Last week Lane & Waterman attorneys Nicolas Yost, Victoria Biggerstaff, Jessica Kirkpatrick, and Grace Tobin volunteered at an Expungement Clinic organized by Iowa Legal Aid.

Iowa Legal Aid started hosting expungement clinics in 2017, with the goal of reducing barriers to self-sufficiency after a person leaves the criminal or juvenile justice system. They help clients gain independence by expunging eligible criminal records, court debt management, and helping clients with driver’s license and car registration issues. They found that helping in just these three areas can help people find jobs, housing, and further their education.

During the clinic, the attorneys and Iowa Legal Aid staff reviewed a person’s Iowa criminal history record and court debt totals to make recommendations and give legal advice.

Iowa Legal Aid is a nonprofit organization providing critical legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable Iowans who have nowhere else to turn. Along with volunteer lawyers throughout the state, Iowa Legal Aid helps the legal system work for those who cannot afford help with legal issues.