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So, you’re just about finished with law school. You can see “light at the end of the tunnel” and it’s very exciting. You’ve worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices with your time and money and now it’s time to enjoy the “fruits of your labor”.
You’ve probably been daydreaming about what it will be like to practice law. What law firm will take a chance on you as you begin your career? What type of law practice will be enjoyable? Will you be a successful trial lawyer or will you find enjoyment practicing estate planning law instead?
Before you get too far ahead of yourself, however, let’s discuss the preparation of your bar application. As you scan through the application online, you think, “Wow, this will be a “no-brainer”. Just fill it in and click “send”, right?
Wrong.
If you have made some mistakes in your past, how you explain those mistakes to your state’s board of bar examiners may make all the difference in the world as to whether you are allowed to practice law.
And….now brace yourself….sometimes the information that the bar examiners really want to see is far more comprehensive than the application may lead you to believe.
Could your failure to properly prepare your bar application result in the board requiring you to “sit on the sidelines” for a year or two or three?
Did I say, “sit on the sidelines”??? Yes. Why? Your state’s board of bar examiners will review your application with a fine tooth comb and they are very interested in how your past history will affect how you practice law in the future.
Let’s talk about some of the “events” that may have occurred in your life.
Arrested for possession of marijuana?
Charged with a DUI or two or three?
Arrested and charged with underage drinking?
Been in a few fights and charged with assault and battery?
Terminated from any of your past jobs?
Bounced checks?
Lied on your law school application?
If you’ve answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you must understand that your state’s board of bar examiners might find some of these issues or charges worth investigating further. And what they turn up in their investigation could be problematic for you.
As you’ve probably already been told on numerous occasions by your law school professors, attorneys are officers of the court and held to a higher standard.
Have you been able to do a complete 180 degree turn from negative past behavior? If so, can you prove it to your state’s board of bar examiners? How?
Instead of wrestling with how to properly address these problems on your own, it is important that you contact an attorney who is experienced in dealing with your state’s board of bar examiners.
Don’t try to handle this alone.
What the attorney will do after your initial consultation in person or by telephone is review your draft application for what he or she perceives to be “red flags”.
What if you have already filed your application?
The attorney may recommend that you file several amendments to correct or clarify the statements made on your application. How you craft the language in these amendments is also critical.
What if you’ve filed your application and you’ve received a notice from your state’s board of bar examiners that your presence is required at an investigative hearing?
Contact an attorney immediately. It’s important that you seek not only the advice of competent counsel but also his assistance in preparing you for what will transpire at the hearing.
In any event, it’s important that you seek wise counsel. Period. Believe me, investigative hearings are not for sissies.
Your law career could be on the line.
Leslie R. Williams is a career coach who specializes in bar admission issues and also assists clients in how to effectively enter the legal field. She is the author of “Insider’s Secrets. . .Get That Legal Secretary, Legal Assistant or Paralegal Job!” Contact Leslie at info@getlegaljob.com with any questions or comments or visit www.getlegaljob.com |
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