Accused of Academic Dishonesty but Acquitted After Hearing - Effect on Bar Applications? Forum

[RoughlyTerashod]

I will not give details, but I was accused of academic dishonesty relating to one of my law classes. I opted to defend myself in a hearing and was acquitted by a Panel of professors and students. I'm sure I'll need to report this to the Bar when I apply. I'm curious about what that process might look like? Do I submit the "Charging" document from the honor council and the "hearing form" where it states the grounds for hearing and the acquittal? Will I need to submit my evidence, etc.? Anyone have any knowledge on this? Very happy that I was (rightfully) found to be innocent, just curious on what that process might look like in the future. Thanks!

[mcmand]

Definitely both documents you mentioned. They will want to inquire with others for more detail so they'll probably ask for names of the relevant administrators at your school for that process.

I would just make a nice indexed copy of everything you have on this, submit the two documents you mentioned, and if they ask for more, you have something ready made and organized you can give them.

Oh and type up your own explanation that you can attach to the application. You should summarize the timeline of events, the accusations, the process, your defense, and the result. Since you were acquitted, don't do what most C&F folks need to do, which is explain how they learned x from the experience and how they will be fit to be lawyers. If you just summarize the facts and the end result and attach the relevant documents and names of anyone who they can talk to, that should be enough.

Make sure this is disclosed to your law school already. They will get your app and other docs from your law school and compare to your bar application, and a failure to disclose is absolutely something they can pin you on.

[kellyfrost]

Definitely both documents you mentioned. They will want to inquire with others for more detail so they'll probably ask for names of the relevant administrators at your school for that process.

I would just make a nice indexed copy of everything you have on this, submit the two documents you mentioned, and if they ask for more, you have something ready made and organized you can give them.

Oh and type up your own explanation that you can attach to the application. You should summarize the timeline of events, the accusations, the process, your defense, and the result. Since you were acquitted, don't do what most C&F folks need to do, which is explain how they learned x from the experience and how they will be fit to be lawyers. If you just summarize the facts and the end result and attach the relevant documents and names of anyone who they can talk to, that should be enough.

Make sure this is disclosed to your law school already. They will get your app and other docs from your law school and compare to your bar application, and a failure to disclose is absolutely something they can pin you on.

I read this as it occurred in law school, so his law school already knows.

[RoughlyTerashod]

You are correct, this was a law school proceeding, so the law school is fully aware. My name has been kept anonymous through the entire process, but the hearing panel and Delegate of the Dean (the Prof. that conducted the hearing) do know my identity. I would probably list that prof. (the delegate) as the contact for the bar. They would have any relevant details about the proceedings and would be able to supply any information the bar requests about the proceedings.

I have kept all of my materials, including any E-mails w/ the honor council, the "Charging Document", their evidence, my evidence, etc. Like the previous poster said, I'll make sure to hold onto that and catalog it for when the time comes so that I can provide it on request. I think that sounds like a solid plan. Not overly worried about it due to the result of the process, but I do want to be prepared and very candid with the bar about disclosing.

[RoughlyTerashod]

Definitely both documents you mentioned. They will want to inquire with others for more detail so they'll probably ask for names of the relevant administrators at your school for that process.

I would just make a nice indexed copy of everything you have on this, submit the two documents you mentioned, and if they ask for more, you have something ready made and organized you can give them.

Oh and type up your own explanation that you can attach to the application. You should summarize the timeline of events, the accusations, the process, your defense, and the result. Since you were acquitted, don't do what most C&F folks need to do, which is explain how they learned x from the experience and how they will be fit to be lawyers. If you just summarize the facts and the end result and attach the relevant documents and names of anyone who they can talk to, that should be enough.

Make sure this is disclosed to your law school already. They will get your app and other docs from your law school and compare to your bar application, and a failure to disclose is absolutely something they can pin you on.

That all sounds very good. Just to clarify, this happened in law school, not undergrad, so the law school is fully aware of everything.