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I have read a few threads re: criminal case expunged incidents, but not undergrad suspensions. I was suspended for one semester during undergrad (10 yrs ago) for being involved in an altercation on campus that was not my fault and it was expunged. I have verified there is no record from my University. Should I disclose this on my law school apps? My greater concern is down the road with the bar, where I will need to disclose it. I also am not disclosing 2 criminal diversions on my applications to law school and am worried that when I apply to the bar and disclose these things it will appear that there is a pattern of deceptive or misleading responses. My main reason for not wanting to disclose on law school apps is my numbers are at or below average for most schools I am applying (T20). I have strong recs and work experience and am Native American, but don't want to have anything diminish my chances since its such a tough year. Any thoughts?

didouble wrote:I have read a few threads re: criminal case expunged incidents, but not undergrad suspensions. I was suspended for one semester during undergrad (10 yrs ago) for being involved in an altercation on campus that was not my fault and it was expunged. I have verified there is no record from my University. Should I disclose this on my law school apps? My greater concern is down the road with the bar, where I will need to disclose it. I also am not disclosing 2 criminal diversions on my applications to law school and am worried that when I apply to the bar and disclose these things it will appear that there is a pattern of deceptive or misleading responses. My main reason for not wanting to disclose on law school apps is my numbers are at or below average for most schools I am applying (T20). I have strong recs and work experience and am Native American, but don't want to have anything diminish my chances since its such a tough year. Any thoughts?

Youre probably screwing yourself down the road on all three counts. Which I personally think is BS, whats the point of something being expunged if you still have to suffer the negative consequences of it in the future? Seems ridiculous to me.

jbrowning82 wrote:

didouble wrote:I have read a few threads re: criminal case expunged incidents, but not undergrad suspensions. I was suspended for one semester during undergrad (10 yrs ago) for being involved in an altercation on campus that was not my fault and it was expunged. I have verified there is no record from my University. Should I disclose this on my law school apps? My greater concern is down the road with the bar, where I will need to disclose it. I also am not disclosing 2 criminal diversions on my applications to law school and am worried that when I apply to the bar and disclose these things it will appear that there is a pattern of deceptive or misleading responses. My main reason for not wanting to disclose on law school apps is my numbers are at or below average for most schools I am applying (T20). I have strong recs and work experience and am Native American, but don't want to have anything diminish my chances since its such a tough year. Any thoughts?

Youre probably screwing yourself down the road on all three counts. Which I personally think is BS, whats the point of something being expunged if you still have to suffer the negative consequences of it in the future? Seems ridiculous to me.

disclose, disclose, disclose.

Disclose. If you can put a good spin on it then do so. Either tell them the lesson learned if you were actually guilty or at fault. If you were not at fault then tell them how you struggled to clear your name and now want to help others who were falsely accused. Don't over do it, though.

Disclose everything. It's not worth the risk. Plus, I very much doubt an altercation that happened 10 years ago will affect your app. Having it discovered after every app in the universe wants any infraction disclosed, however, is a big problem.

I got busted when I was 10 for writing in wet cement. I wasn't ticketed and I was told that it wouldn't go on my record...you had better believe I included it in my legal issues addendum!

it really doesn't matter what you did. But it does matter if you don't disclose it. You don't have to be an angel to be a lawyer. You can still be a devil. just make your best effort to be a fully disclosed devil.

.

jks289 wrote:

Slimpee wrote: I got busted when I was 10 for writing in wet cement. I wasn't ticketed and I was told that it wouldn't go on my record...you had better believe I included it in my legal issues addendum!

^^^ this is insane. I understand erring on the side of caution but aren't you worried writing such an addendum brings up questions about your judgment and ability to understand relevant legal issues?

Verbatim from the Wisconsin app:

Wisconsin App wrote:"Have you ever been cited, arrested, charged, convicted or sentenced for any criminal, civil, or ordinance violation, at the federal, state, or local level? This includes, for example, any adult, juvenile or military violations.

You must answer whether or not the matter was resolved in a conviction, a dismissal, or was resolved at the same or a different level of seriousness as the original violation. You must also answer even if a finding of guilt or sentence was suspended or withheld, or the record was expunged or sealed."

I think interpreting that to mean disclosing whatever I feel is relevant would bring up serious questions about my ability to follow simple directions

OP, maybe it's best if you contact the individual schools and ask them. I bet Wisconsin couldn't care less about my 16-year-old maybe-or-maybe-not-on-the-record vandalism but i'd rather not risk it...

jks289 wrote:

Slimpee wrote: I got busted when I was 10 for writing in wet cement. I wasn't ticketed and I was told that it wouldn't go on my record...you had better believe I included it in my legal issues addendum!

^^^ this is insane. I understand erring on the side of caution but aren't you worried writing such an addendum brings up questions about your judgment and ability to understand relevant legal issues?

OP If you have questions ask the admissions office of the schools you are applying, they won't ask for your name or LSAC number. At the very least, verify that you can exclude the criminal stuff. The internet cannot answer this.

i'm tempted to think this level of honesty about something that happened when you were 10 will cause the law schools to think you are just an honest guy, and it will help, not hurt.

sharpnsmooth wrote:

jks289 wrote:

Slimpee wrote: I got busted when I was 10 for writing in wet cement. I wasn't ticketed and I was told that it wouldn't go on my record...you had better believe I included it in my legal issues addendum!

^^^ this is insane. I understand erring on the side of caution but aren't you worried writing such an addendum brings up questions about your judgment and ability to understand relevant legal issues?

OP If you have questions ask the admissions office of the schools you are applying, they won't ask for your name or LSAC number. At the very least, verify that you can exclude the criminal stuff. The internet cannot answer this.

i'm tempted to think this level of honesty about something that happened when you were 10 will cause the law schools to think you are just an honest guy, and it will help, not hurt.

I would think that anyone who's worried about being busted at age 10 for something ridiculous like that means they're probably not hiding a B&E when they were 16.

Hannibal wrote:

sharpnsmooth wrote:

jks289 wrote:

Slimpee wrote: I got busted when I was 10 for writing in wet cement. I wasn't ticketed and I was told that it wouldn't go on my record...you had better believe I included it in my legal issues addendum!

^^^ this is insane. I understand erring on the side of caution but aren't you worried writing such an addendum brings up questions about your judgment and ability to understand relevant legal issues?

OP If you have questions ask the admissions office of the schools you are applying, they won't ask for your name or LSAC number. At the very least, verify that you can exclude the criminal stuff. The internet cannot answer this.

i'm tempted to think this level of honesty about something that happened when you were 10 will cause the law schools to think you are just an honest guy, and it will help, not hurt.

I would think that anyone who's worried about being busted at age 10 for something ridiculous like that means they're probably not hiding a B&E when they were 16.

what does b and e stand for

didouble wrote:I have read a few threads re: criminal case expunged incidents, but not undergrad suspensions. I was suspended for one semester during undergrad (10 yrs ago) for being involved in an altercation on campus that was not my fault and it was expunged. I have verified there is no record from my University. Should I disclose this on my law school apps? My greater concern is down the road with the bar, where I will need to disclose it. I also am not disclosing 2 criminal diversions on my applications to law school and am worried that when I apply to the bar and disclose these things it will appear that there is a pattern of deceptive or misleading responses. My main reason for not wanting to disclose on law school apps is my numbers are at or below average for most schools I am applying (T20). I have strong recs and work experience and am Native American, but don't want to have anything diminish my chances since its such a tough year. Any thoughts?

naw dude the bar will understand, you needed to make sure you got into a t14 and you can only do that by lying. Really it's the ABA's fault for your deception because hey are fueling the t14 bias. No worries, bro.

Breaking and entering. I think disclosing the wet cement thing can't hurt, and will possibly make the adcom laugh in a good way.

sharpnsmooth wrote: what does b and e stand for

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=B%26E

Someone beat me to it. Bah.

DISCLOSE EVERYTHING! Would you rather a prospective school reject you for some petty crimes (which by the way I don't think will happen) or go to LS for 3 years and have serious C & F issues (possible risk of failing it)?

This thread is back from the dead. I am sure the OP is accepted somewhere by now.