To make a long story short, I used to be a total screw-up. When I was 18, I was convicted of a DUI and, in addition, I was convicted of a felony assault for hitting a guy in the nose after he spit in my face (His nose was broken and he had to have plastic surgery). I have since gone to college, maintained a 3.8 at a top 10 University, and I am doing high 160's to low 170's on practice Lsats. What are my chances of getting in to a good law school? Thanks.
2007-08-05 18:57:06 · 4 answers · asked by STUDENT001 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
It may be an issue. Basically, because the Bar may not accept you, you'd be wasting the law school's space so they may reject you based on that.
However, if you've been clean since then and have basically turned your life around, I wouldn't worry too much. Just disclose it, and then explain that it was a long time ago and show how you've changed since then.
The easiest way is to find whichever state you plan on practicing. Go the that state's Bar's website. In the admissions or Bar Exam section, find the section that talks about rules for admissions and criminal history. You can search "moral turpitude" to make it quicker (not your situation, but all that stuff is in the same section). It should have a list of factors that show how you're rehabilitated. Just pick from that list and show how they apply to your situation.
The main thing is to just disclose and explain. They care more about crimes involving moral turpitude (typically fraud or dishonesty) than violent crimes. That's why you want to be honest and disclose it and not try and hide it. You should be fine.
2007-08-05 20:15:51 · answer #1 · answered by Linkin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seriously, I dont think a law school would reject you - it is a business after all and you have good stats. However, they are also looking at what you have done such as feeding the poor, painting houses for the disadvantaged, working in an AIDS soup kitchen, are an accomplished musician, or artist etc. That being said SOME law school will take you. Now, the criminal record, there is a chance that "a" bar may reject you - unless you can show some kind of conversion or "contrite heart." You should hire an attorney to clean up your record - get those charges reduced - particularly the felony assault - which begs the question - why was it a felony if you were merely acting out of the heat of the moment or in self defense - these are the issues an attory will ask. You didnt mention that you were part of some "disadvantaged group" the PC legal community loves to see turn-around stories of the discriminated disadvantaged - if you are a white male, -you need to recharacterize this as a "youthful transgression," and you have since experianced a "contrite heart"- IE better start adding soup kitchens, AIDS benefits and other PC causes to your resume. Of courdse this is no guarantee though - and lawschool is a complete financial shakedown - to risk the ultimate rejection by the bar. There is a guy on www.lawschool.com who was a felon and got admitted to the New Jersey bar - because he was rejected by the NY bar - some states are more lienient because they cant get anyone to move there - IE ND, SD, Vermont etc.. The bars' position is - a bars is what the word says it is - to bar admision - currently there are too many lawyers, they are not going to admit all of them, certainly not ones with questionable backgrounds. You need to hire an attorney to 1) mitigate down your charges 2) expunge your criminal file if you were under the age of 18 & 3) if nothing can be expunged - get the attorneys to write a letter on your behalf as to what happened - dont go this alone - remember in any legal proceding - a pro-se plaintiff has a fool for a client - that is not my position - but it is just the way the legal system is ..You will not get justice without an attorney or other officer of the court - except for small claims court. Personally - I would go to medical school - the law school process is too much money and trouble - in medical school once you pass the AMA - your are "in" , period, finito, a boom de la bing ..
2007-08-06 13:48:06 · answer #2 · answered by thefatguythatpaysthebills 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-06-10 11:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably won't be an issue at all in admission to law school, but when you go to take the Bar exam you have to go through a pretty thorough background check. You can probably explain that one incident, assuming it would be at least seven years ago by the time you take the Bar, but if you have any other problems in your background, you may have trouble getting admitted to the Bar.
2007-08-05 19:03:02 · answer #4 · answered by neniaf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋