PRESS RELEASE: Clearinghouse Launches CORI Sealing Program
Lawyers Clearinghouse Launches CORI Sealing Program
Clearinghouse partners with Codman Square NDC, Urban Edge, and the City of Boston
to help Massachusetts residents clear their criminal records.
BOSTON— Boston legal services nonprofit Lawyers Clearinghouse has announced the creation of a free CORI Sealing Clinic to provide residents with the opportunity to seal or expunge their criminal records (CORIs).
Through this clinic program—operated in partnership with Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Urban Edge, and the City of Boston—the Clearinghouse will connect eligible residents with volunteer attorneys who can help them seal or expunge their records.
“By harnessing the skills of the legal community, we can level the playing field and help people move forward,” said Clearinghouse Executive Director, Maribeth Perry. “This program will open doors that have long been closed to many members of our community, and will allow them to access housing, employment, and other crucial opportunities.”
As part of this joint effort, the Clearinghouse will provide free trainings for volunteer attorneys, to equip them with information they need to most effectively assist clinic clients. Clearinghouse Access to Justice Fellow Crispin Birnbaum will lead these trainings and mentor volunteers. Until in-person meetings are safe, the consultations will take place over phone or video conferencing, allowing people to access the service remotely.
Clinics will be staffed with volunteer attorneys from Choate; Citizens Bank; Goodwin; Kirkland & Ellis; Liberty Mutual; Mintz; Morgan Lewis; Nelson Mullins; Ropes & Gray; Santander Bank, N.A.; and WilmerHale.
As America contends with a history of racial injustice, this program is especially important in addressing inequality within the criminal justice system and the disproportionate impact the system has had on Black men and other communities of color. Black men are more likely than any other demographic to be incarcerated and thus are more likely to face the many barriers associated with having a criminal record. By providing this service, the Clearinghouse and its partners seek to mitigate the negative impacts of an unequal system.
Based on the success of an earlier pilot CORI Sealing Clinic with Codman Square NDC, the program will kick off on June 25 with additional clinics scheduled throughout the summer. Community members are encouraged to sign up for assistance by contacting one of the program partners or through the Clearinghouse’s sign up form.
About Lawyers Clearinghouse
The Lawyers Clearinghouse was founded in 1988 by the Boston Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association to connect nonprofit organizations working to promote affordable housing and alleviate homelessness with pro bono legal assistance provided by volunteer attorneys. Since then, the Clearinghouse has expanded the scope of its services to include educational workshops for nonprofits and lawyers, legal clinics for the homeless at shelters in the Boston area, and a program to engage retired lawyers and judges in pro bono pursuits. Learn more at www.lawyersclearinghouse.org.