About the Second Chance Reentry Law Clinic

Second Chance Reentry Clinic certified legal interns Nathan Bly and Michaella Guyot-Polverini standing outside the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center building
Second Chance Reentry Clinic certified legal interns Nathan Bly (LAW ‘24) (left) and Michaella Guyot-Polverini (LAW ‘24) went to trial in the Juvenile Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to defend one of the clinic’s clients who had been accused of violating a court order regarding child visitation.

The Second Chance Reentry Clinic at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ School of Law assists individuals facing barriers as a result of their criminal records. The clinic’s cases sit at the intersection of the civil and criminal legal systems and tackle issues related to mass incarceration, prisoner reentry and the collateral consequences of criminal convictions. 

Cases are dependent on the needs of our clients, but students work on cases related to felony and misdemeanor record expungement, child support, visitation and custody, restoration of rights and more. Students work independently, as well as in teams, to develop case strategies, draft court filings and advocate for our clients in courts across Northeast Ohio. Additionally, students may engage in policy and advocacy work related to reentry and the criminal legal system. 

The Reentry Clinic is a partnership between the School of Law and the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Clinic partners with a variety of social service organizations that, in addition to providing their own reentry services, also serve as referral sources for the Reentry Clinic.