Pro Bono Spotlight

• Publication year: 2024
• Citation: Vol. 93 No. 4 Pg. 34
• Pages: 34

Pro bono spotlight93 J. Kan. Bar Assn 4, 34 (2024)Kansas Bar JournalAugust 2024

Expungement Project Opens Up Opportunities for Clients

By Matthew Kruse, Jack Dougherty, and Chris Landkamer, Kansas Legal Services

As interns at Kansas Legal Services, we have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact that providing legal services to clients in need can have. KLS stands as a beacon of hope for individuals and families navigating the complexities of the legal system, often in the face of daunting personal challenges. At KLS, we are dedicated to offering a wide range of services including legal advice, representation, limited representation, and community education. Whether it's addressing issues of domestic violence, housing instability, or access to public benefits, KLS champions the rights of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Through close work with KLS Director of Pro Bono Services Joy Springfield, this summer has provided us with the unique opportunity of assisting at Clear My Record Expungement Project clinics. At these statewide clinics — made possible through Kansas Bar Foundation grants and Office of Judicial Administration funding — we assist individuals in sealing their criminal records and learn the intricacies of the expungement process, from reviewing legal documents to filing petitions with the court. This hands-on experience not only enhances our legal skills but also deepens our understanding of the impact that sealing a criminal record can have on someone's life.

Criminal records tend to punish people long after they have served their official sentences. Widespread stigma ensures that even those with convictions for minor offenses inevitably face challenges when applying for jobs, education, and housing. Even if a criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify an applicant, it inevitably damages the odds that he or...