Sealing or expunging the criminal record afterward.
Sealing is the last piece of a criminal defense and the one most frequently left undone, because by the time it becomes available everyone involved has moved on.
Why it matters more than it seems.
Most criminal-history questions on employment, licensure, and immigration forms are answered differently once a record is sealed. That is a permanent improvement in the client’s position, obtained by an application rather than by litigation, and it is available in a substantial proportion of favourably resolved matters. It is also time-gated: where sealing follows a waiting period or the completion of conditions, the application has to be made, and nobody sends a reminder.
Ask at the disposition.
The most useful moment to establish sealing eligibility is when the matter resolves - at the plea, the dismissal, or the declination. What will be sealable, on what date, and by what mechanism are questions answerable then, in a single conversation, and recorded in the file. Discovered three years later, the same questions require reconstructing a closed matter.
Two sets of records.
Court records and arrest records are held by different agencies and are frequently addressed by separate procedures. A sealed court file with a live arrest record still surfaces in some checks. Both need attention, and the distinction is easy to miss where the disposition paperwork addresses only one.
What sealing does not reach.
It does not erase the record for all purposes - certain agencies, and certain licensure and clearance inquiries, retain access. And it does nothing whatever to the campus file: a Title IX finding, a transcript notation, and the disciplinary disclosure question survive sealing entirely and are addressed through the institution rather than the court. Clients frequently assume one solves the other, and it does not.
Why you should call us.
If you are scrolling through search results trying to find someone to defend you, your search is over. You have found Spodek Law Group P.C. - and we are not your average defense firm. We know a thing or two about defending the accused in campus cases - and in the criminal courts that run alongside them. Over 50 years of combined experience, some of the toughest cases in the country, and we have come out on top. We have seen it all, and we empathise with you. We understand how frightening this is, and we have a legal team who can fight and win.
Unlike other attorneys who care about their reputation with the administrators and the prosecutors, our only goal is getting you the best outcome. We owe loyalty to only you. Our lawyers listen to you, your fears, and your goals. We care about your story, and that is where the work begins - by understanding and listening to you.
On billing, we are transparent about our fees, and there are no surprises. Choosing a lawyer is a big deal and cost is a real issue, so we are committed to being your champion irrespective of your ability to pay. Our firm has a simple belief: lawyers should only take on clients whom they can truly help. Many firms are mills that take every case through the door. We do not.
Working with us starts with a risk-free consultation, in person or over the phone. You can ask us anything, for as long as it takes, and we encourage you to ask the tough questions. We are available 24/7, we practise coast to coast, and every client has direct access to a partner. Call 212 300 5196 - an attorney answers.
