Drinking violations from undergrad, does the bar care? Forum

[tb12345]

So my undergrad was super strict about drinking and I was put on disciplinary probation for nearly all of undergrad and kicked out of housing. I haven't had any drinking related violations or any discipline related anything for at least 4 years straight.

My schools Director of Student Conduct wrote them a letter (school policy is not to give out records) and then at the end recommended me for the bar personally and in his professional capacity as a ethics in higher education professor.

Only other thing is I had a minor in possession of alcohol reduced to a city ordinance violation that I also included the very few court documents on the issue. Besides that I have never had any criminal anything either. Nor have I ever had any drug/violence/lying issues.

I was completely open and honest in my petition to the bar and to my school about these. I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on whether the bar cares about these things? 5 is kind of a lot. Also if they do take issue with these what do they do? Call me and ask me to come in for an interview? Any help or wisdom would be appreciated.

[PoliLaw]

One of my law school classmates had 4 MIPs of Alcohol, 2 assault charges and was authorized to be admitted to a bar in the south eastern state. Another one of my classmates had a Dui in undergrad and is admitted. Another one had a DUI in LAW SCHOOL and was admitted. All they care about is candor and if you have gotten help or saught help if its something that you have done multiple times.I had a friend who defaulted on a bunch of credit cards and before the bar would admit said person they required him to do credit counseling and write a memo about client trust accounting.

[tb12345]

One of my law school classmates had 4 MIPs of Alcohol, 2 assault charges and was authorized to be admitted to a bar in the south eastern state. Another one of my classmates had a Dui in undergrad and is admitted. Another one had a DUI in LAW SCHOOL and was admitted. All they care about is candor and if you have gotten help or saught help if its something that you have done multiple times.I had a friend who defaulted on a bunch of credit cards and before the bar would admit said person they required him to do credit counseling and write a memo about client trust accounting.

Okay well that makes me feel a lot better. I knew it wasn't a huge deal and 4 years without incident (especially factoring in the fact that I can now consume alcohol LEGALLY now that I'm over 21) is a long time. Thanks for your response.

[studying4bar]

So my undergrad was super strict about drinking and I was put on disciplinary probation for nearly all of undergrad and kicked out of housing. I haven't had any drinking related violations or any discipline related anything for at least 4 years straight.

My schools Director of Student Conduct wrote them a letter (school policy is not to give out records) and then at the end recommended me for the bar personally and in his professional capacity as a ethics in higher education professor.

Only other thing is I had a minor in possession of alcohol reduced to a city ordinance violation that I also included the very few court documents on the issue. Besides that I have never had any criminal anything either. Nor have I ever had any drug/violence/lying issues.

I was completely open and honest in my petition to the bar and to my school about these. I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on whether the bar cares about these things? 5 is kind of a lot. Also if they do take issue with these what do they do? Call me and ask me to come in for an interview? Any help or wisdom would be appreciated.

I don't think you have much to worry about, I have also had friends admitted that had past legal transgressions. The most I can see coming of it is that you get asked questions in character and fitness but I do not believe it will effect your admission. The only reason I say character and fitness may ask questions is because in theory they can and under their guidelines possibly need to, but no you should be fine.

Conversely, I strongly discourage anyone from going out after they pass the bar and getting too wild because that happened to an older friend of mine and he was stupid and thus got a DWI the night he found out he passed. He graduated 2 years ago and is still not licensed. The only reason I even mention his story is because he had a few from his younger days so I do not know how long he will have to wait but they are concerned more so with law school and activities since that could indicate a pattern of behavior/not learning your lesson/ disregard for rules of the profession.