Incarcerated Individuals Legal Assistance Project
The Incarcerated Individuals Legal Assistance Project (ILAP) offers students a unique opportunity to sharpen their practical legal skills while providing free legal research to incarcerated individuals at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana and other prisons across the country
ILAP is a student-run organization funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Working under the guidance of an experienced appellate attorney, students aid incarcerated individuals on a variety of legal issues, from direct appeals and ineffective assistance of counsel claims to tort claims and petitions for habeas corpus relief. During a typical year, students have the opportunity to meet with and interview clients on visits to the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute.
The opportunities with ILAP go beyond client visits and letter-writing. ILAP members have the chance to develop their legal research and writing skills by drafting internal memoranda on the most current legal issues facing incarcerated people. Recent memo topics include the federal death penalty and access to legal resources in prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We encourage students to participate in this project even if they do not plan to practice criminal law. Aside from dealing with criminal law issues, ILAP provides research for many civil claims and often provides law students with their first client interaction in a legal setting. The knowledge and skills learned through volunteering with ILAP will help students develop experience-based careers in the legal community.
If you are interested in joining ILAP, please come to one of our call out meetings, join our Canvas page, visit us in Room 005 or email us at ilap@indiana.edu. We hope you will join us.
Student Executive Board
- Samantha Espada, Senior Advisor
- Beka Schwartz, Student Director
- Haley Powell, Director of Administration
- Allie Morris, Research Director
- David Robins, Research Director
- Lauren Spratt, Research Director
- Megan Burtis, Research Director