Background

Andrea L. Ciobanu is the principal attorney at Ciobanu Law, P.C. in Indianapolis, Indiana. She represents clients throughout Indiana in civil litigation matters, including commercial and business, defamation, family and domestic relations, protective orders, business planning and litigation, estate planning and litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights as well as ADA compliance. The civil rights cases Andrea represents include wrongful arrest, wrongful imprisonment, malicious prosecution, excessive force and other constitutional violations. Andrea also represents persons charged with complex white-collar crime and has a robust appellate and post-conviction relief practice. As a seasoned litigator, Andrea has argued before the Southern and Northern District of Indiana Federal Courts, the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is also a trained registered civil, domestic, and elder mediator, guardian ad litem, family law arbitrator, and parenting coordinator. Andrea is also a trained collaborative law professional. Andrea is a frequent writer and speaker on such topics such as mediation, family and domestic relations, appeals, electronic discovery and litigation, as well as civil rights.

With an unparalleled passion for the manner in which she represents her clients, Andrea is committed to providing the highest levels of service and communication in a cost-effective manner. This determination has earned her an AV Rating from Martindale Hubbell, as well as a 10-rating from AVVO, both the highest ratings possible. Among other awards, she has been recognized by Super Lawyers© every year since 2013, Best Lawyers consecutively since 2018, and was recognized with the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law 2013 Early Career Achievement Award, the 2011 Women on of the Year Award, the 2009 Indianapolis Bar Association’s Pro Bono Service Award, 2010 Emerging Pearls Foundation Social Justice & Activism Award, 2010 John Berlon Award, as well as the 2010 Norman Lefstein Award. Andrea was also the recipient of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law 2018 Public Interest Award. Andrea was chosen as the only 2013-2014 National ABA Scholar from Indiana. Andrea is a 2012 graduate of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Inaugural Leadership Development Academy. She is a 2014 graduate of the Indiana Trial Advocacy Skills College. She was a 2015 – 2016 National ABA Law Practice Fellow, with only eight (8) attorneys across the nation obtaining this distinction. She was also chosen as a Distinguished Fellow by the Indianapolis Bar Association in 2022. She continues to serve as an American Bar Association YLD Fellow since 2016. Andrea continues to serve on the Indiana State Bar Association's Finance and Audit Committee since 2018.

Prior to founding Ciobanu Law, P.C., Andrea worked for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, as well as the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, where she worked in the Domestic Battery Division, as well as the Post-Conviction Relief Division.  Prior to attending law school, Andrea also worked in a private law firm, where she gained experience in tort and personal injury litigation.  During graduate school, Andrea worked on several Housing and Urban Development projects.  She also participated in international law projects dealing with international human rights.  These included programs which addressed child labor through a branch of the United Nations, which Andrea spent a semester abroad in such service.  Andrea continues to represent personal injury clients and cases involving civil and human rights, as well as battered women, children, and other individuals seeking protection through protective orders.

Andrea’s distinctive approach derives from her background of ardent commitment to serving public interests. Outside the courtroom, she enjoys giving back to her profession and to her community through a number of organizations.  As an adjunct professor, Andrea has taught introductory law classes and legal ethics courses for pre-law students at Indiana University-Indianapolis. Andrea is a Past-President of the Equal Justice Works – Indianapolis Chapter.  Andrea was a contract consultant to the Indiana Supreme Court’s Grassroots Initiative Pilot Project (2012-2014) dealing with family and civil litigation.

Andrea served as the 2014-2016 Chair for the Indiana State Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.  As part of her program initiatives, she promoted a statewide E-Discovery Mediation Pilot Project, Statewide Mediation Week Pilot Project, Victim Offender Mediation Pilot Project, as well as a Disaster Relief Mediation Pilot Project. Andrea was chosen as a 2016-2024 Barrister of the American Inn of Court and a 2015-2017 Associate Member of the Sagamore Inn of Court.

Andrea’s enthusiasm for public service is most evident in her efforts to advocate for equal access to justice for the underprivileged.  She volunteers her time at various organizations throughout the community, including, but not limited to:  Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Indiana Protective Order Pro Bono Project; Indiana Pro Bono Commission; Ask-A-Lawyer Program; the Indiana State Bar’s Pro Bono Appellate Program; Center for Victim and Human Rights; Marion County Mediation Modest Means Program; Heartland Pro Bono Immigration & Asylum Program; the ABA Disability Committee Program; ABA Public Service Project Programs including Bully Proof and Project Street Youth, Indianapolis Bar Association’s Networking, Family, and Women & the Law Executive Boards.  Andrea also served as the ABA YLD District Representative and ADR Liaison, and has volunteered her time with NCLC's Ex-offender Pardon Assistance Program; Mentoring Women’s Network, and other such organizations.  Additionally, Andrea is dedicated to raising money for public interest law, including for Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis’ Loan Repayment Assistance Program and serves on its standing host committee every year since she has graduated law school. Andrea serves on the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Women & the Law Division Executive Committee and she served as the WLD Chair (2021-2022) and coordinated judges round tables, legal updates, and other interesting programs such as the ADL Luncheon, which honors a trailblazing female attorney in Indiana. She is currently working on an inaugural program with Indy Bar's Women & the Law Division to design a coloring book with a committee and volunteer artist honoring and showcasing Indiana female heroines and trailblazers.  The coloring book is expected to be published in 2024.

Andrea was chosen to participate in the 2015 FBI Citizen’s Academy and graduated from the Academy in October 2015.  Andrea was also chosen as a 2015 Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Series Recipient, limited to twenty-five (25) young professionals in the Central Indiana area from diverse professions, graduating from this prestigious program June 2016. Andrea is also a 2020 IndyBar Bar Leader Series Graduate.

Andrea is fluent in American Sign Language and utilizes this skill to pursue her passion of meeting the legal needs and challenges of the deaf community in Indiana, as well as ADA Compliance and Advocacy. If you are interested in seeing Andrea speak about this unique passion and service to her community, please see this video: