Akron Law awarded grant to expand re-entry clinic efforts

ONE IN SIX people in Ohio has a criminal conviction.

“The majority of Ohioans convicted of a crime don’t go to jail or prison, and they just want to get a job to support their families,” says Joann Sahl, associate clinical professor at The University of Akron School of Law.

But a criminal record can severely limit a person’s ability to find work.

A law enacted by the Ohio General Assembly in 2012 gives these people a second chance. It allows reformed offenders to apply for a Certificate for Qualification of Employment, or a CQE. It’s a piece of paper that makes someone with a criminal conviction more marketable, and easier for an employer to hire. It can also help someone get a government license required for work in fields ranging from health care to home improvement.

While the CQE can mean new opportunities for reformed offenders, completing the application can be a complex process. In the summer of 2013, UA was the first law school in Ohio to develop a clinic program to help people with the application process. Headed by Sahl, law students work as volunteers in the clinic, giving them valuable experience in law and public service. The clinic quickly became popular with Summit County residents who have a criminal conviction, and other Ohio law schools reached out to Professor Sahl about starting their own CQE clinics.

With its program now nationally recognized, the UA School of Law is taking the CQE clinic “on the road” thanks to a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation. In collaboration with Towards Employment, the UA School of Law is training more service providers across the state to assist applicants with completing the CQE application. Once trained, the service providers will continue to provide CQE services to qualified applicants.

This new expansion project also will help educate employers about the benefits of the CQE. The law gives some protections to employers worried about being sued for negligently hiring a person with a criminal record. This law will encourage employers to hire individuals with CQEs.

The grant also provides the UA School of Law with an opportunity to survey all the applicants in Ohio who’ve received a CQE to determine if it has been effective for them.

Matthew J. Wilson, dean of the UA School of Law, remarks, “Through the efforts and expertise of Professor Sahl, the law school and its students have made a positive impact in increasing the employability of many Ohio citizens for several years.” Wilson continues,“We appreciate the support and confidence of the Ohio State Bar Foundation in our CQE efforts, and look forward to further expanding our successful outreach across the state.”