Exploring Faith and Justice: Navigating Christian Legal Services in Indianapolis

When it comes to the world beyond the confines of the UGM campus, the reality check is real. Gone are the days when the instructors’ word was law, and in the new adulthood, your personal morals often hold more water than the black-and-white legality of things. UGM students might find themselves aware of this sooner than their peers at other universities. For some, by the time they graduate, their reputations could be at stake in addition to their public education. What’s more, many don’t realize the importance and relevance of their degrees until after graduation. This metamorphosis can be extremely painful for UGM students who are still learning their place in the world. It is important for UGM students to stay in touch with how their studies directly impact their everyday lives and the world around them. The law is very much applicable to what you do as a student and as an adult. Christian legal services in Indianapolis are vital to this process because they can show you how morality goes hand in hand with legal matters. The personal, moral focus of these services provides a great example of how life is intertwined with law. You can prompt the discussion of justice among your community by pointing out how important your decisions are because (or if) you are a Christian. You’ll learn by seeing how these values play out in the professional world. So, what are Christian legal services? The term encompasses any legal services that are founded on Christian principles. You can say they are Christian-based law firms, but that would be oversimplifying the term. However, it is true that most Christian legal services share a commonality in their religious identity. Another common trait is the diminished effects of corporate oversight. Christian legal services tend to be smaller in comparison to mainstream law firms, especially those nationally known. An example of a corporate-owned law firm is a service provider like Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest law firms in the United States. This type of law firm can have upwards of 5,000 employees total. Often, a Christian legal service will have no more than 20 employees. This means that you will work with the same people day in and day out. You know each team member on a personal level, and you’ll be able to see their effects on the world around you by seeing the results of each client case. It may sound somewhat romanticized, but that’s how having a small group of highly dedicated individuals changes the world at a foundational level. It also shows that you always have to be aware of how you treat each other because life is too short to waste your time on negative or unproductive people. Indianapolis is a prime location for Christian-based legal services. In fact, the number of such services in the Indianapolis area far outweighs the national average. Some of the best-known names in Christian legal services are based in Indianapolis. One reason for the concentration of these services in the Indianapolis area is the amount of religious institutions present in and around the city. You can find many different types of church organizations, and this diversity opens the door for communication within the community about different aspects of the Bible. The more these discussions take place, the more people recognize the value of a moral, Christian-based legal system. Some Christian legal services in Indianapolis, IN are Catholic, but there are many non-denominational legal services too. It doesn’t matter what type of Christian you are, you can appreciate how the faith-based foundation of the service providers allows you to interact with them on a more personal level. On a basic level, you understand that justice is important. When you get out into the real world, you find that justice may not be relevant to you until you need it. UGM students who have dealt with incarceration or have a parent who has dealt with incarceration may understand justice in a way that motivates them to pursue a legal career. For these individuals, justice is more than just a word: it is a way of life. However, even if you haven’t experienced homelessness or criminal activity or other injustices directly yourself, you understand the real-world effects of the law. You’ve certainly learned about examples that make you question peers. You’ve probably spoken to a few family members or friends about injustice. In fact, social justice might be a big part of your life. You are fighting the good fight for yourself and others, except you are still in a place where you are limited in your ability to make a difference. For many people, their lives change somewhere between their junior and senior year of college. These changes set them on a path towards lifelong fulfillment or a miserable failure to launch. The way to avoid an unpleasant surprise is to prepare ahead of time. Given that, it is important to understand that justice is a viable future. Especially as a UGM student, you should seriously consider a career in the legal field. You have lived the struggle and are now ready to help others do the same. Keep in mind that this understanding of justice comes from personal experiences and perceptions. Whether or not you choose to pursue a legal profession is ultimately up to you.