In the United States, a decades-old nonviolent felony or misdemeanor can stand as a lifelong barrier to employment, housing, and opportunity. Now, two Howard University alumni are using technology to challenge that reality—and they aim to scale justice for millions.
Lawrence Blackmon, a Mississippi State Representative, and Roger Roman, a tech founder and investor, have launched LegalEase, a Black-owned justice-tech startup designed to make criminal record expungement simple, fast, and affordable.
Their goal is bold: process one million expungements by 2030.
Making Expungement Easy—and Scalable
LegalEase is powered by an AI assistant named Wilma, who guides users through a conversational, eligibility-check and petition-filing process that takes as little as five minutes. Users don’t need legal knowledge or experience—Wilma handles the logic and walks them through each step.
“Too many neighbors have waited years for a second chance,” Blackmon told BlackBusiness.com. “By letting folks call, click, or text their way to a clean slate, we’re proving that equal justice can scale—from Jackson today to every zip code in America tomorrow.”
Where It’s Available
LegalEase is already live statewide in Mississippi, with upcoming launches in Illinois and the D.C./Maryland corridor scheduled for fall 2025. The founders plan to expand nationwide within 18 months, working through each state’s unique expungement laws and filing requirements.
Importantly, the platform is built to be accessible to people with limited technology access. Users can interact via web chat, mobile phone, or even SMS text, making LegalEase functional in both urban centers and rural communities.
Affordable and Transparent Options
LegalEase offers flexible pricing, with:
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$150 DIY plans for those comfortable filing on their own
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$500 concierge-level service, where LegalEase manages paperwork, deadlines, and court communications
Users can also track the status of their case at the docket level, providing real-time updates and transparency—something rarely offered in traditional legal processes.
“Clearing a record should be as routine as paying a bill online,” said Roman. “Text Wilma, get your answer, file the paperwork, and move forward. When a five-minute chat opens doors across the country, the system is finally working for everyone.”
Community Clinics and Local Support
Starting in September, LegalEase will also host “Expungement Express” clinics, offering in-person support to underserved communities and individuals who may face barriers to using the digital platform.
Powered by HBCU Values
Both Blackmon and Roman credit their Howard University education with helping to shape their mission.
Blackmon holds a B.A. in Communications from Howard, a J.D. from Mississippi College, and an LL.M. from George Washington University. His father, Edward Blackmon, an HBCU graduate from Tougaloo College, has practiced law in Mississippi for over four decades.
Roman, a Google Black Founders Fund recipient, earned degrees in English and African American Studies from Howard. He also serves on the board of Starting With Today, a D.C.-based Black mental wellness nonprofit.
A Tech-Driven Vision for Justice
With LegalEase, Blackmon and Roman are betting on AI and human compassion to tackle one of the most persistent drivers of inequality: a criminal record that outlives its purpose. Their app promises not only a smoother path through the courts, but a new standard of access to justice for everyday Americans.
As LegalEase expands, it may do more than streamline paperwork—it may open doors to jobs, housing, and opportunity, helping thousands move forward with a clean slate.
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