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Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:17 pm
by littleconcerned
Okay, so I have a juvenile record and on that juvenile record I have a misdemeanor charge that has now been expunged. It is not a stupid little misdemeanor, it is one that is somewhat significant. However, again, it was not severe enough to never be expunged. It occurred over 10 years ago.

The problem is that I am not hearing back from any law schools other than 4th tier law schools (and one 1st tier law school, go figure). I completed most of my applications back at the end of December. People with similar stats, I have a 164 and 3.4, who submitted at the same time have all heard back at most schools long, long ago.

Question: Should I be worried? Is there something I should do to move things along?

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:20 pm
by SandyC877
i think the consensus seems to be that as long as you disclose everything, no one gives a shit.

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:33 pm
by littleconcerned
Yet Baylor turnover has been 2 weeks and I have not heard from them in 2 months. Could it be there are other factors that are more important than my scores that are holding me up, and the character and fitness issue has nothing to do with it?

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:06 pm
by legalized
littleconcerned wrote:Okay, so I have a juvenile record and on that juvenile record I have a misdemeanor charge that has now been expunged. It is not a stupid little misdemeanor, it is one that is somewhat significant. However, again, it was not severe enough to never be expunged. It occurred over 10 years ago.

The problem is that I am not hearing back from any law schools other than 4th tier law schools (and one 1st tier law school, go figure). I completed most of my applications back at the end of December. People with similar stats, I have a 164 and 3.4, who submitted at the same time have all heard back at most schools long, long ago.

Question: Should I be worried? Is there something I should do to move things along?
Why do you have to disclose a juvenile record? An expunged one at that? isn't that the point of it being juvenile and not simply A Record?

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:33 pm
by vanwinkle
legalized wrote:
littleconcerned wrote:Okay, so I have a juvenile record and on that juvenile record I have a misdemeanor charge that has now been expunged. It is not a stupid little misdemeanor, it is one that is somewhat significant. However, again, it was not severe enough to never be expunged. It occurred over 10 years ago.

The problem is that I am not hearing back from any law schools other than 4th tier law schools (and one 1st tier law school, go figure). I completed most of my applications back at the end of December. People with similar stats, I have a 164 and 3.4, who submitted at the same time have all heard back at most schools long, long ago.

Question: Should I be worried? Is there something I should do to move things along?
Why do you have to disclose a juvenile record? An expunged one at that? isn't that the point of it being juvenile and not simply A Record?
Because schools ask.

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:46 pm
by PlugInBaby
I had a misdemeanor charge as an adult due to a fight I got into six-seven years ago. I was concerned at first when my second choice school (T2) waitlisted me despite being over the 75th percentile in LSAT and GPA...but my third choice (also T2) just admitted me. As long as there is some distance, pure regret and remorse, and you are forthright with all details you should be fine.

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:56 am
by hsprophet
I would only worry if you didn't disclose.

It probably won't make any difference if you disclosed and wrote a good addendum.

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:48 pm
by littleconcerned
Thanks everyone, I hope that is the case.

Re: Character and Fitness Concern - Not about disclosure

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:13 pm
by ughOSU
I was very worried for a while and thought all the WL's were because of my record, but I got into a couple schools that are just about my top choices despite the disclosure statement. There isn't anything you can do about it anyway, so try not to worry.