The Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project, Inc. ("COLAP"), doing business as the Community Development Law Center ("CDLC"), is the only legal services organization in Indianapolis specifically formed to provide free or low-cost legal services to community organizations.

Our mission is to provide legal services to nonprofit organizations which empower low-income communities in Central Indiana.

CDLC's clients battle social and economic problems, including urban blight, neighborhood deterioration, inadequate housing and homelessness, inaccessible human and social services, unemployment, substance abuse, racial discord, and crime. These nonprofits often stretch their budgets to meet programmatic expenses. Nonprofits encounter many of the same legal issues as for-profit entities, but they lack sufficient resources to hire private legal counsel. These entities need ready access to free legal services to sustain business operations and successfully serve constituents. CDLC addesses their crucial need for legal assistance.

CDLC provides services directly through its staff attorneys and by matching volunteer attorneys with eligible community groups. CDLC attorneys address legal matters related to taxation, property rights, contracts, labor and employment, and other general corporate matters. Another significant practice area focuses on the mitigation of urban blight in low-income neighborhoods.