Education

• Indiana University Maurer School of Law, JD 2009
• Indiana University Bloomington, BA 2005

Courses

• Family Law Clinic
• Children and the Law

Biography

Rachel Vilensky joined the Maurer faculty in July 2026. She teaches Children and the Law and directs the Family Law Clinic, part of the Maurer Community Legal Clinic. Through the clinic, students provide legal representation to low-income clients in Monroe and surrounding counties in matters including custody, divorce, and guardianship. From 2023 to 2026, Rachel taught the Child Representation Practicum, supervising students representing youth in the foster care system.

Rachel's practice centers on improving legal outcomes for children and families involved in the legal system. In 2025, she became the first Indiana attorney to earn the Child Welfare Law Specialization. Before joining the full-time faculty, she led the state's only statewide program representing youth in Indiana's child welfare system through the nonprofit Child Advocates. In that role, she partnered with the University of Notre Dame's Laboratory for Economic Opportunity to design a randomized controlled trial examining the impact of legal representation for youth in foster care.

Rachel previously spent twelve years representing young people in Indiana's juvenile justice system, serving as Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Division at the Marion County Public Defender Agency. She received the Gault Award from the Indiana Public Defender Council, the state's highest honor for excellence in juvenile defense. Her work included litigating waiver (transfer) cases to adult court and advocating for policies that limit the prosecution of youth as adults. She also trained juvenile defense attorneys across Indiana through the Indiana Supreme Court Juvenile Defense Project.

Rachel's teaching and clinical work reflect her commitment to preparing future lawyers to serve children and families with skill, integrity, and compassion. She is passionate about expanding access to justice and ensuring that people understand their legal rights and can make informed decisions in matters that profoundly affect their lives.