www.top-law-schools.com Forum

[xylocarp]

Inspired by t-14orbust's thread for last cycle, I will be listing all of the T14s' C&F requirements here. A few apps aren't open yet (Yale, Harvard, Northwestern, Georgetown), but I'll add those once they are. Thought it might be a helpful resource for anyone who doesn't have access to applications (for whatever reason). Keep in mind, future cycle applicants, that these might change after this cycle. Also, if anyone wants to send me non-T14 C&F questions, I'll add those too!



-------------------------------


Yale: Please note that your answers to the following questions and any information included in your Character and Fitness attachment may become part of the character and fitness review of the bar in the state(s) in which you intend to practice. Admission to the practice of law depends not only on adequate academic performance in law school and successful completion of the bar examination, but also on satisfaction of the requirements of the particular jurisdiction as to proof of good character. These requirements differ from state to state, and applicants should inform themselves of the requirements of the jurisdictions in which they are interested.

If your answer to either of the following Character and Fitness questions is yes, include an attachment describing the circumstances.

1. Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony or misdemeanor, or are there any criminal charges pending against you?

2. At any college or university, have you ever been suspended, expelled, or required to withdraw, or been the subject of any other disciplinary action or proceeding for misconduct or deficient scholarship, or are there any charges pending against you?


-------------------------------


Harvard: If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, you must provide details in the space provided.

1. At any educational institution, have you ever been found responsible for behavioral misconduct that resulted in anything more than a verbal reprimand or are any charges pending?

2. At any educational institution, have you ever been found responsible for academic misconduct or are any charges pending?

3. In a professional setting, have you been subject to disciplinary sanctions, or are any charges pending?

4. Have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, any felony or misdemeanor, other than: an arrest or other detention that did not result in a conviction, or in which a conviction was vacated; a first conviction for any of the following misdemeanors: drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray or disturbance of the peace; or any misdemeanor conviction that occurred more than five years before your application for admission, unless you were also sentenced to imprisonment, or were convicted of any additional offense within the five year period.

Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.

5. Are you currently deferring enrollment at a law school that requires a commitment not to apply elsewhere?

6. Have you ever attended a law school?

7. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, please explain here. (maximum characters 500)


-------------------------------


Stanford: *If your answer to any of these questions below is "Yes," please attach an explanatory statement with your electronic application. Prior to matriculation, you will be required to submit documentation from each school attended attesting to your good standing.

1. Have you ever at any college or university been in other than good standing because of academic deficiencies, been sanctioned for misconduct, or been the subject of disciplinary proceedings?

2. Have you ever been convicted of, or is any charge now pending against you for any crime other than a traffic violation?

3. Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization?


-------------------------------


Columbia: If you answer "Yes" to questions 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, or 8.6 in the "Character and Fitness" section, you must attach a detailed, complete, and truthful written explanation in the "Attachments" section of the application. Please answer honestly, irrespective of any advice you may have received to the contrary.

1. Have you ever been on academic probation or subjected to disciplinary action for scholastic or other reasons by any college, university, graduate school, or professional school you have attended? This should include matters that have been expunged. In addition to attaching a written explanation in the "Attachments" section of the application, kindly have the Dean or administrative officer in charge of student records forward a detailed explanation of the incident.

2. Are there any disciplinary charges pending or expected to be brought against you? In addition to attaching a written explanation in the "Attachments" section of the application, kindly have the Dean or administrative officer in charge of student records forward a detailed explanation of the incident.

3. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, arrested, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except minor parking violations, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding? This should include matters that may have been expunged from the records or subject to a diversionary program. Please note that you should have available and be prepared to submit or exhibit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question. If you answered "Yes," you must attach a detailed, complete, and truthful explanation, including a statement of the charge(s), the disposition thereof and the underlying facts. Please answer honestly, irrespective of any advice you may have received to the contrary.

4. Are there any criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

5. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action by a professional organization?

6. Will you be enrolled in an undergraduate program on or after August 1, 2015?


-------------------------------


Chicago: Please select "yes" or "no" to the following questions. If your answer is "yes" to any of the questions, attach a complete and detailed description of the circumstances (see the Attachments section).

A Note about Character and Fitness: An affirmative response to any portion of the Character and Fitness questions will not automatically disqualify a candidate from admission. We encourage all applicants to become familiar with the rules and standards governing admission to the bar in the jurisdiction where the applicant intends to practice law, particularly the requirements related to character and fitness. Many states, including Illinois, require very broad and detailed disclosures in connection with the evaluation of an applicant’s character and fitness for admission to practice law.

1. In connection with your enrollment at any college, university, or other institution of higher education, have you ever been found to be guilty, responsible or accountable for any misconduct, including but not limited to any matter for which you were suspended, dismissed, expelled, banned, restricted, placed on probation, or subject to any other sanction or penalty? If so, please provide all material facts and an explanation of the circumstances. NOTE: Misconduct includes but is not limited to academic and non-academic matters. You must also disclose disciplinary matters that are pending at the time of your application.

2. Have you ever been charged with or convicted of any crime or offense other than a minor traffic violation? This includes any charges, complaints or citations that were filed against you as a juvenile or as an adult, formal or informal, pending or closed, dismissed, expunged, sealed or subject to a diversionary program, and includes any charges, complaints or citations that you reasonably expect to be brought against you. If so, please provide all material facts and an explanation of the circumstances.

3. Have you been discharged or dismissed from the armed forces, other than by honorable discharge, or sentenced in a court-martial proceeding?


-------------------------------


NYU: Please answer the following questions. You must answer these questions fully and truthfully regardless of any contrary advice that you may have received from others. If you are unsure whether a particular event must be revealed in answer to any of these questions, you should contact the Office of Admissions.

*If the answer to question 4 and/or 5 is yes, you are required to ask the dean or administrative office in charge of student records at the school at which the incident occurred to provide an explanation. The explanation should be submitted directly to NYU School of Law, Office of JD Admissions, 139 MacDougal Street, Suite C-20, New York, NY 10012.

1. Has your undergraduate or graduate course of study been interrupted for one or more terms for any reason?

2. Have you ever enrolled in a J.D., LL.B., or other first law degree program?

3. Are you currently deferring enrollment at a law school that requires a commitment not to apply elsewhere?

4. Have you ever been placed on academic probation or been required to withdraw from any school for academic reasons?

5. Have you ever been subject to academic or any other disciplinary sanctions, or are charges pending at any academic institution? This should include matters that have been expunged or dismissed.

6. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been charged with or convicted of any crime, or charged with or found to have committed any offense (whether or not defined as a crime), or are any such charges pending? This should include matters that have been expunged or dismissed.

7. If you have ever served on full-time military active duty, was your discharge under conditions other than honorable?


-------------------------------


Penn: If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you must provide an explanatory statement. If you do not, the processing and review of your application will be delayed. We caution you to err on the side of full disclosure. If you need additional space for your explanation, you may upload it in the Additional Info section in Attachments.

1. Has your academic experience ever been interrupted for one or more terms for any reason? (This does not include the time period between high school and college or between college and law school, etc.)

(2. Study Interrupted Explanation: (maximum characters 500))

3. Have you ever been placed on academic or disciplinary probation, issued academic or disciplinary warnings, suspended, dropped, expelled, or been required to withdraw from any post-secondary education you have attended, or are any such proceedings now pending against you? (This should include matters that have been expunged.)

(4. Academic and Disciplinary Action Explanation: (maximum characters 500))

5. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been arrested, charged, cited, or convicted of a crime (including misdemeanors), or is any charge now pending against you? (This should include matters that have been expunged or subject to a diversionary program.)

(6. Crime Explanation: (maximum characters 500))

7. Have you ever been or are you currently enrolled in another law school?

(8. Prior Law School Matriculation Explanation: (maximum characters 500))


-------------------------------


UVA: If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," attach an addendum explaining the circumstances. After submitting this application, you have an ongoing obligation to notify immediately the Office of Admissions of new or additional information pertaining to these questions.

ABA STANDARD 504 STATEMENT: In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

As you provide responses to the questions set forth in this section, please do so carefully and be mindful that in the future, when you seek admission to one or more state bars, you will be required to respond to similar conduct questions. For this reason, please pay careful attention to provide detailed, complete and accurate responses both on this application, as well as in response to similar questions that are posed to you in the future. Failure to provide complete, accurate and consistent responses, or to omit information that is requested, can cause serious problems for you when you are seek bar admission.

1. Have you ever been subject to verbal or written discipline (informal or formal, and of any type, such as but not limited to warning, reprimand, suspension, dismissal, and/or detrimental impact to any benefit/privilege) for scholastic or other reasons in any of the colleges, universities, graduate or professional schools you have attended (including organizations you have participated in at these institutions), or by any employer?

2. Have you ever been arrested or convicted of any offense, excluding minor traffic or parking violations? Violations involving alcohol, damage to property, injury to person(s), and/or reckless driving do NOT constitute "minor" violations. This question does not require you to disclose information concerning any arrest or criminal charge that has been expunged at the time you submit this application.

3. Are there any charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

4. Are you aware of any charges, discipline and/or accusations pending or expected to be brought against you of any kind that would satisfy any of the foregoing character & fitness-related questions?


-------------------------------


Berkeley: If you answer "Yes" to any of the questions below, please attach an addendum explaining the circumstances. Note that an affirmative answer to these question does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission to Berkeley Law. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential.

If your answer to any of the following questions becomes affirmative after you submit your application, you are required to notify the Admissions Office in writing.

1. Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of any offense, excluding minor traffic and parking violations, or is any such charge now pending against you? (Yes/No)

2. Have you ever been subjected to a dismissal, suspension, probation, or other disciplinary or academic sanction by any college, university, or professional school? (Yes/No)

3. Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization? (Yes/No)


-------------------------------


Michigan: While answering the two questions below, when in doubt, err on the side of full disclosure, as the failure to fully answer any question may result in exclusion from law school or denial of the opportunity to take a state bar examination. (Please note each state has character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar; we encourage you to determine what those requirements are in any state(s) in which you are considering practicing.) If, following your completion of this application but prior to matriculation, matters arise that would require you to answer yes to either question, supplement your application with complete details. Note that an affirmative answer to either question does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential. You must submit a supplementary statement with any affirmative responses; provide complete details, including dates and resolution (see Attachments section).

3. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action for academic or other reasons in any of the colleges, universities, graduate, or professional schools you have attended, or are such charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

4. Have you ever been convicted of a crime (following a jury or bench trial, a guilty plea, or a nolo contendere plea), or charged with a criminal offense that was later dismissed as a result of a plea bargain or alternative sentencing arrangement, or are such criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you? Include misdemeanors and criminal infractions, as well as any interaction with a law enforcement agency that resulted in payment of a fine or order of community service. Do not include minor traffic violations or civil infractions or citations for which jail time was not a potential penalty.


-------------------------------


Duke: Duke Law requires that you reveal knowledge of all disciplinary charges, and any arrests, criminal charges, or criminal convictions (except arrests, criminal charges or criminal convictions that have been expunged from your record). When in doubt, you should err on the side of full disclosure as subsequent discovery of a failure to fully and accurately answer these questions may have serious consequences. You have an ongoing obligation to report any conduct that would require you to answer "Yes" to any of the questions in this section during the pendency of your application. If you are admitted, the obligation to report conduct applicable to the questions in this section continues until your first day of class at Duke Law School.

1. Have you ever been placed on academic probation at any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school?

2. Have you ever been warned, dropped, suspended, placed on disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled, requested or advised to resign from any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school?

3. Have you ever (i) been arrested, charged or cited for a crime or (ii) been convicted of any offense other than a minor traffic violation? You are not required to report any matter that has been expunged by a court of law.


-------------------------------


Cornell: If the answer is "yes" to any of the following questions, please submit an explanatory statement in the attachment section.

1. Have you ever been the subject of disciplinary proceedings or been warned; placed on probation; dropped; expelled; or been asked or advised or permitted to withdraw; or been suspended for academic, nonacademic, or any other reasons by any of the colleges, universities, graduate schools, or professional schools you have attended, or are any such proceedings pending? If yes, please describe the incident below. Also, if yes, you are required to submit a completed Dean's Certification Form from the institution where the infraction occurred or is pending.

2. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except minor parking or traffic violations, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding? If yes, please describe the incident below.
Please note that although a conviction may have been expunged from the records by an order of a court, it nevertheless should be disclosed in the answer to this question. Also, you should have available and be prepared to submit or exhibit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question.

3. Have you ever served on full-time active military duty (non-US)?


-------------------------------


Northwestern: 1. Have you ever been suspended, expelled, placed on probation, or otherwise disciplined by any college or university for academic or other reasons?

(If yes, explain on a separate sheet or electronic attachment.)

2. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except minor parking or traffic violations, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding? (If yes, explain on a separate sheet or electronic attachment.)

Please note that although a matter may have been expunged from the records by an order of a court, it nevertheless should be disclosed in the answer to this question. Also, you should have available and be prepared to submit or exhibit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question.

Each state has character and fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar. Prior to matriculation, all applicants should consult the bar admission authorities in the state in which he or she intends to practice law to determine these requirements. Information about the requirements for admission to the bars of various states is available from the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610, website http://www.abanet.org.


-------------------------------


Georgetown: If your answer to any of these questions is "yes," please explain fully and submit as an attachment or email directly to the Office of Admissions at admis@law.georgetown.edu. Your application is incomplete until receipt of applicable explanations.

1. Have you ever been the subject of any disciplinary action taken by any college or university?

2. Have you ever been placed on academic probation?

3. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense, or is any charge now pending against you for any crime other than a traffic violation?

4. Have you ever been separated from a branch of the armed forces of the United States under conditions other than favorable?

5. Has your college, university, graduate, or professional school course of study been interrupted for one or more terms for any reason?

[Attax]

Good work. Always remember: when in doubt disclose!

[pylon]

This is a fantastic resource and definitely one I'm going to be using over the next few weeks. Thanks xylo!

[Colonel_funkadunk]

Xylo u r the bomb

[Attax]

If I could offer some advice for ease: some schools require traffic violations and stuff. I found it easier to just include them on all of my C&F stuff since it realistically wasn't a problem anyway. It makes life easier than trying to hide it from some places who won't care.

[walterwhite]

this is great information! thanks!

[P.J.Fry]

Thanks for this! I would have completely overlooked a couple of instances from my past that I really forgot about it.

What should I do if I don't have any documentation and there is no record anywhere that I can obtain, and I don't remember exact details of the event (exact date etc.)?

For example, at some point during my first year when I was a minor, I was detained and held overnight at the police station because I was intoxicated (drunk tank). No charges or penalties were incurred and as far as I know, there is no record of it. They just held me for my own safety until I sobered up. I can name the month it occurred, but that's about it (it was over a decade ago). Just explain to the best of my ability?

Also, would a speeding ticket fall under "minor traffic violation" or should that be disclosed?

[jw316]

If I could offer some advice for ease: some schools require traffic violations and stuff. I found it easier to just include them on all of my C&F stuff since it realistically wasn't a problem anyway. It makes life easier than trying to hide it from some places who won't care.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but how do you go about getting those records (speeding tickets that were reduced/dropped; one I may have just payed from like 5 years ago but I couldn't even tell you what city just the state; or another civil infraction/moving violation that was dropped)? Never been arrested or booked or brought in or read my miranda or had a jury trial etc. Just traffic court, fighting speeding tickets, getting them pled down to moving violations or dismissed because the officer didn't show up etc. just the usual teenage stuff. Not talking reckless driving or excessive speed.

DON'T QUOTE PLEASE.

[w0w]

I only have a slew of traffic violations but filling these out and rereading my apps has really made me paranoid that I have an arrest I've suppressed from my memory and am going to have issues with the bar...

[walterwhite]

does anybody have any good links regarding how much detail we should go into? Specifically if our university cleared us of charges, how much of a narrative should we provide regarding the alleged incident?

[rbrown0824]

I'd also like to know about this. I have a couple speeding tickets and a red light violation. Never been to court. Are these considered minor traffic?

[Cradle6]

I hate the vague wording.

Like are you supposed to report a parking ticket? A fix it expired registration ticket?

Can I gloat that I've never gotten a parking ticket to play down multiple felonies? (Joke)

[xylocarp]

I'm no C&F expert, but I'm pretty sure most speeding tickets and red light tickets fall under "minor traffic violations"

otherwise... better safe than sorry, better to over-disclose than under-disclose

[jw316]

I'm no C&F expert, but I'm pretty sure most speeding tickets and red light tickets fall under "minor traffic violations"

otherwise... better safe than sorry, better to over-disclose than under-disclose

How do we go about getting a record/listing of those things in order to disclose? I've heard to contact individual police stations but what if you can't remember what city it occurred in. Is there a way to contact the state first and get the name of the city it occurred in and then go directly to each police station?

Never been in trouble for anything *knock on wood* but I don't want to have a C&F issue because I forgot to disclose a parking/speeding ticket from 5 years ago I completely forgot about.

[walterwhite]

would anybody be willing to look over my addendum? PM me!

[Cpt Zapp Brannigan]

.

[Cpt Zapp Brannigan]

Oh, and minor traffic violations includes speeding, red light violations, stop sign, failing to yield, bicycling on sidewalk etc. Many fare evasion tickets fall under this umbrella term as well (for example failing to show proof of fare on public transportation). None of these are a problem.

DUI is not a minor violation, you need to write addendum. Reckless driving in most places can be either a felony or misdemeanor (you need to write an addendum) but consult the laws in your state first.

[jw316]

For everyone fussing about this section over infractions, that a deep breath. It's meant to sift out the more serious shit-domestic violence, fraudsters, sex offenders etc. If you get a rare app that actually does ask to include traffic infractions, just include what info you have to the best of your ability. If you list two speeding tickets but later realize you forget to list that you had failure to yield ticket ten years, don't sweat it. Forgot the names, dates of a ticket? Totally not a problem, just write down approximates. It's all about being honest. Where things get tricky are for those with felonies. That's tough and very much a case by case thing.

-Former LEO/survivor of way too many background checks

Thank you very much for taking the time out to respond to this. Definitely one of the more helpful posts I've come across on TLS.

[Cradle6]

.

[walterwhite]

Does anybody know if law schools will hold it against us if we went through university disciplinary proceedings multiple times but were found not accountable? My incidents weren't for anything super serious it was just res life stuff, so I'm wondering how much that will matter.

[carolinanne1]

Any assistance, thoughts, opinions would be great!

During my first semester freshmen year, I received an academic honestly violation (which is not on my transcript) for answering a question on the class facebook page about whether or not there would be T/F questions on the test. It was labeled as unauthorized assistance. As it happened so long ago and was not a serious infraction, how much will hurt me in this admissions cycle?

[Cpt Zapp Brannigan]

.

[walterwhite]

walter white: for the majority of applications I've seen, you don't need to disclose that. Technically you were not admonished/punished/convicted or arrested. You did nothing wrong and for all intensive purposes the incidents never happened (in regards to you). But you need to read each application VERY carefully. If the wording somehow makes you think you should include it, write an addendum. You should be fine anyway.

anybody else want to weigh in on this? for some schools it's clear if they care about these incidents, but others are more confusing because they ask about "disciplinary action."

I emailed a school asking for clarification as to what "disciplinary action" means and their answer was very vague.

Anna Ivey said in a blog post that "disciplinary action" includes proceedings where you're found not accountable, but I've been getting mixed messages on TLS about disclosing these kinds of incidents.

[Clyde Frog]

Any info on Harvard's c&f?

[gatesome]

Any info on Harvard's c&f?

11. Character and Fitness
Required field icon Indicates a required field.

PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.

If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, you must provide details in the space provided.

Required field 1. At any educational institution, have you ever been found responsible for behavioral misconduct that resulted in anything more than a verbal reprimand or are any charges pending?
Yes
No

Required field 2. At any educational institution, have you ever been found responsible for academic misconduct or are any charges pending?
Yes
No

Required field 3. In a professional setting, have you been subject to disciplinary sanctions, or are any charges pending?
Yes
No

Required field 4. Have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, any felony or misdemeanor, other than: an arrest or other detention that did not result in a conviction, or in which a conviction was vacated; a first conviction for any of the following misdemeanors: drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray or disturbance of the peace; or any misdemeanor conviction that occurred more than five years before your application for admission, unless you were also sentenced to imprisonment, or were convicted of any additional offense within the five year period.

Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.
Yes
No

Required field 5. Are you currently deferring enrollment at a law school that requires a commitment not to apply elsewhere?
Yes
No

Required field 6. Have you ever attended a law school?
Yes
No

7. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, please expain here. (maximum characters 500)