Lead student counselors (LSCs) will take on a leadership role in the Expunction Project by overseeing the expunction and/or nondisclosure process for 2-4 applicants from start to finish. LSCs will manage their applicants’ files by determining expunction eligibility, obtaining criminal records, drafting petitions, and meeting with applicants to prepare them for pro se hearings. LSCs will serve as their applicants’ connection to the Expunction Project and mitigate the impersonal nature of the virtual format. LSCs will work closely with a Mithoff Supervising Attorney and Pro Bono Scholars for deeper involvement in the Expunction Project and the Mithoff Program. Expunging records allows people to legally deny offenses and erases records from criminal histories, mitigating future harm stemming from arrests that do not result in a criminal conviction. Orders of nondisclosure direct police departments and other agencies not to disclose criminal records on background checks, and allow people to not disclose offenses on housing or employment applications.
Organization
Texas Law Expunction Project
The Expunction Project is an internal project of the Richard and Ginni Mithoff Pro Bono Program.
Project Details
- Project Start Date
- October 2020
- Approximate hours of work requested
- 20 hours during the fall semester, including training sessions; LSCs must attend one intake session (Thursday, October 15, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Tuesday, October 20, 6:30pm-8:30pm; OR Tuesday, October 27, 6:30pm-8:30pm) AND one petition-drafting session (dates TBD) AND one exit session (dates TBD)
- Training
- On demand via Canvas; Pro Bono Scholars will be available for office hours on Mondays from 5pm-6pm and on Fridays from 3pm-4pm during October to assist with training materials and answer questions
- Skills used
- Client communication; document preparation and review; legal analysis
- Project location
- Virtual
- Number of student volunteers requested
- 6
- Class year preference
- 1L, 2L, 3L, LLM
- Required skills
- Students with an interest in social justice, navigating the criminal legal system, and engaging with criminal history records are encouraged to volunteer
- To Apply
- Register at https://explscf20.eventbrite.com