Meet Ricardo Simmonds, Esq.
Lighthouse Legal was founded by Ricardo Simmonds, who brings six years of experience working exclusively in the nonprofit sector. Licensed in Indiana, Ohio and Georgia, our founder has served nonprofits from every angle—as a regulator, in-house counsel, and a private practice attorney. This strong practical experience working with nonprofits allow Ricardo to understand the unique challenges faced by nonprofits and provide tailored solutions to help them thrive.
Ricardo holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Auburn University (2014) and a J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law (2018). In his personal time, Ricardo enjoys playing soccer, mentoring youth, and spending time with his brilliant wife, Lilibeth.
Dispuesto ayudarte en espanol!
A partner who supports your mission.
Rooted in Integrity, Serving Nonprofits Everywhere
Lighthouse Legal calls Indianapolis its home, but we proudly serve clients across the country, focusing mostly on nonprofits with modest budgets for legal services.
Why Lighthouse Legal?
Ricardo started Lighthouse Legal because he believes in client success, no matter the budget. What should an attorney with six years of industry knowledge charge for their services? $250? $500? $750? That’s the wrong question, because insightful and experienced legal support should always be accessible to those that need it most, regardless of how long an attorney has been practicing.
- Frequently Asked Questions
What's different about Lighthouse Legal?
We don’t have a secret sauce, as some might say, but we do have a different way of thinking. It’s fair that attorneys charge more for their services the more experience they have, but eventually that means experience becomes inaccessible to those that still need it. That’s not the model we follow. We’ll always be there for those that need legal help, no matter how long we’ve been around.
Of course, we’ll still adjust for inflation . . . eventually.
Where are your offices?
Wherever you have access to the internet! Part of what allows us to offer the prices we offer, is that we don’t pay for a physical office space. Instead, you can talk with us by phone, email or video right from the comfort of wherever you want to be.
For local clients that prefer to meet in person, please let us know and we’ll find a space convenient for us to meet.
What does it mean to be an "outside" general counsel?
It means you can treat us as if we were right down the hall from you. Whenever you have a legal question, you can email or call and we’ll have an answer for you promptly.
During our attorney-client relationship, if you ever have a question that involves something outside of what we can answer for you, we’ll find the right attorney for you at no charge, meaning you don’t have to worry about reading through bios to find the right fit. You will have to pay an attorney, just not us.
Why does this make sense? Because not every legal question needs to break your budget. Having an outside general counsel will help you understand potential legal issues, evaluate risk, and determine when an bigger legal budget is appropriate.
Where can you provide services?
Much of what we do can be provided no matter where your organization is located.
Representation for tax guidance, IRS inquiries, trademarks, and tax exemptions focus on federal law, so we assist organizations nationwide.
For other services, like responding to Attorney General investigations and reviewing contracts or corporate documents, we can only provide support for organizations operating in Indiana, Ohio and Georgia. However, we can provide you with templates for contracts of all kinds and for corporate documents in most states.
Why can’t we do anything for anyone? Attorneys can only practice law in the states where they are licensed, with limited exceptions. While each state usually has rules for multijurisdictional practice (known as MJP), the rules do not grant carte blanche to practice law nationwide. If you’re already a client of ours in Indiana, Ohio or Georgia, we can usually assist you on a temporary basis in other states on a broader range of matters. For clients who use us as their outside general counsel, we have contacts in other states that we’ll bring in for help if it’s a matter we can’t handle.
As the founder of Lighthouse Legal, I’m committed to providing nonprofits with honest, transparent legal support that respects both their mission and their budget. Not every client has the same resources, and I keep that in mind as we work together to develop your budget and scope of work. My clients are trusted by the public to handle their donations responsibly, and every dollar matters. That’s why the law firm you choose should empower you to focus on your mission—not your pocketbook. At Lighthouse Legal, I provide value-driven support without compromising the comprehensive legal guidance your nonprofit needs.
- Ricardo Simmonds, Esq.