Expungement Clinic in a Box

For nearly two decades, Community Legal Services (CLS) has been at the forefront of removing barriers to opportunity for people with criminal records. A major focus of that work has been to help as many people as possible expunge their arrest records. Over time, CLS has evolved in its approach to ensure that the clients and communities who most need their arrest records expunged are able to access legal help. 

For nearly two decades, Community Legal Services (CLS) has been at the forefront of removing barriers to opportunity for people with criminal records. A major focus of that work has been to help as many people as possible expunge their arrest records. Over time, CLS has evolved in its approach to ensure that the clients and communities who most need their arrest records expunged are able to access legal help.

Developing a community-based expungement clinic model has been instrumental in increasing access to expungement services in the communities in Philadelphia that are most heavily policed. In 2016 and 2017, CLS has held more than 20 clinics and served over 400 additional clients in 12 neighborhoods beyond those we would normally serve. While expungement eligibility and process vary widely from state to state, we share our experience growing our community-based clinics model with the hope that it is helpful to the practices of legal aid programs around the country.

Please find below our downloadable “Clinic in a Box”, which explains the nuts-and-bolts of our clinic process.  The document concludes with forms and flyers that we use in our clinics to help your organization jump start a community-based clinic model.