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So I recently accepted a biglaw SA offer. Unfortunately, over the summer I was arrested for a DUI which was plead down to a DWAI (a traffic infraction). My offer letter said my employment is contingent on a back round check. Should I just nip this now and call recruiting and tell them what happened? For the record, the firm never asked about criminal history, so I never lied.

Bump. Any advice?

Anonymous User wrote:So I recently accepted a biglaw SA offer. Unfortunately, over the summer I was arrested for a DUI which was plead down to a DWAI (a traffic infraction). My offer letter said my employment is contingent on a back round check. Should I just nip this now and call recruiting and tell them what happened? For the record, the firm never asked about criminal history, so I never lied.

Yes, you should. I had something similar happen to me over the summer. I disclosed and they were really cool about it. Not disclosing could raise some red flags. You should also, if you haven't done so already, disclose to your school.

Thanks. May I ask who you disclosed to at your firm? Recruiting coordinator?

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks. May I ask who you disclosed to at your firm? Recruiting coordinator?

Yes

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:So I recently accepted a biglaw SA offer. Unfortunately, over the summer I was arrested for a DUI which was plead down to a DWAI (a traffic infraction). My offer letter said my employment is contingent on a back round check. Should I just nip this now and call recruiting and tell them what happened? For the record, the firm never asked about criminal history, so I never lied.

Yes, you should. I had something similar happen to me over the summer. I disclosed and they were really cool about it. Not disclosing could raise some red flags. You should also, if you haven't done so already, disclose to your school.

Wait, it was pled down to a traffic infraction--that's probably civil, so it shouldn't show up on a criminal background check. I think that's probably the idea of allowing people to plead down.

True. But the DUI arrest will show up I assume. I also assume a background check may entail getting an abstract of my driving record, which the DWAI will show on.

I would disclose to your school and ask them what they think is best. They have probably dealt with similar situations dozens of times while TLS is at best people with few anecdotes and is at worst people pulling things out of their asses.

XxSpyKEx wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:So I recently accepted a biglaw SA offer. Unfortunately, over the summer I was arrested for a DUI which was plead down to a DWAI (a traffic infraction). My offer letter said my employment is contingent on a back round check. Should I just nip this now and call recruiting and tell them what happened? For the record, the firm never asked about criminal history, so I never lied.

Yes, you should. I had something similar happen to me over the summer. I disclosed and they were really cool about it. Not disclosing could raise some red flags. You should also, if you haven't done so already, disclose to your school.

Wait, it was pled down to a traffic infraction--that's probably civil, so it shouldn't show up on a criminal background check. I think that's probably the idea of allowing people to plead down.

FWIW my firm asked me to disclose all crimes for which I had been charged - not convicted - except for traffic offenses. Here, because OP was charged with a crime that was pled down to a traffic infraction, I would probably disclose it to be safe.

FYI, In Texas you would have to report this to the State Bar. So regardless of your firm, check your State Bar.

Anonymous User wrote:

XxSpyKEx wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:So I recently accepted a biglaw SA offer. Unfortunately, over the summer I was arrested for a DUI which was plead down to a DWAI (a traffic infraction). My offer letter said my employment is contingent on a back round check. Should I just nip this now and call recruiting and tell them what happened? For the record, the firm never asked about criminal history, so I never lied.

Yes, you should. I had something similar happen to me over the summer. I disclosed and they were really cool about it. Not disclosing could raise some red flags. You should also, if you haven't done so already, disclose to your school.

Wait, it was pled down to a traffic infraction--that's probably civil, so it shouldn't show up on a criminal background check. I think that's probably the idea of allowing people to plead down.

FWIW my firm asked me to disclose all crimes for which I had been charged - not convicted - except for traffic offenses. Here, because OP was charged with a crime that was pled down to a traffic infraction, I would probably disclose it to be safe.

That's a bit absurd, and possibly a potential lawsuit waiting to happen. I would have nonetheless disclosed if asked that question. However, I think OP's situation is a bit different in that his firm hasn't asked him to disclose traffic infractions/charged but not convicted misdemeanors, so its basically a question of whether he should go out of his way to disclose something that the firm might not ever find out about or care to find out about. (Don't private employers typically only get records of convictions and not things like arrests, nolle prosse'd charges, etc.?)

Thanks for the input guys. I think my plan right now is to disclose to my school and then go from there based on their advice.