Iowa Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) grant from the Legal Services Corporation seeks to expand access to justice for low-income Iowans facing barriers related to criminal records by strengthening both staff and volunteer attorney capacity in expungement and collateral consequences cases. The project is designed to create a sustainable statewide network of trained attorneys who can help clients clear eligible records and overcome obstacles to employment, housing, education, and professional licensing.
A major focus of the grant is building expertise within Iowa Legal Aid’s regional offices. The project will establish designated expungement and collateral consequences experts in the Council Bluffs, Davenport, Dubuque, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City, and Waterloo offices. These staff members will receive specialized training, mentorship, and ongoing support from the Expungement and Collateral Consequences Project team. Iowa Legal Aid will also update expungement training materials, hire an additional attorney and paralegal dedicated to the project, and create systems that allow staff across the state to provide consistent, high-quality assistance to clients.
The project also aims to significantly expand the involvement of volunteer attorneys. Working closely with Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, staff will recruit, train, and support volunteer attorneys who can participate in expungement and employment barriers clinics and take on direct representation cases.
“Too many Iowans face barriers long after they have paid their debt to society, and those barriers can make it difficult to find a job, secure housing, or build a stable future,” said Paul Berchenbriter, managing attorney for Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Project. “This grant gives us an important opportunity to expand the number of attorneys who are equipped to help people navigate these challenges. By investing in training, mentorship and strong partnerships with volunteer attorneys, we can reach more Iowans while building a sustainable statewide network that will continue to support people seeking a second chance.”
Over the two-year grant period, Iowa Legal Aid plans to recruit 40 volunteer attorneys to provide clinic-based legal assistance and 10 volunteer attorneys to represent clients in expungement cases. To support these efforts, the project will develop recruitment materials, training videos, practice manuals, and mentorship opportunities designed to make volunteering accessible and rewarding.
Throughout the grant period, Iowa Legal Aid will host expungement and employment barriers clinics across the state, giving clients an opportunity to receive legal services from trained staff and volunteers. As regional office experts gain experience, they will begin leading clinics in their own communities, helping to expand services into areas where expungement assistance has historically been limited.
By increasing both organizational capacity and pro bono participation, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant will allow Iowa Legal Aid to serve more clients, reach more communities, and create lasting pathways for individuals seeking a second chance. The project’s long-term goal is to ensure that eligible Iowans have access to the legal help they need to move beyond past mistakes and pursue greater stability, opportunity, and economic security.