aid) has been making a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged individuals and families in Central Indiana. Legal Aid's mission is dedicated to ensuring that qualified low-income persons living in Central Indiana have immediate and direct access to quality legal assistance for civil disputes. Legal Aid provides free civil legal assistance to individuals and families with incomes of less than 125% of the federal poverty guideline levels within the Legal Aid service area consisting of Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby counties. The majority of the legal issues that Legal Aid addresses involve the interests of women, children, and the elderly. We handle a significant number of cases involving housing, property, debt, expungements, guardianships, and a host of other miscellaneous issues. Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is the only legal services organization in Indianapolis that undertakes guardianships. Each client meets face-to-face with an attorney to review his or her legal issue; we work with our clients to educate, advise, and generate a solution. Oftentimes we are able to provide the education or advice to solve a client’s problem within the initial meeting. Legal Aid takes a holistic approach in working with all clients. Legal Aid receives over 10,000 requests annually for help from low-income individuals. Legal Aid attorneys interview, counsel, and represent approximately 5,000 clients annually and are in court two to three times per day for an average cost of under $200 per case. Legal Aid not only focuses on the legal aspect of a client’s situation, but will help the client regarding local services that are available to assist with a positive resolution. Legal Aid receives referrals from over 50 agencies in the community, and the list continues to grow. We frequently receive referrals from other legal service organizations to advise and represent clients in complex cases.