The National Celebration of Pro Bono is held the last week of October each year to provide pro bono legal services, train lawyers, and celebrate the lawyers who donate their time to provide legal services to those who cannot afford a lawyer. Kansas Legal Services hosted a statewide virtual expungement clinic on October 21 for residents in Kansas and Missouri.

Often times, legal barriers limit an individual’s ability to get better employment or keep a job for which they are otherwise qualified. KLS can assist by providing the legal services needed to have criminal records expunged, which creates a fresh start when applying for jobs or services.

During the October 21 clinic, attorneys and law students provided 52 Kansas and Missouri residents with legal services to start the expungement process. Each client had the opportunity to meet with attorneys and law students in breakout rooms over Zoom.

Funding for this clinic was provided by the Kansas Bar Foundation’s Community Redevelopment Homeowners Assistance grant. In March 2025, KLS received $275,000 in grant funding from this program. Part of the funding is dedicated to offer legal services for those needing a record(s) expunged.