<p>I have a question about law school admissions and the effects of arrest records on acceptance chances. During the summer after my senior in high school, I was arrested for under the influence of marijuana and disorderly conduct... But the circumstances in which the event occurred was so insignificant that the charge was dropped, and even the cop supported our case. However, the fact of the matter is, the arrest record stands.</p>
<p>Early next year, I would be able to file for an expungement, so that the record would be gone. However, as I looked through the application forms for top law schools, they ask for any arrest records, even if they have been expunged. Are they even allowed to ask that question, after I get it expunged? What are the effects of this on my admissions chances to law schools? I realize that I would have to reveal this information for my bar interview, but I didn't think that I would have to report this incident to law schools, hence I will file for an expungement. I know I screwed up, but it seems really unfortunate that this mistake will bar me from going to a top law school...</p>
<p>Right now, I attend an Ivy League institution with a GPA over 3.8... I really hope this one minor bump on the road won't affect me...</p>
<p>Most law schools will ask, and later, when you are applying to take the bar exam, you will be asked again by the bar examiners. When applying to the bar, many do background checks on applicants, which can show even an expunged arrest record.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you be completely forthcoming and truthful on your application to law school, particularly since a certified copy of your application to law school will later be attached to your application to the bar (most, if not all, state bars require this). The information that I’ve been consistently given over the years is that the very worst thing you can do when applying to the bar is lie or hide something. If it doesn’t catch up with you when you apply to the bar, you can later be disbarred for having lied or hidden information, even many years after practicing law.</p>
<p>I don’t plan on hiding the information, and will be truthful and forthcoming as possible. After all, it was my fault and I take full responsibility for my actions.</p>
<p>However, I’m concerned with this record’s effect on my chances to top law schools. Anyone know if expunged arrest records actually do hurt applicants, especially to the T14 schools? Any real life cases that you’ve heard of?</p>
<p>shakala, you may want to check with the bar association in the states where you think you may one day want to practice law and also talk to some law school admissions offices. You can do that without giving your name if you prefer. Find out whether you will even be permitted to sit for the bar exam and get a law license in that state. You will never get a law license if there are “character” issues, so find out whether this constitutes a character issue (different states may look at it differently). There are many people wanting to get in to law school and many wanting to take the bar exam, so law schools and bar associations can be picky. If your goal is to be an attorney, then you might as well find out now if that is a possibility. On the other hand, maybe you just want the law degree but don’t intend to use it to practice law, in which case sitting for the bar exam and getting a license isn’t an issue.</p>
<p>Disclose it on your law school applications, but only if you’re asked. </p>
<p>Most bar applications require you to disclose arrests that don’t result in convictions, even if the records are expunged. Drug and alcohol related incidents attract scrutiny; when lawyers get into trouble with their state bar, a high percentage of the time the root cause of the problem is substance abuse.</p>
<p>That said, a single youthful arrest that did not result in a conviction, followed by a long period without inicident, is extremely unlikely to keep you out of the bar. Would-be lawyers aren’t required to have led lives that are blameless in all respects. They do bear the burden of establishing that they haven’t conducted themselves in a fashion that indicates the public would be at risk if they were granted a license to practice.</p>
<p>To quote a particularly well known counselor, “Go and sin no more.” The attention your youthful indiscretion would receive would be greatly multiplied if you were to have some sort of repeat performance.</p>
<p>If you don’t disclose it on your law school applications but do disclose it on your bar application (where you will probably have to), it can create the impression that you were trying to hide something. Even if the application was ambiguous or only asked for convictions. So I would be sure to disclose it on the school applications, since, as sally mentioned, the real or perceived attempt to hide something is often a much more serious issue than the incident itself, and since this particular incident is very unlikely to be a problem.</p>
<p>Thank you all very much for your responses. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>From many of the replies, it seems that I would most likely not have trouble passing the bar and practice law. That grants me some relief.</p>
<p>However, my question still lingers in terms of law school admittance. How do law schools perceive these kinds of records? I’ve heard that it shouldn’t matter, as long as the candidate should be able to pass the bar exam. However, I’m concerned with the T14 schools, so I feel that anything could be a factor, including this minor blip on my record…</p>
<p>All you can do is tell the truth and hope for the best. It’s fortunate that this incident occurred before you started college; the further in the past an event is, the less impact it will have.</p>
<p>I really can’t answer your question, but here are 3 suggestions. First, go talk to the pre-law adviser at your “Ivy League school.” (S)he will probably have more experience with this than anyone posting on this board. Moreover, (s)he can probably “float” a question on your behalf to a few law schools if (s)he doesn’t know. Almost all the LSs send admissions officers to the Ivies. So, when the rep from NYU shows up at your school for his annual talk, the pre-law adviser can say “one of our students asked me how this scenario would impact his chances. Can you give me any guidance?” (S)he is more likely to get an honest reply than you are. </p>
<p>Second, go for the expungement. You will still have to report the arrest. Nevertheless, my hunch–and it’s just that, a hunch–is that an expungement would help convince an admissions officer that there’s not a continuing substance abuse problem here. </p>
<p>Third, you might want to go to one of those anonymous on-line “chats” with LS admissions officers and ask. Since I tend to be paranoid, I’d suggest going to one for a LS that isn’t one of your top choices or for a not quite top 14 LS like Texas, UCLA or Vandy and asking your question. </p>
<p>Not every top law school applicatin will require that you disclose arrests that did not result in conviction:</p>
<p>University of Michigan:</p>
<p>Have you ever been convicted of a crime, including misdemeanors and infractions, but excluding minor traffic violations, or are such criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you?</p>
<p>UC Berkeley:
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor or is any such charge now pending against you?</p>
This is actually an interesting question. (1) Would an employer be allowed to ask? (2) Are schools analogous to employers on matters like this? (3) Does the public/private distinction matter?</p>
<p>I know that employers specifically can’t ask about arrests and expunged arrest records, and if they do, then it’s considered a discriminatory offense. Obviously, bar admissions needs to know this information, and I think it’s fair because they need to know the moral values of a candidate before s/he serves as a lawyer. However, I don’t think schools, both public and private, can legally ask this question and discriminate applicants because of their prior arrest record, especially an expunged one.</p>
<p>That being said, I intend to state this information anyways, because I do take responsibility for my actions. However, it would just be so disappointing for this record to hinder me from pursuing my dream.</p>
<p>Sorry, I can’t answer for a Top Law School, but I can tell you what my Tier 4 said when I reported mine. I was arrested, not convicted for 2 misdemeanors after being accepted to law school. When I divulged, my scholarship was stripped. They stated: We still would have accepted you, but the issue is about your character and moral fitness. Since that weighs heavily on deciding scholarships, we wouldn’t have given you one.</p>
<p>Oh 1 more thing, if you decide not to report somethign to your law school that is reported to the bar, you better have a darn good reason why you didn’t report it to the law school. I talked to the bar about reporting these arrests. The bar is VERY anal about the info you send them being the same as the info you give the law school. So, yes, if the school doesn’t ask for arrests, you don’t have to report it, but be VERY clear about the wording in the student handbook and the application.</p>