New Legal Aid Community Clinic Opens in Downtown Fishers

FISHERS, IN — A new legal aid clinic opened its doors Monday in downtown Fishers, providing free and low-cost legal services to residents who cannot afford traditional attorney fees. The Fishers Community Legal Aid Clinic, located at 116th Street and Lantern Road, aims to bridge the justice gap for working families and individuals facing civil legal issues.

The clinic, housed in a renovated 3,000-square-foot space near the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, will offer assistance with housing disputes, family law matters, consumer protection issues, and benefits appeals. Services will be provided by volunteer attorneys from Hamilton County and supervised law students from Indiana University's McKinney School of Law.

"We're seeing more and more families in Hamilton County who make too much money to qualify for traditional legal aid but can't afford the rising costs of legal representation," said Sarah Martinez, the clinic's executive director. "This clinic fills a critical need in our community, especially as housing costs and other living expenses continue to increase."

The clinic is the result of a two-year collaboration between the Hamilton County Bar Association, the City of Fishers, and the Indiana Legal Services Organization. Funding comes from a combination of state grants, local donations, and support from the Fishers Community Foundation.

Mayor Scott Fadness attended Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, emphasizing the clinic's importance to the city's commitment to inclusive growth.

"As Fishers continues to grow and evolve, we must ensure that all residents have access to essential services, including legal representation," Fadness said. "This clinic represents our values of community support and ensuring that justice is accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances."

The clinic will operate Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening hours on Wednesdays until 7 p.m. Walk-in consultations will be available on Tuesday mornings, while other services require appointments scheduled through the clinic's website or phone line.

Initial services will focus on landlord-tenant disputes, debt collection defense, family law matters including divorce and custody issues, and assistance with government benefits appeals. The clinic plans to expand its offerings to include immigration services and small business legal assistance by early 2025.

Martinez noted that the clinic has already received more than 50 inquiries since announcing its opening date last month. The most common requests involve housing issues, including eviction proceedings and disputes over security deposits.

The clinic represents the first dedicated legal aid facility in Fishers, though residents previously could access services through Indianapolis-based organizations. Local officials hope the convenient downtown location will increase utilization among Hamilton County residents who previously faced transportation barriers to accessing legal help.

Residents seeking services can call the clinic at (317) 555-LEGAL or visit fisherslegalaid.org to schedule appointments and learn about eligibility requirements.