Wayne Law Expungement Fair a success, providing free legal services to more than 250 eligible community members
Wayne Law’s commitment to community and focus on teamwork was on full display Friday, November 3, 2023. The Law School collaborated with the State Attorney General’s Office, Miller Johnson Law Firm, Safe and Just Michigan, the Wayne State School of Social Work, and the Michigan State Police to provide over 250 people with free legal services and wrap around social services at an expungement fair. Led by Gilbert Family Foundation Fellow Elizabeth Stapleton, the fair determined each person’s eligibility for expungement. For those eligible for expungement, volunteer attorneys assisted in beginning the expungement process. The Michigan State Police provided fingerprinting services and application fees were covered for some of the participants. Thanks to the Michigan State Bar Foundation for funding a portion of this project. “Elizabeth’s vision and hard work brought this event to fruition,” said Wayne Law’s Director of Experiential Education and Pro Bono Initiatives Rebecca Robichaud. “We have been fortunate to have such wonderful fellows this year who have expanded our capacity to serve the Detroit community.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s motivating speech kicked off the event, and Rapper Christian Mathis better known by his stage name Trick Trick, provided his personal testimony and encouragement to the audience to see the expungement process through to the finish.
Also volunteering at the fair was Wayne State Master of Studies in Law (MSL) student Lawerence Black. “I've been a paralegal volunteer for the City of Detroit Law Department's Project Clean Slate program for the last two and a half years since the Clean Slate law went into effect. I've also assisted at the Third Precinct clean slate events and numerous other expungement events throughout the city, so I have witnessed the need statewide for these services. I was more than happy to volunteer my time for this cause and proud that my school, Wayne Law, hosted it.”
For more information about Wayne Law visit www.law.wayne.edu
Top image caption: Rapper Trick Trick and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stand united the expungement fair.
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Contact: Jennifer Kennedy
313-577-4629