Koch Pro Bono Initiative volunteers helped Kansans navigate the path toward removing past arrests and prior convictions from their records.
Robin Couey isn’t an attorney. She’s a tax manager at Koch. But on April 10, she was one of about 65 volunteers who showed up for an expungement clinic in Wichita, Kansas, to spend her Friday helping members of the community navigate the legal system and potentially change their futures.
Her reason for being there was simple. “A lot of times, people make one mistake,” she said, “why should they be punished their entire lives?” For many people, a past arrest or conviction is more than a legal matter — it's a daily obstacle that can block access to employment, stable housing and educational opportunities, making it difficult to move forward no matter how much time has passed.
This year’s free expungement clinic, hosted by Goodwill and led by Kansas Legal Services, Koch and other corporate sponsors, was designed for people seeking to clear prior arrests or past convictions from their records. While expungements are never guaranteed and the process can be lengthy, this work is a necessary first step for anyone seeking a fresh start.
“We want to help Kansans who are trying to help themselves, (and) there’s no better way to improve communities than by partnering with engaged corporate volunteers who genuinely want to give back,” said Matt Keenan, executive director of Kansas Legal Services.
The need for community events like this is great and growing. In 2025, the same clinic assisted nearly 80 people seeking help and direction; this year’s clinic booked 100 appointments before the doors even opened, with volunteers across Koch, its partner legal firms and other local companies stepping up to share their time and knowledge.
To qualify for assistance, individuals were required to meet eligibility criteria through a screening process. Once vetted and cleared, legal volunteers worked directly with participants to walk them through the process, explaining applicable Kansas statutes, reviewing their records and helping prepare the documentation necessary to petition for expungement.
"These clinics bridge the gap between someone’s desire for a better future and their access to the resources needed to get there,” said Nate Jiwanlal, chief counsel of transactional services at Koch. “When you sit across from someone and see the impact this has on their life, it reinforces how meaningful the work really is.”
At Koch, pro bono work like this is an extension of its Stewardship Framework, which guides how the company operates and contributes to the communities where employees live and work. The Koch Pro Bono Initiative reflects this framework in action as a network of employees and partner firms that leverage their collective capabilities to make a difference and empower people to improve their lives.
“Being able to offer real help like this is mutually beneficial for the community, for individuals and for Koch,” said Cara Chennault-Reid, vice president of human resources at Koch, adding, “You think about the barriers that limit people from experiencing parts of life many of us take for granted … this opens the doors for them, and to me, that’s why this is so important.”
Koch volunteers assist local community members navigate the path to removing past convictions from their records.
