Client Services

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (NCLC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation offering pro bono legal representation and preventive law education to low income families, including immigrant families. We accept clients in the greater Indianapolis metro area whose income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION

We provide legal representation to those who qualify based on their income in the following civil areas. Please be aware that we do not accept criminal or divorce cases.

  • Landlord/Tenant
  • Guardianship
  • Custody/Visitation
  • Immigration
  • Bankruptcy
  • Child Support
  • Housing/Foreclosure
  • Wills/Estates
  • SSI/SSD
  • Discrimination
  • Consumer/Debt
  • Tax Controversies
  • Other civil areas

If you have not yet been accepted as a client of the NCLC, but you wish to speak to an attorney, you will need to come to one of our intake locations. We are unable to answer legal questions online or over the telephone. We provide Spanish interpretation at all our intake sites, but if you do not speak English or Spanish, you may bring your own interpreter.

Our intakes are on a first come, first served basis, so you do not need an appointment. Please be aware that it is important to arrive early or as close as possible to the registration time listed, as space is limited; given time constraints, our attorneys can only see 5-10 persons during each intake period.

Please bring to your intake any relevant documents about your case and proof of your financial status (information regarding your weekly, monthly or annual income). 

If you are already a client and have a new issue, you will also need to attend a new intake session. You may also receive a telephone recording of these time and locations by calling: (317) 429-4131.

HUD HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY

NCLC is a certified Housing Counseling Agency by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and operates under the umbrella of National Council of La Raza (NCLR). We provide one-on-one counseling services and group education in English and Spanish for homeowners and potential homebuyers through our Housing Counseling Program (HCP). We provide housing counseling in the areas of pre-purchase, post-purchase, foreclosure, mortgage delinquency, loss mitigation, renter assistance/Section 8 and public housing, money/debt management, fair housing and homeless assistance. We are particularly effective because we not only counsel our housing clients, but also represent our clients through litigation when needed in these areas.

Indiana is facing a foreclosure crisis. One in every 196 homes in Indiana is in foreclosure today and Marion County accounts for 50% of all Indiana foreclosures. Moreover, this crisis is just beginning: thousands of area families have loans scheduled to reset to higher rates in 2008 and 2009, which will cause monthly payments to increase as much as triple the original rate.

*If you are delinquent on your mortgage, please call (877) GET-HELP or come to one of our intake sites.

*If you are concerned that you will be delinquent on your mortgage in the future or your mortgage lender requires you to receive a certification that you received pre-purchase housing counseling or a workshop prior to buying a home, please contact: Chris DeFord (317) 429-4131.

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

NCLC is a recognized Low Income Taxpayer Clinic with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We provide legal representation for low income clients in tax controversies with the IRS. We also host English as a second language (ESL) educational outreach programs to inform low income and immigrant taxpayers of their tax rights and responsibilities.

IMMIGRANTS IN CRISIS PROGRAM

NCLC represents low income immigrants in crisis situations to receive immigration protections which include legal status, work authorization, and in many cases, legal permanent residence. We assist victims of violent crime, human trafficking, domestic violence, as well as persons who were persecuted in their country of origin because of their political and/or religious beliefs or because of their race, ethnicity, or membership in a particular social group.

*If you, or someone you know, is a victim of human trafficking, please call: Chris DeFord (317) 429-4131 or 211.

PREVENTIVE LAW EDUCATION

The purpose of our Preventive Law Education workshops is to assist low income families to avoid or mitigate legal problems by giving them critical information that empowers them to make positive choices and understand their legal rights and responsibilities.

NCLC's Preventive Law Education workshop presenters are attorneys and business professionals who are experts in the subject area of their presentations. NCLC hosts workshops on many different topics, including: Tax, Housing, Foreclosure Prevention/Predatory Lending, Family Law, Consumer Issues, Healthy Relationships, Criminal Procedure, Traffic Law, Social Security and other critical issues.

Empowerment Workshops

NCLC's Empowerment workshop series serve area homeless and domestic violence shelters. We also conduct workshops for neighborhood associations, community groups, and churches. If your organization is interested in partnering with our clinic or if you would like to schedule a workshop, please contact our office at (317) 429-4131.

Las Clases de Poder

NCLC's Las Clases de Poder workshops are directed toward our Spanish-speaking neighbors and are held in a variety of settings, including churches, ESL classrooms, and Community Centers in the Indianapolis area. If your organization is interested in partnering with our clinic or if you would like to host a workshop, please contact our office at (317) 429-4131.