Lateral Background Check - should I be worried? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I'm a 3rd year and just received a lateral offer at an Amlaw 200 firm and was notified that the offer is contingent on a background check which has me a little worried.

Long story short, more than 7 years ago I had an incident which resulted in my pleading guilty to Class A misdemeanor Assault, and Public Intoxication. That same year I also had another arrest for public intoxication. I completed all my probation requirements and was released from probation early.

I have had no other arrests or even so much as a speeding ticket since then. I have also been sober for 7 years now too. And I managed to get through my states Character & Fitness without any conditions placed on my admission to the bar.

For what its worth, the firm is located in the southwest US and might have a slightly more conservative culture than average.

So my question is - should I be worried about the offer being rescinded? Any advice on how to deal with it other than just being honest and forthcoming on the questionnaire I have to fill out? Thanks.

[Lesion of Doom]

So I'm a 3rd year and just received a lateral offer at an Amlaw 200 firm and was notified that the offer is contingent on a background check which has me a little worried.

Long story short, more than 7 years ago I had an incident which resulted in my pleading guilty to Class A misdemeanor Assault, and Public Intoxication. That same year I also had another arrest for public intoxication. I completed all my probation requirements and was released from probation early.

I have had no other arrests or even so much as a speeding ticket since then. I have also been sober for 7 years now too. And I managed to get through my states Character & Fitness without any conditions placed on my admission to the bar.

For what its worth, the firm is located in the southwest US and might have a slightly more conservative culture than average.

So my question is - should I be worried about the offer being rescinded? Any advice on how to deal with it other than just being honest and forthcoming on the questionnaire I have to fill out? Thanks.

The good news is most attorneys are familiar with drinking problems, whether through their own experience or seeing it in colleagues. So I don't think they'd be shocked by it. If you get dinged for it then you do, but I think your plan to own your past confidently is your best bet.

[Anonymous User]

So I'm a 3rd year and just received a lateral offer at an Amlaw 200 firm and was notified that the offer is contingent on a background check which has me a little worried.

Long story short, more than 7 years ago I had an incident which resulted in my pleading guilty to Class A misdemeanor Assault, and Public Intoxication. That same year I also had another arrest for public intoxication. I completed all my probation requirements and was released from probation early.

I have had no other arrests or even so much as a speeding ticket since then. I have also been sober for 7 years now too. And I managed to get through my states Character & Fitness without any conditions placed on my admission to the bar.

For what its worth, the firm is located in the southwest US and might have a slightly more conservative culture than average.

So my question is - should I be worried about the offer being rescinded? Any advice on how to deal with it other than just being honest and forthcoming on the questionnaire I have to fill out? Thanks.

The good news is most attorneys are familiar with drinking problems, whether through their own experience or seeing it in colleagues. So I don't think they'd be shocked by it. If you get dinged for it then you do, but I think your plan to own your past confidently is your best bet.

Also, I would assume that (except for misconduct more extreme and recent than yours) a firm will take comfort on passing the C&F and leave it at that.

[Anonymous User]

I wouldn't be worried. Have multiple misdemeanors myself and have never had an issue. With that said, my misdemeanors are for funny, harmless mischief-related things that just got blown out of proportion, so they are kind of endearing - quite different from assaulting someone. Would just be honest and not worry though.

[Anonymous User]

My unverified assumption is that the background check is to ensure that you disclosed everything to C&F, because C&F do not actually do a background check on you. So if they find undisclosed crimes, you're gonna get disbarred and they get all sorts of liabilities etc. That's what I thought anyhow, really curious if anyone with actual knowledge knows what they do with it or if anyone has ever failed the background check etc.

[ingoodkompany]

I wouldn't be worried. Have multiple misdemeanors myself and have never had an issue. With that said, my misdemeanors are for funny, harmless mischief-related things that just got blown out of proportion, so they are kind of endearing - quite different from assaulting someone. Would just be honest and not worry though.

Specifically agreed re: being honest. I'm a pretty significantly nontrad law student (failed out of a state school and community college before law school) and addressing it with interviewers candidly yielded strong OCI results (even more so compared to my more ordinary interviews). As long as the C&F isn't an issue, I would think law school credentials and professional track record should be more than enough to alleviate any concerns surrounding a 7 year old mistake.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Sorry for the bump but if anyone ever comes here searching for information like I was - I just want to say that I wound up getting through the background check and I’m the clear to start. Just wanted to offer a data point if anyone ever needs it.