Having a criminal record can create significant barriers when it comes to securing employment. Employers often run background checks before hiring, and a past conviction — even one from years ago — can make it harder to get the job you want. California offers a way to move forward: criminal expungement.
This article covers what expungement is, how it affects background checks, what it does and does not do, and where we fit in.
Criminal Expungement & Employment in Los Angeles — Quick Reference
| Key question | Short answer | Details for California & Los Angeles | Who still sees the record? |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is criminal expungement? | Dismisses a completed case. | Under Penal Code 1203.4 the court withdraws the plea, enters a plea of not guilty, and dismisses the case once probation and other requirements are complete. | Courts and law enforcement still see the original record. |
| How does it affect employment background checks? | Most private checks no longer show a conviction. | On many commercial and employer checks an expunged California case shows as “dismissed,” or does not appear at all. | Government and some licensing agencies may still see the case history. |
| Can I answer “No” to conviction questions? | Often yes, for private employers. | Once a case is expunged you can usually answer “No” on standard job applications. | Some public-sector, law-enforcement and licensing applications still require disclosure. |
| Will it help with Live Scan for jobs or licenses? | Usually it looks much better. | On many Live Scan reports used by Los Angeles employers and boards, expunged cases appear as dismissed rather than active convictions. | Reviewing agencies may still see that a case existed. |
| Do I need a lawyer to file? | No. | The petition is a court form and you sign it yourself. People file without an attorney all the time, including people who have one. | — |
| Can it improve professional licensing outcomes? | Often, yes. | A dismissed conviction makes applications in healthcare, real estate, finance and education more competitive, though boards may still ask for an explanation. | Boards may review both the case and your rehabilitation evidence. |
| Who can help with the paperwork? | We can. | We work with you to complete the form correctly and get it filed, and we do the Live Scan record review it starts with. | Agencies receive your official court and background records. We do not decide your case. |
What criminal expungement is
Expungement under Penal Code 1203.4 withdraws the guilty plea, enters a plea of not guilty, and dismisses the case. For most employment purposes in California you are no longer considered convicted. The record itself still exists.
How it differs from sealing
Expungement dismisses a case. Sealing restricts access to a record. Employers, landlords and the general public generally cannot see a sealed record, while law enforcement still can.
Why a criminal record affects hiring
Most employers run background checks, particularly in healthcare, education, finance and government. Even a minor conviction can raise questions, and applicants are often passed over without ever being told why.
Ban the Box
California’s Ban the Box law stops employers asking about convictions on the initial application. They can ask later in the process, usually after a conditional offer. That means the question tends to arrive at the point where you have the most to lose.
What employers are worried about
Usually liability, safety or regulatory compliance. Someone with a theft conviction may struggle to be hired into a role handling money, whatever else is true about them.
What expungement does — and does not do
What it does. You can answer “no” to questions about convictions on most private job applications. Many background checks return “dismissed,” or nothing at all about the offense. California law prohibits most private employers from discriminating against an applicant over an expunged conviction.
What it does not do. It does not remove the record from government databases. It does not restore firearm rights. It does not help with immigration relief. It does not guarantee that a licensing board or a federal employer will overlook your history.
Where it makes the most difference
- Corporate roles. Many HR departments screen automatically, and a misdemeanor can be enough to filter an application out before a person ever reads it.
- Healthcare. For a CNA, RN, technician or administrator, a dismissal shows the case was resolved and the conditions met.
- Education. Roles working with minors are scrutinized closely.
- Finance. Employers are trying to limit risk.
- Government and public sector. Agencies may still see the record, but a dismissal shows you met every legal condition.
- Trade licenses. Contractor, real estate and barber licenses all involve a background check. A dismissal does not guarantee approval, but it can tip a decision.
Beyond work
A dismissal can also matter for housing applications, for going back to education, and simply for not having to explain yourself. Those are not employment questions, but they are usually part of the same decision.
The process in California
Who is eligible
Generally, you completed probation, you were not sentenced to state prison, and you are not currently facing charges. Not every case qualifies.
The steps
File a petition with the court. Serve it on the district attorney or probation department. Attend a hearing if one is required. Receive the signed order.
What we do
Record sealing. The petition is a court form, and you are the one who signs it. You do not need an attorney to file it — people do it themselves all the time, including people who have counsel. We work with you to complete the form correctly and get it filed with the court. We do not give legal advice; we help you get your own paperwork right.
Expungement. The same is true here: it is your form, and you can file it yourself. Depending on the case, we can work with you the same way. Where a case needs more than that, such as a court appearance, we work with counsel. Tell us about the case and we will tell you whether it is one we can help with directly.
Either way, the first step is your own record. That is a Record Review Live Scan, and we do that here.
Notarization. Where a declaration or supporting statement has to be notarized, we do that too, and we can come to you anywhere in Los Angeles.
More on criminal record expungement and sealing.
FAQs About Criminal Expungement, Employment & Background Checks in Los Angeles
How does criminal expungement affect employment background checks in California?
In California, including Los Angeles, a successful expungement means most private employer background checks will no longer show the conviction. For many Live Scan and commercial background checks the case appears as “dismissed,” which greatly reduces the stigma during hiring. Some government, law enforcement and licensing agencies may still see your prior record and consider it.
After my record is expunged, can I legally answer “No” to conviction questions on job applications?
In many situations, once your California case is expunged, you may legally answer “No” when a private employer asks if you have been convicted of a crime. There are important exceptions for certain government, law enforcement and licensing positions, so read each application carefully and speak with an attorney if you are unsure.
Which employers in Los Angeles can still see an expunged record?
Most private employers will only see that your case was dismissed, or may not see it at all. Courts, law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities and some state or federal licensing boards can still access the underlying record and may ask you to disclose it.
Will expungement help me pass a Live Scan background check for a job or license?
Expungement often makes Live Scan background checks less damaging, because the case is usually reported as dismissed rather than as a current conviction. The record may still be visible to some agencies reviewing your results. If you need Live Scan fingerprinting, you can book it with our Los Angeles office.
Do I need a lawyer to file for expungement?
No. The petition is a court form and you sign it yourself, whether or not you have an attorney. We work with you to complete it correctly and get it filed. Where a case needs more than that, such as a court appearance, we work with counsel.
Can expunged records still affect federal or high-security job applications?
Yes. Some federal agencies, law enforcement roles and public-trust positions require you to disclose expunged records and will see your full criminal history. A dismissal can still help, but it does not guarantee approval.
Can expungement improve my chances of getting or keeping a professional license in California?
It often strengthens an application or renewal in fields like healthcare, real estate, finance and education, because it shows the court dismissed the conviction and you completed every requirement. Each board has its own rules, so you may still be asked to explain your history.
Does expungement guarantee I will get hired?
No legal process can guarantee employment. Expungement removes a barrier; it does not make the decision for the employer.
What jobs ask about criminal records?
Roles involving security, money, healthcare, minors or government contracts commonly ask. Under California’s Ban the Box law the question generally cannot appear on the initial application, and comes later in the process.
Can employers still see my record after expungement?
Most private employers will not see an expunged conviction on a standard background check. Government and law enforcement employers may.
Does expungement restore my firearm rights?
No. A dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4 does not restore firearm rights.
Does an expunged record help with housing?
It can. Many landlords run the same kind of background check an employer does, and a dismissed case carries less weight than an open conviction.
Start with what is actually on your record
Clearing a record removes a barrier that has nothing to do with whether you can do the job. Before anything else, you need to know what a background check will show.
Book a Record Review Live Scan and we will take it from there.
