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Law school admissions officers are often asked “Can you be a lawyer if you have a DUI?” The fact that you got into law school with a DUI is a minor hurdle.
The reason the question arises regarding law school and other graduate programs is that law students will likely be applying for admission to the bar of at least one state. And, the Board of Legal Examiners requires a certificate of good moral standing for licensure.
As part of their background check, the State Bar Association will conduct a thorough background check. This will include removing your criminal record, credit record, and more. You even have to list every address you’ve ever lived in in your life.
The Bar will specifically look for signs of “moral turpitude”. In an effort to protect the profession, they will kick out anyone who might steal client money or otherwise bring the profession into disrepute.
Because law schools know you will eventually have to pass this test, they try to see if you would be disqualified before admitting you. They don’t want to invest their time and your money in an education that you may not use.
The law school will ask you if you have ever been arrested for a crime. You’ll need to list all arrests and convictions, even if they occurred when you were a teen, and even if they were expelled.
Having said all that, will DUI disqualify you from attending law school? not in itself. If your record shows that you are an otherwise upright person of moral character, you may still be admitted to law school. However, multiple arrests or one arrest with major physical damage may put your application in doubt.
Be up-front with the law schools you apply to about your record. Don’t think that you can hide anything. Even if the law school doesn’t know about your DUI, the bar will. And, they will also find out that you lied to law school which casts further doubt on your moral character.
You can go to law school after a DUI, but you’ll need to go the extra mile to show that you have the necessary character to be admitted to the bar.
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