Lawyer Question?

MagnumsizeWVU

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Jan 21, 2007
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Is there anything on your record that can immediately disqualify you from bring able to practice law/go to law school?...like a felony or misdemeanor?
 

KarmaPolice

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Jun 24, 2004
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nope..

oh thought you were asking me lol.


Yeah...pretty sure if you have stuff like fraud and such on your record you cant be a lawyer.
 

jemcam

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Jan 3, 2001
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I'm pretty sure a felony would disqualify you and a misdemeanor wouldn't help your chances at getting into a good law school. Which is ironic considering the low tactics that high priced (and just about any other) lawyers resort to.
 

MagnumsizeWVU

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Jan 21, 2007
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i have a felony drug charge from when I was 18...havent gotten in any trouble since...good grades..all that stuff...just wondering if this one incident prevents me from being a lawyer?
 

jemcam

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Jan 3, 2001
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Originally posted by: MagnumsizeWVU
i have a felony drug charge from when I was 18...havent gotten in any trouble since...good grades..all that stuff...just wondering if this one incident prevents me from being a lawyer?

Ouch. Any felony is going to haunt you for a long time.

Realistically though, how can you expect to be a practicing lawyer if you can't even vote? I'd look into getting the conviction expunged from your record. Also check to see what the admissions standards are for the school of your choice.
 

MagnumsizeWVU

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Jan 21, 2007
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thats the thing..no admissions for any of the schools say anything about past history outside of school..like my permanent record...im not worried about getting IN to law school, its AFTER i get out of law school will i be able to take bar exams or am i not allowed to practice law because of my felony....

and most places only go back 7 years...by the time im done with college/law school ill be a good bit past those 7 years without any trouble
 

jemcam

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Jan 3, 2001
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Originally posted by: MagnumsizeWVU
thats the thing..no admissions for any of the schools say anything about past history outside of school..like my permanent record...im not worried about getting IN to law school, its AFTER i get out of law school will i be able to take bar exams or am i not allowed to practice law because of my felony....

and most places only go back 7 years...by the time im done with college/law school ill be a good bit past those 7 years without any trouble


Ask your local Bar Association?
 

MagnumsizeWVU

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Jan 21, 2007
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and the voting means nothing to me...i wouldnt vote even if i could...cuz how do you choose between 2 bowls of ******?

 

Jeeebus

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Aug 29, 2006
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you have to report it to the Bar when you're applying for admission. Every state is different. Some state just a couple years ago accepted a guy who was convicted of murder... don't remember which state.

Most Bars are more concerned with charges that demonstrate bad moral character, like perjury and fraud, than drug crimes. The worst thing you can do, though, is try to hide the conviction. You will be asked about it, I assure you, but if you're up front about it, it shouldn't affect your admission to the Bar.
 

MagnumsizeWVU

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Jan 21, 2007
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conviction..i pled guilty for the plea bargain and just got 4 years parole...no jail time...i basically had to do everything myself since I couldnt afford a good lawyer and had to use the Public Defender...for $20,000 i could of gotten a lawyer that would of gotten me off easy as hell
 

MagnumsizeWVU

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im on a really slow computer right now and opening a PDF file would take about 2 weeks...can someone give me a quick breakdown of what she posted?
 

KarmaPolice

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Jun 24, 2004
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how confident are you going to feel with an answer from people on a forum. Go to the bar association in your state and ask them. Then your mind will be at ease
 

allisolm

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Jan 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: MagnumsizeWVU
im on a really slow computer right now and opening a PDF file would take about 2 weeks...can someone give me a quick breakdown of what she posted?
It's a chart that shows which states bar you from becoming a lawyer with a felony conviction. They are Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon and Texas. Also shows other things, like charcater and fitness requirements, conditional acceptance conditions.

The .pdf is the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements 2007.

 

shopbruin

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Jul 12, 2000
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it is really going to depend on the state you wish to practice in. check with their bar requirements. even the laywers here can only speak for the state(s) they are licensed in.

law schools usually ask you to disclose prior convictions and so on, usually i hear questions like "i have a ticket for running a red light, what do i do?"
 

Kanalua

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Jun 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: MagnumsizeWVU
Is there anything on your record that can immediately disqualify you from bring able to practice law/go to law school?...like a felony or misdemeanor?

Felony Drug conviction (distribution, etc), then forget it.
 
Feb 10, 2000
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My mother was on the Board of Law Examiners here in Minnesota for a decade, and, at least here, a lawyer can be licensed with a felony conviction so long as it isn't anything TOO heinous (i.e., murder or a crime of dishonesty like embezzlement), and the candidate's record shows he has been rehabilitated.
 

sjwaste

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Aug 2, 2000
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Originally posted by: MagnumsizeWVU
i have a felony drug charge from when I was 18...havent gotten in any trouble since...good grades..all that stuff...just wondering if this one incident prevents me from being a lawyer?

A felony drug CHARGE or CONVICTION?