By McKenzie Knaub
Last month, the Center for Global Justice (CGJ) provided me with an invaluable opportunity to get more involve in the fight against human trafficking. In 2021, Virginia introduced new legislation allowing human trafficking victims to petition for vacatur and expungement of two specific charges: prostitution and bawdy place. CGJ played a pivotal role in this process, with Dean Walton actively contributing to the passage of this legislation. Since then, CGJ has continued its advocacy through the creation of a Human Trafficking Clinic and by assisting victims in obtaining vacatur and expungements. The Center represented the first victim in Virginia to get her charges vacated and expunged.
In early September, I had the privilege of traveling with Professor Kelsey to Washington D.C., to attend a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) event hosted by Jones Day. This event was designed to prepare for a clinic that would assist survivors later in the month. The CLE covered fundamental information about human trafficking and specific vacatur and expungement laws for Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. It underscored just how outdated Virginia’s legislation is when it comes to supporting human trafficking victims. Throughout the day, speakers from around the country, all deeply involved in the anti-human trafficking movement, shared their insights on various aspects of the issue.
Later in September, I returned to D.C. with Professor Kelsey for the Start Anew Clinic hosted by Jones Day. This clinic provided survivors with a range of resources. Survivors were able to meet with a team of attorneys for vacatur and expungement consultations and attend workshops on financial education, job interview preparation, and resume building. Additionally, there were self-care sessions, as well as immigration and housing help desks. Survivors could even apply for jobs at the clinic. Dress for Success helped by styling survivors with business attire to ensure they were well-prepared for job interviews. Witnessing the collective efforts of so many organizations coming together to support survivors in overcoming daily challenges was truly inspiring. I am deeply grateful to the Center for Global Justice for providing me with these amazing experiences.
This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.