Winston Helps Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Clear their Records and Reenter the Job Force

Winston attorneys and professional staff joined forces with Cabrini Green Legal Aid and the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest Corps to host an expungement clinic and job search workshop for 12 people with criminal histories eligible for expungement.

Teams of Winston attorneys and summer associates helped participants prepare pro-se expungement petitions to have their criminal records sealed. The participants are enrolled in Windy City Harvest Corps’ 14-week transitional employment and urban agriculture job training program. Having their records expunged will help them avoid discrimination and open up new opportunities in their search for full-time employment and other necessities such as housing. 

The day also included two rounds of mock job interviews conducted in-person and virtually by Winston for Good volunteers. Henry Pena, CEO of Life Impactors Foundation, and Winston CSR & Pro Bono Administrator Ken Berry—who was wrongfully convicted and eventually exonerated with the help of Winston pro bono attorneys—also provided inspirational presentations.

Thank you to the following Winston team members from coast-to-coast who participated in this impactful Pro Bono + Winston for Good collaboration.