Inmate Legal Assistance Project
The Inmate Legal Assistance Project offers students a unique opportunity to sharpen their practical legal skills while providing free legal assistance 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 counsel 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 potential clients on regular 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 offers assistance 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 10, or email us at ilap@iu.edu. We hope you will join us.
Student volunteers
- Samantha Espada, Student Director
- Abby Akrong, Director of Administration
- Annie Horner, Director of Communications
- Alex Dowland, Lead Research Director
- John Bignotti, Research Director
- Natalie Cook, Research Director
- Ethan Dilks, Research Director
- Emily McConville, Research Director
- Kelsey Napier, Research Director
- Bill Sanchez, Research Director