Know your rights

Leonel Lopez is the Outreach Coordinator with the Worker Rights and Protections Project of Indiana Legal Services. Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents throughout the state of Indiana. On a typical day Leo spends 5-6 hours visiting different housing units, meeting with workers throughout the state, passing out pamphlets, conversing with them, and ensuring they know their rights and are not being exploited. Due to the pandemic, many of his efforts have moved online but he still occasionally meets in person, taking careful precautions. Leo’s work focuses on Fair Standard Labor Act (FSLA) claims, labor trafficking and human trafficking, and making sure low income individuals have legal representation, which is ever more important during COVID-19.