Misdemeanor for civil disobedience affect admissions? Forum

[robertrulez]

Hey guys,

So I'm a student at a top public contemplating joining in on a civil disobedience protest. We will be arrested, taken to jail, but will likely have our charges dropped since our school's police department is very pro free speech. My record is squeaky clean but my main concern obviously is the impact a criminal trespassing charge will have on me being admitted to a good law school, more specifically, the law school in my university.

I see 2 scenarios playing out:
1) My main goal long term is public interest law and I plan to convey that in my application's essay. Maybe there's a chance that law schools will actually see it as a positive and love that I'm completely committed to social justice.

2)Schools see me as being too radical and will not admit me based on that risk.

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side. I'm not sure what to do.

Opinions?

[ph14]

Hey guys,

So I'm a student at a top public contemplating joining in on a civil disobedience protest. We will be arrested, taken to jail, but will likely have our charges dropped since our school's police department is very pro free speech. My record is squeaky clean but my main concern obviously is the impact a criminal trespassing charge will have on me being admitted to a good law school, more specifically, the law school in my university.

I see 2 scenarios playing out:
1) My main goal long term is public interest law and I plan to convey that in my application's essay. Maybe there's a chance that law schools will actually see it as a positive and love that I'm completely committed to social justice.

2)Schools see me as being too radical and will not admit me based on that risk.

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side.

Opinions?

It'll be a headache for you but shouldn't really be a huge issue. But you'll have to explain it on every application, background check, moral character determination, etc. going forward. Keep yourself arrest free so you can just check the "no" box.

Just hold up a sign or disperse when asked to and do not get arrested. I'm sure you can make your point without going to jail.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Yeah just protest without being arrested, how hard could that be?

And I highly doubt being arrested will help you with admissions to schools with strong public interest programs. Maybe if you were joining PETA or something they would love that drama, but I think working within the law would be preferable (it is law school after all).

[sublime]

..

[ph14]

getting arrested is a part of a certain type of civil disobedience.

What is the cause you are doing it for? It can be looked at completely differently based on that.

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side.

It's almost certainly not worth it, regardless of the cause.

[sublime]

..

[SnakySalmon]

I asked this in the Spivy thread a while ago. Karen joked that she would have thought I was "cool" while doing admissions, but also said that it was a bad idea, and I should avoid getting arrested.

So, I'd say that if you're wondering if it'll sink you, it probably won't, but it'll probably hurt more than help.

[daryldixon]

Admission won't be affected greatly. C&F however...

[Clearly]

This is a horrible idea, do not do this.

[HRomanus]

Be honest: do you actualy gain anything from this?

There are a lot of things I did in college that I thought were noble at the time. My college was going through a lot of institutional instability and I was a very outspoken student leader. Now the things I posted online are there forever and, in retrospect, sound stupid. I also don't know who my words might have upset or how my reputation might have traveled. I want to have lunch with an alumnus of the LS I will be attending, but he was chairman of my college's BOT and I am honestly worried I might have burned that bridge before ever meeting him.

Don't do it. There are real risks and no benefits.

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

You are essentially campaigning for higher tuition, fwiw.

[robertrulez]

Be honest: do you actualy gain anything from this?

There are a lot of things I did in college that I thought were noble at the time. My college was going through a lot of institutional instability and I was a very outspoken student leader. Now the things I posted online are there forever and, in retrospect, sound stupid. I also don't know who my words might have upset or how my reputation might have traveled. I want to have lunch with an alumnus of the LS I will be attending, but he was chairman of my college's BOT and I am honestly worried I might have burned that bridge before ever meeting him.

Don't do it. There are real risks and no benefits.

Thank you for your insight, I thought about it for awhile and realized that it's not really worth it. Though I do feel gratified working to fight for others I realized I have to think about myself.

[robertrulez]

You are essentially campaigning for higher tuition, fwiw.

Not necessarily, considering that my public school has a higher endowment than most private schools. They have the resources to offset student costs but continue hiring administrators and building massive projects. Lots of issues in higher ed today.

[kaiser]

No, it is not a good idea. I'm sure you can find a way to fight for this particular cause without getting yourself arrested. There are many reasons why you don't want an arrest. It will have to be disclosed and discussed at so many different stages in the future such as law apps, bar exam character and fitness, etc. and it just isn't worth the headache. Not everyone will be willing to just brush it off.

Also, you have no idea if you will end up actually pursuing PI. Heck, perhaps your values and beliefs will change at some point, and you won't even be as against whatever it is you are protesting as you happen to be now. This happens all the time, when people's attitudes shift as they go through certain life experiences.

So just a whole bunch of reasons why it isn't worth it.

[rwhyAn]

This is dumb. Don't do it. If you end up getting arrested, there is a chance that your name might make the local newspaper, and if a prospective employer were to do a google search on your name, how do you think they would view someone who has been in the paper as getting arrested? Employers and schools want people that will keep their heads down, mouths shut, and work hard. Very little good can come from this, but hey, it's your future.

[muskies970]

You're asking a bunch of lawyers and future lawyers if they advise you getting arrested... what did you expect?

[patogordo]

see this is why MLK never went to law school

[HRomanus]

Be honest: do you actualy gain anything from this?

There are a lot of things I did in college that I thought were noble at the time. My college was going through a lot of institutional instability and I was a very outspoken student leader. Now the things I posted online are there forever and, in retrospect, sound stupid. I also don't know who my words might have upset or how my reputation might have traveled. I want to have lunch with an alumnus of the LS I will be attending, but he was chairman of my college's BOT and I am honestly worried I might have burned that bridge before ever meeting him.

Don't do it. There are real risks and no benefits.

Thank you for your insight, I thought about it for awhile and realized that it's not really worth it. Though I do feel gratified working to fight for others I realized I have to think about myself.

Glad you've decided not to do it. On a side note, little that happens in undergrad can truly can improve your success in law school admissions. Writing about civil disobedience won't have nearly as much influence in a personal statement as positive, proactive work in public interest areas.You indicated in another thread that you have that experience and will gain more this summer.

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

You are essentially campaigning for higher tuition, fwiw.

Not necessarily, considering that my public school has a higher endowment than most private schools. They have the resources to offset student costs but continue hiring administrators and building massive projects. Lots of issues in higher ed today.

Wait, is this at UT haha?

[SFrost]

Civil disobedience is by definition against what being a lawyer is about. Lawyers follow and respect the law. I think this is a major character fault (if you had gone through with it).

I would also question the necessity of civil disobedience. Just because you disagree with something does not give you the right to break the law to try and change it. There's a democratic system in place to enact change. If you're a lawyer and disagree with a judge's decision, are you going to strip down in court to make your point heard?

[SFrost]

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side. I'm not sure what to do.

I wanted to point this out. If your cause is one of a few people simply being let go, then you have absolutely zero right to break the law over it. Civil disobedience has a place when the law violates natural law and shocks the conscience. People getting fired sucks, but get over yourself if you think it's worth breaking the law.

[ph14]

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side. I'm not sure what to do.

I wanted to point this out. If your cause is one of a few people simply being let go, then you have absolutely zero right to break the law over it. Civil disobedience has a place when the law violates natural law and shocks the conscience. People getting fired sucks, but get over yourself if you think it's worth breaking the law.

He's already said he's not going to do it. No need to be so aggressive.

[SFrost]

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side. I'm not sure what to do.

I wanted to point this out. If your cause is one of a few people simply being let go, then you have absolutely zero right to break the law over it. Civil disobedience has a place when the law violates natural law and shocks the conscience. People getting fired sucks, but get over yourself if you think it's worth breaking the law.

He's already said he's not going to do it. No need to be so aggressive.

It seemed like a good point to be made. A forum dedicated to people intending to be lawyers should probably frown upon people intentionally breaking the law. Jus' sayin'.

[ph14]

That being said, my cause isn't radical. Our university is attempting to cut 500 jobs and we have the support of over a 100 professors and thousands of students by our side. I'm not sure what to do.

I wanted to point this out. If your cause is one of a few people simply being let go, then you have absolutely zero right to break the law over it. Civil disobedience has a place when the law violates natural law and shocks the conscience. People getting fired sucks, but get over yourself if you think it's worth breaking the law.

He's already said he's not going to do it. No need to be so aggressive.

It seemed like a good point to be made. A forum dedicated to people intending to be lawyers should probably frown upon people intentionally breaking the law. Jus' sayin'.

Yes, a great point to be made. By the first 10 or so people to make it.

[suzige]

While it would make for a cool story, I also concur that sitting out or protesting from afar is better for u. It's not worth it to potentially have a dean or C&F breathing down your neck.

I appreciate your candor and willingness to put yourself on the line for the interests of others. Seriously, I do. Wish there was more of that sometimes...