Chances of getting into school with prison time Forum

[yepyep]

Sorry, catching flak for this one.

[stintez]

Let them know what happened and go from there. There are lawyers out there that have been to jail.

[paratactical]

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[dk8]

If i were you i'd work for a few years and p ut some distance between you and the event. I"d volunteer to speak to AA and kids about the dangers of drunk driving. Then study hard for the LSAT, take the LSAT, get a 170+ and see who bites.

On a somewhat unrelated note, was prison tough for you?

[Thirteen]

If you do well on the LSAT and spend some serious time writing some good shit for your applications, you certainly do have a chance of getting into some good schools. It's really all up to how much work you're willing to put into your LSAT and applications

Credited

Also consider applying after getting 2-3 years of work experience. This will show maturity, and will distance you from the DUI conviction and incarceration. Devote all of your free time into rocking the LSAT, and someone should take a chance on you. Good luck!

[djjf39]

4) Given the circumstances of previously being incarcerated, your cycle will be even more difficult to predict. You're going to need to apply to a broad range of schools and spend a lot of time working on your statements and addenda.

If you do well on the LSAT and spend some serious time writing some good shit for your applications, you certainly do have a chance of getting into some good schools. It's really all up to how much work you're willing to put into your LSAT and applications

+1

OP, also consider doing you 1st year at a TT, or TTT, then trying to transfer out to a better school. I would also really think about how to mold the incident into your PS to show that you have learned from your mistake.

Also, I know several admissions counselors have free one hour advice/demo sessions. You might look into one of those and bounce this question off of them.

Good luck

[twert]

people with felony convictions get into law school all the time. its not going to keep you out, especially since it wasn't something that brings your character into question like assault or fraud. it will however limit you to schools that your numbers would suggest should be safeties. I think the biggest issue is that schools will not be inclined to give you much money, so lower ranked schools may be pricey.

good luck.

[yepyep]

If i were you i'd work for a few years and p ut some distance between you and the event. I"d volunteer to speak to AA and kids about the dangers of drunk driving. Then study hard for the LSAT, take the LSAT, get a 170+ and see who bites.

On a somewhat unrelated note, was prison tough for you?

I've volunteered with habitat for humanity about 20-30 hours a week for the last several months, it's kind of like my job. The problem is getting a real job with a felony. I've been trying, it's extremely difficult. Another reason getting a job is tough because I don't have a license for another 2 1/2 years and I don't live near public transportation, so my options are limited.

Prison's a joke, it's just boring and you're surrounded by idiots and treated like an ass by the guards. It helped that I can speak Spanish as far as not getting @#$%ed with by other inmates.

[yepyep]

Thanks for the posts, they are appreciated.

[b1ue]

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[yepyep]

first of all, check the character and fitness req. for the bar where you want to practice. no point in LS if you can't work.

I checked, only four states do not allow someone with a felony to work and I have no interest in working in any of them. Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky and Missouri if I'm not mistaken.

[somewhatwayward]

how did you get 17 months for a DUI and reckless driving?

[Mr. Matlock]

OP, also consider doing you 1st year at a TT, or TTT, then trying to transfer out to a better school. I would also really think about how to mold the incident into your PS to show that you have learned from your mistake.

Ummm.... yes and NO.

The best 100% accurate TLS advice given on these forums: Everyone comes to law school aiming for the top 10%. 9 out of 10 fail. Never go to a law school having the intent to transfer. If you can and want to, great. But make sure you're happy where you end up at and can see yourself graduating from there.

[jks289]

Prison aside I think a 2.7 puts you out of the running at the top 50 schools, unless paired with a 170+ on the LSAT. You really need to get a score the compensates for the sub-3.0 GPA.

You should make the prison time and subsequent struggles a central theme in your personal statement, there is no hiding something like that so you might as well own it. By any chance did you injure someone, explaining the heavy sentence? If so, I think it becomes a completely different thing and potentially impossible to overcome.

[qualster]

I was found liable for ruining by brother's baseball glove on the Nickelodeon show Kids Court in 1989. I was forced to mow the lawn for him for a year. It's been a long road back, but I'm going to law school this fall.

But seriously though, all you can do is apply. What have you got to lose? If you want BC/BU/Fordham, go for it, and if it doesn't work out, go after something else.

[lawls]

You are close enough to a 170 that it should be your goal. You're fine if you get the 170, though you might underperform your numbers slightly. But don't underestimate the power of 170.

As others have mention, since the prison time won't affect C & F in the states you want to practice, sounds like you are relatively fine.

[TommyK]

Prison aside I think a 2.7 puts you out of the running at the top 50 schools, unless paired with a 170+ on the LSAT. You really need to get a score the compensates for the sub-3.0 GPA.

You should make the prison time and subsequent struggles a central theme in your personal statement, there is no hiding something like that so you might as well own it. By any chance did you injure someone, explaining the heavy sentence? If so, I think it becomes a completely different thing and potentially impossible to overcome.

I'm not so sure about that... looking at LSP, he has a decent shot at a lot of top 50 schools with 165 and 2.7. Besides, LSP tends to underestimate high LSAT splitters. Though, the OP has a BIG negative soft going against him - jail time. I have no clue how that would affect him, but a 2.7/165 has a very good chance at some T1 schools.

[Thirteen]

Prison aside I think a 2.7 puts you out of the running at the top 50 schools, unless paired with a 170+ on the LSAT. You really need to get a score the compensates for the sub-3.0 GPA.

You should make the prison time and subsequent struggles a central theme in your personal statement, there is no hiding something like that so you might as well own it. By any chance did you injure someone, explaining the heavy sentence? If so, I think it becomes a completely different thing and potentially impossible to overcome.

I'm not so sure about that... looking at LSP, he has a decent shot at a lot of top 50 schools with 165 and 2.7. Besides, LSP tends to underestimate high LSAT splitters. Though, the OP has a BIG negative soft going against him - jail time. I have no clue how that would affect him, but a 2.7/165 has a very good chance at some T1 schools.

U of Houston and SMU are notorious for letting anyone in with a 165+, but OP said that he couldn't pass the Texas Bar. I'm sure there other options out there if he does well on the LSAT.

[yepyep]

Yes there was injury involved, though not in any way life threatening. Without getting into details, the reason I got the time was because of who it happened to. (not a child)

[jks289]

Yes there was injury involved, though not in any way life threatening. Without getting into details, the reason I got the time was because of who it happened to. (not a child)

I think this does change things. You seem to be hinting you injured a police officer (?) or something of the sort. I think your only shot is to show how sincere contrition has affected your life (rehab, volunteer work, education, etc). Just as an outside prospective, you seem to feel like you were railroaded and mistreated by the justice system. While it is a stretch to buy from anyone who wants to go to law school, to hear it from someone who injured an innocent person is a little maddening. I am not saying that is in anyway how you feel, just that you run the risk of appearing to feel that way on paper. You're going to need the admissions officer to sympathize with you, and I think wholly embracing responsibility and focusing on how you have changed (not on prison guards or unfair jail time).

[northwood]

serious question: Have you looked into how you are going to finance Law School? With a felony, it could be very difficult to obtain credit, especially now. Federal loans and grants are not going to be an option either ( As a felon, you are a second class citizen- and thus inelgible for federal funding for school). It would be a total waste of time to study for the lsat, write your applications and statements, and spend money on applications only to find out that you cant get loans to pay for school and living expenses.

As an aside- if you have looked into it, and can get loans, I would recommend taking this cycle off. That way you can focus on the LSAT- research your schools and where you want to work- and spend the rest of time volunteering and working on the writing portion of your applications

[3ThrowAway99]

Re: funding and student loans, I think OP would only be prevented from getting Stafford Sub. and Unsub. loans if felony was related to his using past student loans for purpose of buying and selling drugs (which it was not according to OP). However, I think that this felony could have more bearing on additional Grad. Plus loans (because those are based on credit history which I suspect may have been significantly impacted through incarceration).

[BenJ]

A 167/2.7 isn't getting into any of the four schools you mentioned even without prison time. Study your butt off for the LSAT and try desperately to get a 170+.

[rdcws000]

first of all, check the character and fitness req. for the bar where you want to practice. no point in LS if you can't work.

I checked, only four states do not allow someone with a felony to work and I have no interest in working in any of them. Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky and Missouri if I'm not mistaken.

Texas will admit you to the bar with a felony, assuming 5 years have passed since the completion of the sentence/probation and you can prove you've lived a life of exemplary conduct in that time period. --LinkRemoved--

[BeautifulSW]

I've actually had some professional experience with persons in the OP's position. The answer, in general, is that it CAN be done but it won't be easy.

A felony used to be a felony and to call someone a felon was just about the worst thing you could say about him. But in the last few decades, conduct that is not intrinsically dishonest or violent has been criminalized to the same degree as serious violent offenses or major acts of dishonesty. DUI is a prime example.

At least in those states with which I am familiar, in the Southwest, the felony DUI conviction itself probably won't be the big hurdle. The OP will need to show that he is drug and alcohol free for an extended period of time, as in five years or so, and successfully complete any probation or parole term. A Governor's pardon would help a great deal but in the current "tough on crime" political climate, pardons are hard to obtain. The volunteer work is a good idea.

Note: I am not suggesting that DUI is not a serious matter or that it shouldn't be a criminal offense or that it is not a serious threat to the safety and well-being of the community. I do suggest, however, that people who commit DUI offenses are not necessarily "criminals" in the traditional sense of that word.