DUI Job Advice Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am not sure what to tell you about disclosure, but personal anecdote to ease your nerves. I have an acquaintance that got 2 DUIs, passed the bar and now works as a prosecutor.

Federal? Have one and am worried about AUSA background check.

Had a DUI that was lowered to a reckless driving during second year of undergrad and subsequently expunged prior to law school. Flash forward a couple years to law school and I received an offer to extern at my local USAO. Was completely upfront about the charge and was told it would not be a problem, but that my application needed to be "signed off" by my direct supervisor, the chiefs of the various sections in that office, and the USA personally. This was all before my application could even make it back east for the actual background check. Turns out my supervisor and the chiefs signed off, but the USA would not. I was about one of nine students that this happened to that semester. Thankfully, because i never made it to the actual background check and therefore did not fail the security check, I need not disclose.

Man. Worrisome (sorry to hear). Nine students in one office alone? Confused though - where did you originally disclose/were upfront (if not on a background check form)? Also, you mean you need not disclose that you failed a security clearance?

[Anonymous User]

Yes, it is a large office in a major market. I was asked in the interview if there was anything that could complicate a background check and was upfront. Because my application never made it back east for the actual background check, it was never done and I never failed (or passed). The way the supervisor explained it was that when an applicant has an arrest/similar issue, before an offer can be "officially" made, the applicant has to be approved by the higher ups in the district, which ultimately did not happen.