KU Law Legal Aid Clinic to host fourth annual Expungement Clinic


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Law’s Legal Aid Clinic and the Douglas County District Attorney's Office are hosting the fourth annual Clean Slate Expungement Clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. The free clinic will be held at the Douglas County District Court, 111 E. 11th St.

An expungement seals an arrest record or conviction from public view, with certain exceptions.

Individuals who attend the free event will meet with a legal intern or attorney to determine eligibility for expungement.

“Over the past few years, the Legal Aid Clinic has helped hundreds of people in expunging past conviction and arrest records,” said Meredith Schnug, associate director of KU’s Legal Aid Clinic. “We are grateful to be working collaboratively with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office to continue this important work.”

Last year’s expungement clinic assisted 45 people. Legal advice was also provided to an additional 20 applicants who weren’t eligible for expungement at the time. 

At the clinic, the Legal Aid Clinic will provide free legal representation to eligible individuals seeking to expunge records in Douglas County District Court and/or Lawrence Municipal Court. The clinic can accept clients with income up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Clients who do not qualify for a waiver of the filing fee will need to pay those court costs, but no attorney’s fees, as long as they are eligible for services. After the Feb. 7 clinic, clients will need to attend one additional appointment and any required court hearings with their attorney.

“For many years, expungements have been used to restore a citizen’s status in the community,” said Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson, L’96. “However, lack of knowledge about the process and costs associated with pursuing an expungement prevents many people, especially those with limited means, from clearing his or her record to improve their life.”

The Legal Aid Clinic at KU Law offers law students the opportunity to fine-tune their lawyering skills in a fast-paced, live-client setting by representing low-income clients under the careful guidance and thoughtful teaching of supervising attorneys. For more than 50 years, the Legal Aid Clinic has been working to secure “justice for and to protect the rights of the needy” in a wide range of civil and misdemeanor criminal cases.

For more details about the expungement process, visit the Facts about Expungement in Kansas page on the Kansas Legal Services website. Questions? Contact the Legal Aid Clinic at 785-864-5564.