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Seminar  Seminar

Re-Entry Issues: Overcoming Employment and Housing Challenges Due to a Prior Arrest or Conviction (Free)


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This is a webcast of the live San Francisco session.

Why you should attend

In the past three decades, incarceration rates have exploded in the U.S., such that today we incarcerate over two million people, more than any other country in the world. The result is that many more people encounter the criminal justice system at some point in their lives. Indeed, an estimated 1 in 4 adults in California has an arrest or conviction record, and people of color are disproportionately affected.

A person with a prior record faces significant employment and housing barriers, even when the record is old or unrelated to the job or housing. These barriers impede community reintegration and prevent formerly incarcerated people from being able to support themselves and their families or contribute to their communities. This training is designed to give lawyers a foundation in the collateral consequences that result from contact with the criminal justice system, as well as tools for representing clients in need of reentry legal services.

What you will learn

  • Basic overview of criminal justice system and collateral consequences of arrests/convictions
  • Criminal records remedies (also known as “expungement”)
  • Employment rights and protections
  • Housing rights and protections
  • Laws pertaining to background checks
  • Laws pertaining to occupational licensing and appealing a license denial based on conviction history

Who should attend

All attorneys interested in or currently assisting pro bono clients with reentry legal services through representation or in clinical settings, law firm pro bono coordinators, managers and partners, law clinic students and faculty, and public interest and non-profit organization attorneys and staff would benefit from attending this program.

PLI Group Discounts

Groups of 4-14 from the same organization, all registering at the same time, for a PLI program scheduled for presentation at the same site, are entitled to receive a group discount. For further discount information, please contact membership@pli.edu or call (800) 260-4PLI.

PLI Can Arrange Group Viewing to Your Firm

Contact the Groupcasts Department via email at groupcasts@pli.edu for more details.

Cancellations

All cancellations received 3 business days prior to the program will be refunded 100%. If you do not cancel within the allotted time period, payment is due in full. You may substitute another individual to attend the program at any time.

All times are P.D.T.

Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  (P.D.T.)

9:00 Program Overview and Introductions

Paul R. Chavez, Meredith Desautels

9:15 Overview of Reentry Legal Services

Reentry legal services encompass a range of strategies to reduce the legal barriers faced by people as they reintegrate into society following an arrest or conviction. This introductory section of the training will provide an overview of California law regarding the types of sentences imposed after a conviction and the criminal record remedies available. Additionally, the training will review the collateral consequences of a conviction in the contexts of employment, housing, and voting. The training will provide a foundation for assisting clients in overcoming reentry barriers in each of these areas.

Donté Blue, Dorsey Nunn, Adam Poe, Michelle Natividad Rodriguez

10:15 Special Topics in Record Remedies: Sealing an Arrest & Certificates of Rehabilitation

Record remedies are the centerpiece of reentry work, and often provide the key first step in helping the reentry client to overcome legal barriers. This more advanced training will focus on two particular records remedies - the sealing of arrest records and Certificates of Rehabilitation. We will provide reentry practitioners with an in-depth view of the process of sealing an arrest, including fact investigation, legal standards, and strategies for the court hearing. We will also explain the Certificate of Rehabilitation remedy, including its benefits, shortfalls, and relationship to the Pardon, to help practitioners determine if and when this remedy is right for their clients.

Craig Davis, Eliza Hersh

11:15 Networking Break

11:30 Special Topics in Employment Screening: Background Checks & Occupational Licenses

Employment is a vital part of the reentry process, and an important predictor of successful community reintegration. This section of the training will explain the rights and remedies provided by federal and state laws regarding the background check process. We will then delve into the topic of occupational licensing and develop an advanced understanding of how licensing criteria impact the many reentry clients searching for employment in regulated fields such as security, real estate, and health services. By looking at licensing through the lens of an appeal, reentry advocates will learn to navigate the laws and regulations applicable to different regulatory boards, and also gain practical knowledge for successful administrative hearings.

Meredith Desautels, Tanya Koshy

12:30 Adjourn
Chairperson(s)
Paul R Chavez ~ Senior Attorney & Pro Bono Coordinator, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Meredith Desautels ~ Staff Attorney, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Speaker(s)
Donté Blue ~ Law Fellow, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Craig Davis ~ Attorney, Law Offices of Craig Davis
Eliza Hersh ~ Director, Clean Slate Practice, East Bay Community Law Center
Tanya Koshy ~ Staff Attorney, Clean Slate Practice, East Bay Community Law Center
Dorsey E Nunn ~ Executive Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Adam Poe ~ Staff Attorney, Bay Area Legal Aid
Michelle Natividad Rodriguez ~ Staff Attorney, National Employment Law Project
Program Attorney(s)
Christina Thompson ~ Program Attorney, Practising Law Institute
PLI makes every effort to accredit its Live Webcasts. Please check the CLE Calculator above for CLE information specific to your state.

PLI's Live Webcasts are approved for MCLE credit (unless otherwise noted in the product description) in the following states/territories:  Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho*, Illinois, Indiana1, Iowa*, Kansas*, Kentucky*, Louisiana, Maine*, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire*, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York2, Ohio3, Oklahoma, Oregon*, Pennsylvania4, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia5, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming*.

*PLI will apply for credit upon request.

Arizona: The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement.

Arkansas and Oklahoma: Audio-only live webcasts are not approved for credit.
 

1Indiana: Considered a distance education course. There is a 6 credit limit per year.

2New York: Newly admitted attorneys may not take non-transitional course formats such as on-demand audio or video programs or live webcasts for CLE credit. Newly admitted attorneys not practicing law in the United States, however, may earn 12 transitional credits in non-traditional formats.

3Ohio: To confirm that the live webcast has been approved, please refer to the list of Ohio’s Approved Self Study Activities at http://www.sconet.state.oh.us. Online programs are considered self-study. Ohio attorneys have a 6 credit self-study limit per biennial compliance period. The Ohio CLE Board states that attorneys must have a 100% success rate in clicking on timestamps to receive ANY CLE credit for an online program.

4 Pennsylvania: A live webcast may be viewed individually or in a group setting. Credit may be granted to an attorney who views a live webcast individually. There is a 4.0 credit limit per year for this type of viewing. A live webcast viewed in a group setting receives live participatory credit if the program is open to the public and advertised at least 30 days prior to the program. Live webcasts viewed in a group setting that do not advertise at least 30 days prior the program will be considered "in-house", and therefore denied credit.

5Virginia: All distance learning courses are to be done in an educational setting, free from distractions.


Running time and CLE credit hours are not necessarily the same. Please be aware that many states do not permit credit for luncheon and keynote speakers.

Note that some states limit the number of credit hours attorneys may claim for online CLE activities, and state rules vary with regard to whether online CLE activities qualify for participatory or self-study credits. For more information, refer to your state CLE website or call Customer Service at (800) 260-4PLI (4754) or email: info@pli.edu.

If you have already received credit for attending some or the entire program, please be aware that state administrators do not permit you to accrue additional credit for repeat viewing even if an additional credit certificate is subsequently issued.

Why you should attend

In the past three decades, incarceration rates have exploded in the U.S., such that today we incarcerate over two million people, more than any other country in the world. The result is that many more people encounter the criminal justice system at some point in their lives. Indeed, an estimated 1 in 4 adults in California has an arrest or conviction record, and people of color are disproportionately affected.

A person with a prior record faces significant employment and housing barriers, even when the record is old or unrelated to the job or housing. These barriers impede community reintegration and prevent formerly incarcerated people from being able to support themselves and their families or contribute to their communities. This training is designed to give lawyers a foundation in the collateral consequences that result from contact with the criminal justice system, as well as tools for representing clients in need of reentry legal services.

What you will learn

  • Basic overview of criminal justice system and collateral consequences of arrests/convictions
  • Criminal records remedies (also known as “expungement”)
  • Employment rights and protections
  • Housing rights and protections
  • Laws pertaining to background checks
  • Laws pertaining to occupational licensing and appealing a license denial based on conviction history

Who should attend

All attorneys interested in or currently assisting pro bono clients with reentry legal services through representation or in clinical settings, law firm pro bono coordinators, managers and partners, law clinic students and faculty, and public interest and non-profit organization attorneys and staff would benefit from attending this program.

PLI Group Discounts

Groups of 4-14 from the same organization, all registering at the same time, for a PLI program scheduled for presentation at the same site, are entitled to receive a group discount. For further discount information, please contact membership@pli.edu or call (800) 260-4PLI.

PLI Can Arrange Group Viewing to Your Firm

Contact the Groupcasts Department via email at groupcasts@pli.edu for more details.

Cancellations

All cancellations received 3 business days prior to the program will be refunded 100%. If you do not cancel within the allotted time period, payment is due in full. You may substitute another individual to attend the program at any time.

Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

9:00 Program Overview and Introductions

Paul R. Chavez, Meredith Desautels

9:15 Overview of Reentry Legal Services

Reentry legal services encompass a range of strategies to reduce the legal barriers faced by people as they reintegrate into society following an arrest or conviction. This introductory section of the training will provide an overview of California law regarding the types of sentences imposed after a conviction and the criminal record remedies available. Additionally, the training will review the collateral consequences of a conviction in the contexts of employment, housing, and voting. The training will provide a foundation for assisting clients in overcoming reentry barriers in each of these areas.

Donté Blue, Dorsey Nunn, Adam Poe, Michelle Natividad Rodriguez

10:15 Special Topics in Record Remedies: Sealing an Arrest & Certificates of Rehabilitation

Record remedies are the centerpiece of reentry work, and often provide the key first step in helping the reentry client to overcome legal barriers. This more advanced training will focus on two particular records remedies - the sealing of arrest records and Certificates of Rehabilitation. We will provide reentry practitioners with an in-depth view of the process of sealing an arrest, including fact investigation, legal standards, and strategies for the court hearing. We will also explain the Certificate of Rehabilitation remedy, including its benefits, shortfalls, and relationship to the Pardon, to help practitioners determine if and when this remedy is right for their clients.

Craig Davis, Eliza Hersh

11:15 Networking Break

11:30 Special Topics in Employment Screening: Background Checks & Occupational Licenses

Employment is a vital part of the reentry process, and an important predictor of successful community reintegration. This section of the training will explain the rights and remedies provided by federal and state laws regarding the background check process. We will then delve into the topic of occupational licensing and develop an advanced understanding of how licensing criteria impact the many reentry clients searching for employment in regulated fields such as security, real estate, and health services. By looking at licensing through the lens of an appeal, reentry advocates will learn to navigate the laws and regulations applicable to different regulatory boards, and also gain practical knowledge for successful administrative hearings.

Meredith Desautels, Tanya Koshy

12:30 Adjourn
Chairperson(s)
Paul R Chavez ~ Senior Attorney & Pro Bono Coordinator, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Meredith Desautels ~ Staff Attorney, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Speaker(s)
Donté Blue ~ Law Fellow, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Craig Davis ~ Attorney, Law Offices of Craig Davis
Eliza Hersh ~ Director, Clean Slate Practice, East Bay Community Law Center
Tanya Koshy ~ Staff Attorney, Clean Slate Practice, East Bay Community Law Center
Dorsey E Nunn ~ Executive Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Adam Poe ~ Staff Attorney, Bay Area Legal Aid
Michelle Natividad Rodriguez ~ Staff Attorney, National Employment Law Project
Program Attorney(s)
Christina Thompson ~ Program Attorney, Practising Law Institute

San Francisco Seminar Location

PLI California Center, 685 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105. (415) 498-2800

San Francisco Hotel Accommodations

The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94105. Call (800) 917-7456 seven days a week from 6:00 am to 12:00 am (PDT) and mention you are attending this program at Practising Law Institute to receive the preferred rate. For online reservations, go to www.sfpalace.com/pli to receive the preferred rate.

Due to high demand we recommend reserving hotel rooms as early as possible.

PLI programs qualify for credit in all states that require mandatory continuing legal education for attorneys. Please be sure to check with your state and the credit calculator to the right for details.


Please check the CLE Calculator above each product description for CLE information specific to your state.

Special Note: In New York, newly admitted attorneys may receive CLE credit only for attendance at "transitional" programs during their first two years of admission to the Bar. Non-traditional course formats such as on-demand web programs or recorded items, are not acceptable for CLE credit. Experienced attorneys may choose to attend and receive CLE credit for either a transitional course or for one geared to experienced attorneys.  All product types, including on-demand web programs and recorded items, are approved for experienced attorneys.

Please Note: The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. PLI programs may qualify for credit based on the requirements outlined in the MCLE Regulations and Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. Rule 45.

If you have already received credit for attending some or the entire program, please be aware that state administrators do not permit you to accrue additional credit for repeat viewing even if an additional credit certificate is subsequently issued.

Credit will be granted only to the individual on record as the purchaser unless alternative arrangements (prearranged groupcast) are made in advance.

Related Items

Handbook  Course Handbook Archive

Re-Entry Issues: Overcoming Employment and Housing Challenges Due to a Prior Arrest or Conviction Paul R. Chavez, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Meredith Desautels, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
 
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