While serving as the U.S. Attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas from 2017–2021, Erin spent a great deal of her time working on women’s initiatives related to domestic violence and human trafficking. She was appointed by the Attorney General to lead the domestic violence task force, and she received local and national recognition for her efforts, including receiving the Jane Doe Award in 2020 from nonprofit Genesis Shelter. The women she met through this work and the stories they told her made a deep impact and, within months of starting at Kirkland, she proposed the idea for what would become known as Project Second Chance.

The Kirkland pro bono team — led by Erin and consisting of both transactional lawyers and litigators out of the Dallas office — works to seal or expunge the criminal records of women survivors of human trafficking who have convictions and arrests related to their abuse. With expunged records, these women have better access to housing and jobs that their record had previously prevented them from obtaining.

The notes of gratitude we’ve received from our clients have shown us just how meaningful this work is for them and their future. They didn’t know how to reconcile what had happened earlier in their life. Our work helps them move on from their past and find real opportunity.” - Erin Nealy Cox

Given the relatively recent changes to Texas law related to human trafficking and violence, many women survivors don’t know they’re eligible for the expungement process. Many legal professionals also struggle to determine which offenses qualify under the law and how to train attorneys on the new procedure. But Erin’s depth of experience has allowed her to connect the right people with the right organizations, including Genesis Shelter and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, to create a path forward.

The Dallas County DA flags appropriate cases for the Kirkland team, which then has five weeks to complete the administrative work for the expungement to potentially be approved. As more Kirkland attorneys have joined the effort, the number of clients has increased, too. Between the first and second year of Project Second Chance, the number of women served doubled from 15 to 30. This past year, the lawyers assisted in expunging 69 records across clients.

To be sure, Project Second Chance is a team effort that the entire Dallas office has embraced. Partners Steve Fahey and Lindsey Beran have provided invaluable advice on how to screen clients, and practice assistant Suzanne Martin, who worked with Erin at the U.S. Attorney’s office, has navigated the countless details and logistics involved in filing the petitions. Erin and the team continue to explore ways to expand the program, too, reaching out to other Dallas-area law firms, as well as general counsel from the hospitality industry and local sports teams.

“This project is not splashy or headline-driven in terms of results; it’s the slow and steady work horse of real progress,” Erin said. “The team works on one case at a time, one client at a time, making a small difference in one life at a time, and eventually, you start to see a real impact. We’ve got a good system going, and I’m so proud of Kirkland’s Dallas office for their support in leading this effort.”

Project Second Chance: Giving Women a New Start

Project Second Chance: Giving Women a New Start