Chicago Start Anew Clinic
Thank you for your interest in Start Anew! We have reached capacity for this year’s Start Anew Chicago clinic and can no longer take additional registrations. We hope to offer the Start Anew Chicago clinic again next year and hope you’ll join us then!
If you have any questions, please email startanew@jonesday.com.
The Chicago Start Anew clinic will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (300 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60604). Please join us at any time between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The Chicago Start Anew clinic will be offering the following services, at no cost to attendees:
Expungement, vacatur, and sealing consultations
RAP sheet requests
Financial literacy workshops
Resume and interviewing workshops
Immigration consultations
Free professional workwear
Job fair
How to Get Here:
Driving Directions
From the North/Northwest: From the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/I-94), exit at Jackson Boulevard and turn east. UIC Law School is approximately one mile from the expressway on Jackson Boulevard at State Street.
From the West: From the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), continue toward downtown. As you approach the downtown area, the expressway becomes Congress Parkway. Turn left (north) on Dearborn Street, go two blocks to Jackson Boulevard, and turn right (east). UIC Law School is one block east on Jackson Boulevard at State Street.
From the South: From the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/I-94), exit at Jackson Boulevard and turn east. UIC Law School is approximately one mile from the expressway on Jackson Boulevard at State Street.
From Lake Shore Drive (north or south): Exit Lake Shore Drive at Jackson Boulevard and turn west. Proceed to Michigan Avenue (100 east). Turn right on Michigan Avenue, go one block to Adams Street (200 south), and turn left. Go one block to Wabash Avenue (50 east) and turn left. Go one block to Jackson Boulevard.
Parking
Monroe Street Garage: 250 East Monroe Street
Crosstown Auto Park: 328 South Wabash
Auditorium Garage: 65 East Congress
General Parking Corporation: 55 East Monroe
CNA Building: 311 South Wabash
University Self Park: 54 South Wabash
Mid City Parking: 219 South Wabash
Building Information
At the entrance of the building, you will enter through building security where you will be required to present a form of photo identification.
Note: If you do not have a form of photo identification, please ensure that you have registered in advance of the clinic so that we may provide your name in advance.
Public Transportation Options:
CTA Trains:
Seven rapid transit train lines service the downtown Chicago area and UIC Law School. From the subway trains, exit at Jackson Boulevard. From the elevated trains, exit at Adams Street/Wabash Avenue.
CTA Buses
Several buses stop very near UIC Law School. You may contact the CTA at (312) 836-7000 or (800) 972-7000 or TDD (Hearing Impaired) (312) 836-4949. For more information, visit transitchicago.com.
Metra Trains
All Metra Train stations are located within a short walking distance (or cab ride) of UIC Law School:
Union Station, Canal Street and Adams Street: Walk east on Adams Street until State Street. Turn right (south) for one block to Jackson Boulevard.
Chicago & Northwestern Station, Canal Street and Madison Avenue: Walk east on Adams Street until State Street. Turn right (south) for three blocks to Jackson Boulevard.
LaSalle Street Station, LaSalle Street and Congress Parkway: Walk east down Congress Parkway until you reach State Street. Turn left (north) for two blocks to Jackson Boulevard.
Illinois Central Station (includes service for South Shore Line), Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street: Walk north on Michigan Avenue for one block to Jackson Boulevard. Turn left (west) on Jackson Boulevard to State Street.
Seeking an Expungement? Here's What to Expect:
The Chicago Start Anew clinic is offering free expungement, vacatur, and sealing services for human trafficking-related charges and convictions. Below is a brief overview to the process in Illinois. If your charges or convictions qualify, we will provide free expungement, vacatur, and sealing services at every step:
Step 1: Get copies of your criminal records (RAP sheet).
Step 2: Review your criminal records and figure out if you are eligible for expungement, vacatur, and/or sealing.
Step 3: Fill out an expungement, vacatur, and/or sealing form.
Step 4: File the form to begin the expungement and/or sealing process. Police departments and prosecutors will have 60 days from the day they receive your form to object to your expungement/vacatur/sealing request.
Step 5: The court will consider your expungement/vacatur/sealing request (and any objections, if any).
Step 6: If the court requests a hearing, prepare for and attend a court hearing.
Step 7: The court will either approve or deny your request. If the court denies your request, you can file a Motion for Reconsideration or appeal.
Obtaining Your Criminal Records
In order to file for an expungement-related relief in Illinois, you must first obtain your RAP sheet (or record of arrests and prosecutions).
Don’t have a RAP sheet? The Chicago Start Anew clinic will be able to assist you with obtaining your RAP sheet on Clinic Day, completely free of charge to you. Our technician will fingerprint you and request your RAP sheet. After obtaining your RAP sheet, we will schedule a time to meet with you for a consultation and, if you qualify, assist you with preparing your expungement, vacatur, and/or sealing application.
Already Have a RAP Sheet?
If you already have a current RAP sheet, please bring your RAP sheet with you on Clinic Day, and we will have lawyers onsite who can begin the consultation process and work with you to prepare your expungement, vacatur, and/or sealing application. We may reach out to you after your initial consultation to schedule an additional meeting to finalize your expungement, vacatur, and/or sealing application.
Want to Get Your Own RAP Sheet?
If you would like to obtain your RAP sheet on your own to bring with you on Clinic Day, you can request your Statewide Criminal History Transcript, which will include all arrests and convictions that happened in Illinois, from:
Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification
260 N. Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(815) 740-5160 – select option 2
Any Licensed Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor
This vendor will take your fingerprints and send your information to the ISP.
Note that there are certain fees required to access your Statewide Criminal History Transcript. The Illinois State Police will send you an encrypted version of the report. To access your report, you will need to receive an online permission certificate and an encryption application for your computer, or pick it up at the office where you ordered the transcript.
Consultation and Filing Process
After reviewing your criminal records, we will assist you in determining whether your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Start Anew clinic. At this time, the Chicago Start Anew clinic is only offering expungement, vacatur, and sealing relief for human trafficking-related convictions. Please note that not all convictions will qualify for expungement-related services by the Chicago Start Anew clinic. If your convictions do not qualify, we will refer you to an organization that may be able to help.
If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Chicago Start Anew clinic, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule one). During your consultation, lawyers will need to ask you several questions regarding the nature and circumstances of any charge(s) or conviction(s) for which you seek expungement or sealing. Questions may include:
What was the date of each conviction, what was the conviction for, and where were you convicted?
Where were you arrested, what was the date of each arrest, and what was the arrest/charge for?
Do you have any ongoing prosecutions?
Do you have any medical records or email or text communications relating to your experience?
Do you have any communications (letters, messages, emails) from any federal or state agency regarding your experience?
After your consultation, we will assist you with preparing and filing your expungement/vacatur/sealing forms. Once your request has been filed, we will also assist you with any court hearing preparation that is required.
