PRESS RELEASE
Licking County “Fresh Start” Free Legal Clinic
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (formerly Southeastern Ohio Legal Services/ SEOLS) is offering a free “Fresh Start” legal clinic to help people with past criminal records seal or expunge their records.
Many Ohioans with past criminal records were previously ineligible for record sealing or expungement. Thanks to a law passed in 2023, some of these people may now be eligible.
Lawyers will be available at the clinic to screen individuals for eligibility for sealing or expunging their record and to help applicants with the paperwork.
The clinic will take place on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Licking County Aging Partners 1058 E. Main St., Newark, Ohio 43055. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged. People can pre-register online or by calling 614-827-0524. Clients will be helped first come, first served, except for pre-registered clients with appointments. We will accept walk-ins if possible until 2 p.m.
This free clinic is available to those who meet eligibility and income requirements (generally less than 200% of the federal poverty guideline).
Please note, records cannot be sealed for those who are currently on probation, community control, or have an open case. OVIs and traffic cases are not eligible to be sealed or expunged.
For additional information, please contact Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO), at 740-345-2064 or 1-800-686-3669. LASCO is a nonprofit law firm that serves lower-income people in 36 counties in Ohio.
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For information about this press release, please contact Melissa Dutton at 614-737-0144 or by email at mdutton@lasco.org.
We would really like some coverage about this FREE service available to folks in our area. We know there are many out there who could benefit from this service. If possible, please add this to your monthly calendar so everyone can see and/or hear about it.