Click for Video: Getting Legal Help for Your Record
Good Afternoon,
There may be times when you want to get help from a lawyer for your record. A lawyer can help you understand confusing legal issues and file paperwork for expungement or petition based sealing. If you are low-income, you may be able to receive free legal help from a Legal Aid organization. If you are not eligible for Legal Aid assistance, you may want to get help from a private lawyer.
When to seek help from a lawyer
You might want to get help from a lawyer
- to file a petition to expunge your record.
- to file a petition to seal your record, if it cannot be sealed automatically.
- to help get important missing information added to your record, like your disposition (e.g. “Guilty”, “Dismissed”, “Withdrawn”) or grading information (e.g. “M2”, which means second degree misdemeanor).
- if you have been illegally discriminated against for employment due to your record (click here for more information about your employment rights).
Finding a lawyer
If you think that you may qualify for Legal Aid because of your income, you should contact the organization located in your county:
| Philadelphia: |
| Community Legal Services: Walk-in at 1424 Chestnut St. M-F from 9-12, or at 1410 W, Erie Ave. M, W, F from 9-12 |
| Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, or Lawrence: |
| Neighborhood Legal Services: Walk in M-F from 9-3; Call (866) 761-6572 M-F from 9-12; or apply online at www.nlsa.us |
| Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, or Bucks: |
| Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Call (877) 429-5994 M-F from 9 – 1; online at www.lasp.org, click on the APPLY HERE tab to start the online application process |
| Washington, Fayette, Greene, or Somerset: |
| Southwestern PA Legal Services: Walk-in M-F from 8:30-12 and 1-4:30; Call (800) 846-0871, M-F from 8:30-12 and 1-4:30; email [email protected] |
| Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Schuylkill, or York: |
| MidPenn Legal Services: Call the Coordinated Intake Unit 800-326-4958 |
| Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Warren, Elk, McKean, Cameron, or Potter: |
| Northwestern Legal Services: Call (800) 665-6957 M-F from 9-4; online nwls.org |
| Bradford, Susquehanna, Carbon, Luzerne, Clinton, Lycoming, Tioga, Columbia, Montour, Lackawanna, Sullivan, Wyoming, Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Pike, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, or Wayne: |
| North Penn Legal Services: Call (877) 953-4250; online https://www.northpennlegal.org/get-help |
| Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson, or Westmoreland: |
| Laurel Legal Services: Call (800) 253-9558 M-F 8:30-4:30 |
If you do not qualify for Legal Aid, you can find a private lawyer by calling the Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: Call (800) 692-7375; M-F 8-4:30.