2026 Poverty Law Conference: Full Schedule

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9:00am CDT

Expunctions and Nondisclosures: Barrier Removal for Victims

Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Victims face several invisible barriers that make it more difficult for them to leave. Or if they have left, make it very difficult for them to stay away. This presentation can discuss how tools such as expunctions and nondisclosures, amongst others, can assist. The main tools we are going to discuss is going to be related to cleaning up a victims criminal history using expunctions and nondisclosures. Having a criminal history, even when a case was ultimately dismissed, can prevent someone from obtaining employment, housing, etc. and thus make it more difficult for victims to successfully leave. Expunctions would allow victims to erase eligible criminal records, and nondisclosures would allow victims to hide their criminal history. Similarly, victims can also use tools like name changes, occupational driver's license (ODL), etc. to help remove barriers that prevent victims from leaving an abusive relationship.

Speakers

Anwesha Sarkar

Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Jessica Picon

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Hello! I am a member of the LASSA team, we help survivors of sexual assault receive access to legal representation that is free for them! I enjoy what I do as I feel I am making a difference in the lives of my clients. I am currently handling family law cases, some housing cases... Read More →

Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 202

Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

10:15am CDT

ClearPathTX - Statewide Expunction Project

Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Classroom 202

This session will provide both legal education and a practical look at how technology can improve access tojustice by helping legal service providers scale record learing statewide:

1. Substantive Law – An overview of Texas expunction law, including common eligibility issues and practical considerations when screening cases.
2. Collaborative Efforts – How legal aid organizations, pro bono attorneys, and community partners work together through the SEP to expand access to record-clearing services.
3. Technology and Automation - An introduction to the automated expunction screening and document generation tool used by our project. We have hired a software vendor and anticipate new developments that we hope to demonstrate at the conference.

Speakers

Jeff Reichman

January Advisors

Jeff Reichman is the founder of January Advisors, a data science consulting firm that works with nonprofits, researchers, legal aid organizations, public sector agencies, and philanthropy.