Attorneys set to help Philadelphians seal some criminal records

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(Rob Wilson/Bigstock)

(Rob Wilson/Bigstock)

Next month, Philadelphia’s district attorney will join the Philadelphia Bar Association and others to help seal criminal records of those with lesser offenses.

They are trying to get people to register in advance.

At six different locations on Nov. 12, the Bar Association’s Young Attorneys and the district attorney’s office will work with people who qualify under new state regulations to have their criminal records expunged or sealed.

“If you have a misdemeanor of the second degree conviction or misdemeanor of the third degree conviction older than 10 years, you can now have that record sealed,” said city District Attorney Seth Williams. 

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The clinics will offer legal help with the motions and other paperwork necessary to seal a record, Williams said, and make it easier to be hired.

“We’d like to have people preregister so we can do some of the paperwork and some of the background checks to make everything as smooth as possible for people who show up on Nov. 12, he said.

You can sign up ahead of time online. Williams says walk ins will be accepted but not guaranteed help.

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