Eggiman Reaches Milestone with Opportunity Port, Prepares for New Practicum

Michael Eggiman ’22, staff attorney with the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC), recently assisted his 500th client eligible for services with Opportunity Port. 

Opportunity Port is a digital platform that connects Ohioans with criminal records with the free legal help they need to complete record sealing and expungement applications. Under the leadership and management of Hannah Miller, Opportunity Port has grown from a Columbus City Council initiative to a full-fledged program housed at DEPC, serving people across the state. 

Although Eggiman has served 500 eligible clients, he has spoken to almost 650 individuals about their options for record relief. Each client’s record is reviewed case by case to determine what is eligible for sealing and/or expungement. If there are offenses too severe to be eligible for sealing or expungement, the Expedited Pardon Project is sometimes available.  

Once eligibility is determined, Eggiman prepares a record relief application on behalf of the client. He estimates that about 80% of clients have cases in multiple jurisdictions, which requires multiple applications, as it must be filed with the court that adjudicateda client’s case. If the application is granted, sealed records are removed from public view and made inaccessible to most people for most reasons. Expunged records go further and are removed entirely for almost all purposes. 

Working in record relief has given Eggiman a different perspective on the justice system. He sees the major impact one decision from an attorney can have on a case.   

“An attorney’s words carry a lot of weight,” Eggiman said. “Our clients often did what their attorney told them because they don’t understand the legal system. This could include taking a plea deal that has hurt our clients’ records for a long time.”  

He is grateful that he and the team behind Opportunity Port have made a difference in so many lives.    

“In our clients’ stories in the criminal justice system, we’re the epilogue,” explained Eggiman. “We get to come in and help improve the ending. It’s really fulfilling work.”  

As Opportunity Port continues to grow, the team has considered ways to engage students in this meaningful work. This led to the creation of a practicum, which Eggiman will co-teach beginning this spring semester.  

In Expungement and Beyond, students engage directly with Ohio’s evolving criminal record relief laws and processes, learning what record relief looks like in different states and at the federal level. Throughout the 14-week practicum, students will also assist Ohio clients with Opportunity Port applications. This includes conducting client interviews, gathering relevant case information from court systems, performing eligibility analyses, and preparing legal documents. 

“We’re excited to have fresh ideas and new people learning about this expanding field of law,” Eggiman said. 

Gaining hands-on experience is also highly valuable, no matter where a student’s legal career may lead.  

“The skills students develop in the practice are transferable to other areas of law,” said Eggiman. “You get to interact with a lot of different people. It is low stress, but a very rich experience.” 

To learn more about Opportunity Port, visit this website. 

To learn more about DEPC’s work, click here.