AUSTIN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
The Fresh Start Initiative Juvenile Record Sealing Training and Legal Clinic
T
he Fresh Start Initiative: Juvenile Record Sealing Training and Legal Clinic was a great success. More than 50 attorneys trained to seal both juvenile offense records and adult arrest records, and 300 people were assisted in a pro bono clinic held on Feb. 29, 2020 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The Fresh Start Initiative was created to help former juvenile offenders seal their juvenile records and to train attorneys so they can offer this service in their practices and pro bono services independently of the clinic. AYLA’s partners in this project were the Travis County District
The Fresh Start Initiative was created to help former juvenile offenders seal their juvenile records and to train attorneys so they can offer this service. Clerk’s Office, Travis County Law Library, Juvenile Public Defender’s office, District Attorney’s office, Juvenile Probation
Board, Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas, and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas. This project was made possible
by a grant from the Texas Young AUSTIN LAWYER AL AL Lawyers Association.
Virtual Coffee with the Judiciary
A
YLA’s remote “Coffee with the Judiciary” events have been a huge success. The conversations between lawyers and judges have been fantastic and the casual online setting has helped the world feel a little smaller and a little less scary. It is a tribute to our local judges that, in some respects, even in this era of social distancing, they have never been more accessible. AYLA is grateful to the members of the local judiciary for supporting young lawyers and advocating practicing law with the utmost congeniality and professionalism during this unprecedented time. Special thanks to Judges Tim Sulak, Eric Shepperd, and LAWYER Robert AUSTIN AL AL Pitman for their participation.
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