Expungement Fair

Wayne Law students bring expungement fair to Manistee, serving more than 100 community members

On Saturday, August 16, Wayne State University Law School students, faculty, and staff helped bring vital access-to-justice services to northwest Michigan at the Manistee Expungement Fair. The event, largely organized by second-year Wayne Law student Erin Dorn, provided free legal screenings and application assistance to community members seeking to expunge prior criminal convictions.

For many people, an old conviction — even for a low-level offense — can limit job opportunities, housing access, and educational prospects long after they have completed their sentence. Expungement is the legal process of setting aside such convictions, allowing individuals to move forward with a clean record. While Michigan law has expanded eligibility in recent years, the process is still complex, requiring fingerprints, notarized applications, court filings, and multiple submissions across different agencies.

The Manistee fair, held at the Northwest Michigan Works! office, offered community members step-by-step support through this process at no cost.

Attendees received comprehensive help, including application preparation, fingerprinting, notarization, and guidance on the next steps for filing. Wayne Law volunteers also discussed how the school might provide continued support after the fair, such as remote office hours and even the possibility of appearing in local courts via video to represent clients pro bono.

2025 Expungement Fair Impacts

105
screened
for expungement eligibility
47
attended the fair
in person
36
confirmed eligible
services and began the process
Expungement can change a person’s life. It opens doors to job opportunities, education, housing, and even child custody. I wanted to bring this fair to my hometown because people here wouldn’t otherwise have access to these opportunities. Bridging that education and resource gap is why I came to law school, and I’m grateful Wayne gave me the support to make this possible.
—Erin Dorn (2L)
Expungement can change a person’s life. It opens doors to job opportunities, education, housing, and even child custody. I wanted to bring this fair to my hometown because people here wouldn’t otherwise have access to these opportunities. Bridging that education and resource gap is why I came to law school, and I’m grateful Wayne gave me the support to make this possible.
—Erin Dorn (2L)
Erin Dorn with her arms crossed in front of flowers
People in front of a whiteboard that reads, "Welcome to the Manistee Expungement Fair."
We are fortunate that through the University’s College to Career Readiness program we have support for our expungement navigators. Alec’s ability to engage with community members, accompany them through the expungement process, and assist them in understanding the law and their rights not only helps grow Alec’s professional skills, it helps empower community. The Navigators are an innovative Wayne State program working to address the civil legal access to justice gap that is at a crisis level for most people in this country.”
— Rebecca Robichaud, Professor of Law

A hometown leader: Erin Dorn (2L)

The driving force behind the fair was Erin Dorn, a Manistee native and current 2L at Wayne Law, who returned home for the summer determined to expand access to justice in her community.

Dorn first discovered her passion for expungement work when she volunteered at Wayne Law’s Detroit Expungement Fair in February 2024. “It became so clear to me that there is a huge education gap,” she explained. “People technically can apply for expungement themselves, but the process isn’t user-friendly, and without guidance, it’s overwhelming. Everyone has so many questions about paperwork, deadlines, and what to expect in the courtroom — questions that can stop someone from even trying. That’s where we can make a difference.”

When she realized Manistee hadn’t hosted an expungement fair in three years, Dorn reached out to Northwest Michigan Works!, a partner in the last local event, and began planning. With support from Wayne Law faculty and her mentors, Professor Rebecca Roubichaud and Assistant Director for Experiential Education Jane Warkentin, Dorn organized the August fair and recruited four classmates to drive four hours each way to join her.

There are many people suffering in our communities because they do not understand their legal rights or have access to meaningful legal representation. Pro bono legal services are critical to ensuring that people get the support and legal assistance they desperately need. Community events like the expungement fair, where community partners work collaboratively with students, often lead to lifelong benefits for the people who are served. Wayne Law is committed to finding creative ways to increase access to justice statewide and I am very excited to get students connected to the upcoming expungement fair and other pro bono projects.”
—Jaelle Richardson, Director of Pro-Bono and Public Interest Initiatives

Building momentum

The Manistee fair was also supported by Alec Austin, a Wayne State undergraduate who previously completed the Legal Navigators program and the Damon J. Keith (DJK) Summer Institute. Navigators are trained undergraduates who assist with expungement and other legal processes, working side by side with law students in pro bono service. Austin has already assisted two community members with successful expungements this year.

Dorn emphasized that while not everyone screened at the fair was eligible, the event still gave participants clarity. “Even if someone has to wait a few months or years before applying, they walk away with answers and a roadmap. That knowledge closes the gap,” she said.

Partnerships and future directions

The fair was made possible through partnerships with Safe & Just Michigan, the County of Manistee, Northwest Michigan Works!, the Michigan State Police, Wayne State University Law School, and the Michigan Office of the Attorney General.

Looking ahead, Dorn hopes to return to northern Michigan next summer to host another fair, while also stepping into a leadership role as a coordinator for Wayne Law’s annual Detroit Expungement Fair. She is also working with faculty and staff to explore how the program might provide follow-up support, including pro bono representation for more complex cases.

Continuing Wayne Law’s mission

This fall, Wayne Law’s undergraduate Legal Navigators will continue engaging Detroit-area residents to connect them with expungement opportunities. And in February 2026, Wayne Law will once again host its annual Detroit Expungement Fair, which fills the entire law school building with free legal services. For more information, or to learn how to get involved, contact expungementfair@wayne.edu.
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