About
Mission
The Access Project expands the capacity of legal services organizations through innovative program design, purpose-built technology, and large-scale pro bono engagement. We build tools and systems that make high-volume legal services more efficient, accessible, and scalable.
How We Work
Our model combines three capabilities.
Program design
We design around the needs of clients, legal services professionals, and pro bono volunteers, building programs that fit the realities of legal practice.
Purpose-built technology
We build tools and workflows for high-volume legal work, helping organizations reduce repetitive tasks and extend the reach of their staff.
Pro bono engagement
We create structured opportunities, training, and workflows that allow volunteers to contribute effectively while supporting the legal services organizations leading the work.
Current Work
Clean Slate Engine
The Clean Slate Engine moves record-clearance cases from RAP sheet to signature-ready petition packet. Remedy analysis runs on computational law, a deterministic and auditable set of legal rules. Packets are customized to the county, remedy, and user. The platform was built with support from the California Access to Justice Commission.
Legal aid organizations, public defenders, and reentry programs can use the Clean Slate Engine within their own workflows, bringing the same record-analysis, remedy, and document-generation infrastructure to their teams.
- 1
Decoding criminal records
Extracts and structures information from California criminal records (RAP sheets).
- 2
Remedy determination
Applies auditable legal rules to determine which forms of relief may be available for each conviction.
- 3
Attorney review
Keeps legal judgment in the process, with attorney review before any petition is generated.
- 4
Petition preparation
Generates petitions based on the applicable remedy and county filing requirements.
Clean Slate Resources
Our Clean Slate Resources make practical record-clearance guidance freely available. They include an interactive map with filing information for all 58 California counties, a clean slate FAQ, declaration guidance and examples, and step-by-step instructions for obtaining a California RAP sheet.
History
The Access Project was founded in 2019 to improve access to high-quality legal services for people of limited means. We set out to bring law firm volunteers into the work of legal services organizations through technology and program design.
Starting in 2022, TAP partnered with California's Rising Scholars Network to bring free record-clearance services to justice-impacted community college students across the state. Students could participate remotely, allowing TAP and its pro bono network to serve people regardless of where they attended school or where their convictions occurred. Students received help obtaining their criminal record, a full record review, remedy analysis, petition and declaration preparation, and filing with the court.
The program became the proving ground for TAP's model. Each cohort generated lessons about record review, volunteer workflows, client communication, county filing requirements, and petition preparation. Those lessons shaped the systems that ultimately became the Clean Slate Engine and now support other legal organizations.
Petitions filed
Petitions granted
California counties with petitions filed
Pro bono hours
Rising Scholars Clean Slate program, 2022 to 2025
One staff attorney and an extensive pro bono network delivered the program.
Why This Work Matters
Low-income Californians per legal aid attorney (2023)
Source: State Bar of California, 2024 California Justice Gap Study
Most people who qualify for legal aid still cannot get representation for critical legal needs. Legal services organizations face demand far beyond the capacity their funding and staffing can support.
Expanding access requires better systems for delivering legal services at scale. Building those systems is TAP's work.
Learn More About the Justice Gap
Work With Us
For legal aid organizations, public defenders, and reentry programs
Reach out to us if your organization is interested in using the Clean Slate Engine.
Email cse@accessprojectca.orgFor law firms and volunteer attorneys
Contribute pro bono time to structured legal work, with training and scoped assignments.
Email info@accessprojectca.orgFor funders, researchers, and partners
Reach out about partnerships, grants, and research collaborations.
Email info@accessprojectca.orgFor people clearing their own record
TAP is not taking individual clients right now. Start with our Clean Slate Resources and the legal aid referral list.