Fired from internship: C&F concerns Forum

[Anonymous User]

I was recently fired from my paid internship with a legal services organization. I was fired for making a (stupid) misrepresentation to a sort of client (don't represent them per se) about the position of the court (basically blamed them for scheduling incorrectly). I feel awful and, to understandably protect themselves, they've fired me. They plan to suggest to the judge that got involved that my punishment end there and nothing official happen. Assuming nothing officially comes from it, I'm left with more C&F questions than resume ones (that part seems clear).

The Rule 9 application I need to fill out soon for a different internship only asks about whether I've been charged with misrepresentation. Thoughts on including a disclosure that explains the firing in the interest of full disclosure or keeping it out because it was handled as a personnel issue and not a formal court matter?

[zot1]

It depends a lot on your jurisdiction.

CA for example asks for information about all of your previous employers including internships. You can't avoid putting contact info for that employer here. Once you do that, you're better off disclosing what happened instead of letting the employer do that for you.

Regardless of this, the legal community is rather small even if you are in a large city. I would disclose and make sure you explain how you learned from your mistake.

[Mr. Archer]

Have to agree about disclosure likely being your best option, even if it's not necessary. I strongly suggest you talk to someone at your law school about the situation (career services and coordinator of internships/academic dean if this internship was through the school).

[Anonymous User]

Have to agree about disclosure likely being your best option, even if it's not necessary. I strongly suggest you talk to someone at your law school about the situation (career services and coordinator of internships/academic dean if this internship was through the school).

Thank you both for your input. I really appreciate it as I panic over this. I'm also concerned about how disclosing this for a Rule 9 app may reveal all of that info to my new employer (that may be me being naive about what they get access to, seeing as they've already offered me the spot). I think a letter about how I learned a valuable lesson could help. I can prepare that and accept what's coming to me and then feel better inside about not having kept anything secret. I'll check in with my school career office as well. Thanks again.

[xxxman]

I know that the others touched base on it already, but I also agree with siding on the side of honesty with everything. There are people with far worse things in their history and they turned out ok. Honesty is the main thing they are looking for. I knew a guy with a DUI in his THIRD YEAR of law school, still got licensed with almost no trouble at all.

[El Pollito]

I know that the others touched base on it already, but I also agree with siding on the side of honesty with everything. There are people with far worse things in their history and they turned out ok. Honesty is the main thing they are looking for. I knew a guy with a DUI in his THIRD YEAR of law school, still got licensed with almost no trouble at all.

dui isn't that big a deal in a lot of jxs. C&F cares about dishonesty / fraud the most.

[xxxman]

I know that the others touched base on it already, but I also agree with siding on the side of honesty with everything. There are people with far worse things in their history and they turned out ok. Honesty is the main thing they are looking for. I knew a guy with a DUI in his THIRD YEAR of law school, still got licensed with almost no trouble at all.

dui isn't that big a deal in a lot of jxs. C&F cares about dishonesty / fraud the most.

Agreed, as long as you handle it well. People get disbarred after a lifetime of solid practice if they get a rep as a drunk

[Anonymous User]

I know that the others touched base on it already, but I also agree with siding on the side of honesty with everything. There are people with far worse things in their history and they turned out ok. Honesty is the main thing they are looking for. I knew a guy with a DUI in his THIRD YEAR of law school, still got licensed with almost no trouble at all.

dui isn't that big a deal in a lot of jxs. C&F cares about dishonesty / fraud the most.

Agreed, as long as you handle it well. People get disbarred after a lifetime of solid practice if they get a rep as a drunk

Do you think that an issue that would go into the dishonesty category is likely to keep my application from going through? Or is the more important part that I'm disclosing, owning up to it, and learning?

[zot1]

I know that the others touched base on it already, but I also agree with siding on the side of honesty with everything. There are people with far worse things in their history and they turned out ok. Honesty is the main thing they are looking for. I knew a guy with a DUI in his THIRD YEAR of law school, still got licensed with almost no trouble at all.

dui isn't that big a deal in a lot of jxs. C&F cares about dishonesty / fraud the most.

Agreed, as long as you handle it well. People get disbarred after a lifetime of solid practice if they get a rep as a drunk

Do you think that an issue that would go into the dishonesty category is likely to keep my application from going through? Or is the more important part that I'm disclosing, owning up to it, and learning?

Look, dude. You messed up. As a result, you got two choices and either carries with it a different risk.

You disclose. You may not get a license or the committee might be impressed by your sincerity and let's it go.

You don't disclose. They don't find out and you get your license but there's always the fear that they will. They find out you withheld info and you don't get your license.

So the question for you is which risk are you willing to take?

To be honest, the fact that you are unsure about disclosing already says a great deal about your character. I know you're freaking out and that's part of it, but when you're practicing, you will often have to make decisions in seconds so being able to keep your cool and your morality is important.

[nick417]

I know that the others touched base on it already, but I also agree with siding on the side of honesty with everything. There are people with far worse things in their history and they turned out ok. Honesty is the main thing they are looking for. I knew a guy with a DUI in his THIRD YEAR of law school, still got licensed with almost no trouble at all.

dui isn't that big a deal in a lot of jxs. C&F cares about dishonesty / fraud the most.

Agreed, as long as you handle it well. People get disbarred after a lifetime of solid practice if they get a rep as a drunk

Do you think that an issue that would go into the dishonesty category is likely to keep my application from going through? Or is the more important part that I'm disclosing, owning up to it, and learning?

Look, dude. You messed up. As a result, you got two choices and either carries with it a different risk.

You disclose. You may not get a license or the committee might be impressed by your sincerity and let's it go.

You don't disclose. They don't find out and you get your license but there's always the fear that they will. They find out you withheld info and you don't get your license.

So the question for you is which risk are you willing to take?

To be honest, the fact that you are unsure about disclosing already says a great deal about your character. I know you're freaking out and that's part of it, but when you're practicing, you will often have to make decisions in seconds so being able to keep your cool and your morality is important.

First, why are you online asking strangers what to do when you should be talking to someone at your school. There must be a professor or career services who can offer you actual advice versus strangers on the internet. If not, then your school sucks big time.

Second, if you are questioning whether to disclose it or not, the obvious answer is to disclose it. This is a general life question and not a legal question. You can do awful things in life, as long as you are up front with people and disclose it, people seem okay with it (it at least softens the blow). When you overtly hide something, people get pissed. Minor things turn into major things. Own it. Disclose it. Move on.

[xxxman]

By that math, what are ANY Of us doing on here??

[jrass]

I was recently fired from my paid internship with a legal services organization. I was fired for making a (stupid) misrepresentation to a sort of client (don't represent them per se) about the position of the court (basically blamed them for scheduling incorrectly). I feel awful and, to understandably protect themselves, they've fired me. They plan to suggest to the judge that got involved that my punishment end there and nothing official happen. Assuming nothing officially comes from it, I'm left with more C&F questions than resume ones (that part seems clear).

The Rule 9 application I need to fill out soon for a different internship only asks about whether I've been charged with misrepresentation. Thoughts on including a disclosure that explains the firing in the interest of full disclosure or keeping it out because it was handled as a personnel issue and not a formal court matter?

Is the wording "a misrepresentation" or a knowing or fraudulent misrepresentation. I'm asking because if your employer is willing to characterize this as a negligent misrepresentation, you may be shielded from any school sanctions and the Rule 9 disclosure. It sucks this happened to you.

Lawyers lie to their clients all the time to steal money, not deflect blame. I know this because my legally blind father was lied to about the contents of an engagement letter he signed, and despite it being reported to C&F, they never so much as followed up with my dad as telling a client something is a pure contingency fee when it's really a contingency fee plus $50k apparently is just a little white lie that can be chalked up to a simple mistake.

This would be a huge deal professionally if you are obligated to disclose that you lied to a client. It creates a lot of risk for the employer and the whole profession is predicated on trust. Anything that you can negotiate to reduce the charge is worth pursuing.

[sanjola]

I was recently fired from my paid internship with a legal services organization. I was fired for making a (stupid) misrepresentation to a sort of client (don't represent them per se) about the position of the court (basically blamed them for scheduling incorrectly). I feel awful and, to understandably protect themselves, they've fired me. They plan to suggest to the judge that got involved that my punishment end there and nothing official happen. Assuming nothing officially comes from it, I'm left with more C&F questions than resume ones (that part seems clear).

The Rule 9 application I need to fill out soon for a different internship only asks about whether I've been charged with misrepresentation. Thoughts on including a disclosure that explains the firing in the interest of full disclosure or keeping it out because it was handled as a personnel issue and not a formal court matter?

I would absolutely disclose it. If you don't, and they find out, it will be a double strike against you.

Disclose the situation and explain how you've grown from the situation. Hopefully you have the opportunity to succeed at this next internship.