Loyola partners with Maryland Legal Aid to host expungement clinic on York Road

Loyola University Maryland has partnered with Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) to host an expungement clinic on Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held in the parking lot of Loyola’s Transportation and Public Safety complex at 5104 York Road where Loyola hosts the Govans Farmers’ Market each summer.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity for students to work side-by-side with practicing lawyers,” said Matt Beverlin, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of political science. “Students will experience assisting real clients who need legal assistance. In doing so, the students can evaluate the possibility of a future career in law, and specifically the value of public interest law. It will extend what they learn in the classroom to a meaningful experience that will also provide a service to many of our neighbors.”

During the clinic, volunteers from Loyola including students and roughly 15 attorneys—who are alumni or friends of Loyola—will assist members of the community with expunging their records, attaining housing, and finding new employment.

Gordon Feinbatt is one of the more than a dozen law firms who will participate in the clinic to provide free services to the community.

“Gordon Feinblatt is excited to be participating with Loyola and MLA to provide legal assistance on such an important social justice issue,” said Searle Mitnick, ’66, chair of the Loyola Pre-Law Advisory Board and partner at Gordon Feinblatt LLC.

Loyola’s Center for Community, Service, and Justice (CCSJ) is assisting with this service-learning opportunity. Read more about service-learning at Loyola.

“MLA is excited and honored to partner with Loyola University Maryland to provide critical legal services to the Baltimore community,” said Todd Cagwin, director of training and pro bono, Maryland Legal Aid. “This unique opportunity to utilize Loyola students in the delivery of such services, while simultaneously fostering professional connections to public interest law, is vital to increasing access to justice. The barriers raised for individuals with records, although not visible, are very real. This clinic, thanks to Loyola, will assist in reducing them.”