C&F - Am I screwed? Forum

[Jessep]

I'd be shocked if this is an issue. I know people with prior felonies that were able to sit for the bar, never mind people with bad credit. After 1L I knew many people with around $10k in debt from credit cards.

As an educated guess, I believe the bar is more concerned with someone who has a consistent, recent history of not paying bills/loans. When you borrow money, you promise to pay it back. If you regularly do not pay back creditors, the original promise basically equates to a lie. The bar is worried about people who has a propensity to lie or defraud. It is different if your back is up against the wall, and you overextend yourself as a college student so long as you begin to pay back the creditors. Keep a solid repayment history through law school and you should be fine.

Check with your state if you are really that nervous, but again I'd be shocked. I know plenty of people with skeletons in their closet that passed C&F.

[underdawg]

my law firm did run a credit check on me tho for an SA position. or at least informed me they would but never did. just fyi

[20160810]

my law firm did run a credit check on me tho for an SA position. or at least informed me they would but never did. just fyi

I've never heard of this happening. Why would it matter to them if you had bad credit?

[03121202698008]

I do not think your poor credit history will prevent you from sitting for the bar; however, it could prove to be problematic when you graduate from LS and start seeking employment. Best of luck to you.

I thought employers were only concerned with this when the employee was in a cash handling or financial position. I've interviewed dozens of HR directors at every level of the economy... from local governments to Fortune 500 companies... and a credit check as part of an employment screening is rare for most positions. (Once again, except for cash handling and financial positions, for which it is the norm.) I don't know about attorney positions though.

Hope that helps.

Uh, you do realize lawyers handle clients money in an escrow account right? Business deals, court settlements, real estate closings, etc...the attorney could be holding hundreds of thousands of dollars in client/bank money. Even for minor things you'd be holding retainers.

Also, I don't know what you're planning on doing but don't count on any government positions requiring a security clearance. OPM very much cares about prior credit when dealing with clearances. When I was a security manager I had people denied clearances at 35 for bounced checks or missed payments when they were 18. I know the DA's office in my hometown checks credit as well.

That being said, I doubt it prevents you from admitting to the bar as long as you make all debts good quickly and don't go delinquent on anything else. Definitely disclose though. I'd probably talk to an attorney that specializes in this in your state though.

[underdawg]

my law firm did run a credit check on me tho for an SA position. or at least informed me they would but never did. just fyi

I've never heard of this happening. Why would it matter to them if you had bad credit?

well now you heard of it happening. for all i know, it happens often, just no one figures to mention it. this was the first time i've ever felt the need to mention it to anyone.

[d34d9823]

my law firm did run a credit check on me tho for an SA position. or at least informed me they would but never did. just fyi

I've never heard of this happening. Why would it matter to them if you had bad credit?

I've heard of companies doing this for new hires as well. Maybe they think there's a correlation between credit and trustworthiness?

[03121202698008]

my law firm did run a credit check on me tho for an SA position. or at least informed me they would but never did. just fyi

I've never heard of this happening. Why would it matter to them if you had bad credit?

I've heard of companies doing this for new hires as well. Maybe they think there's a correlation between credit and trustworthiness?

That's the governments theory for why they do it for security clearances. People who need money are more susceptible to corporate/government espionage. Those with a history of mismanaging their money are likely to do so again.

[worldtraveler]

my law firm did run a credit check on me tho for an SA position. or at least informed me they would but never did. just fyi

I've never heard of this happening. Why would it matter to them if you had bad credit?

I've heard of companies doing this for new hires as well. Maybe they think there's a correlation between credit and trustworthiness?

I've had my credit checked for positions that had nothing to do with handling cash. Some people see it as a responsibility thing and view a low credit score as a sign of disorganization and lack of ability to handle responsibility or respect deadlines. Considering how weird the credit rating system is, I'm not sure that's accurate but it can impede your ability to get a job.

[chicagolaw2013]

It sucks that I'll be judged for a) me being a naive college student, and b) me getting laid off with about 10 other folks due to the economy. Any reasonable person would pay the essentials and tell, say, Discover to go shove it up their ass. So so sad.

[03121202698008]

It sucks that I'll be judged for a) me being a naive college student, and b) me getting laid off with about 10 other folks due to the economy. Any reasonable person would pay the essentials and tell, say, Discover to go shove it up their ass. So so sad.

I think the problem is...what if times are tough as a lawyer. Are you going to dip into your client's retainer or settlement money? I still don't see this being a huge issue...maybe something you have to explain. I do think credit history is relevant though.

[chicagolaw2013]

It sucks that I'll be judged for a) me being a naive college student, and b) me getting laid off with about 10 other folks due to the economy. Any reasonable person would pay the essentials and tell, say, Discover to go shove it up their ass. So so sad.

I think the problem is...what if times are tough as a lawyer. Are you going to dip into your client's retainer or settlement money? I still don't see this being a huge issue...maybe something you have to explain. I do think credit history is relevant though.

I'm still wasted so bear with me LOL...all I'm saying is that it would suck if I was judged solely on the fact that I was a naive UG student, and that I paid my bills up until the time I got laid off. Is C&F going to hold the "economy", if you will, against me?

[03121202698008]

It sucks that I'll be judged for a) me being a naive college student, and b) me getting laid off with about 10 other folks due to the economy. Any reasonable person would pay the essentials and tell, say, Discover to go shove it up their ass. So so sad.

I think the problem is...what if times are tough as a lawyer. Are you going to dip into your client's retainer or settlement money? I still don't see this being a huge issue...maybe something you have to explain. I do think credit history is relevant though.

I'm still wasted so bear with me LOL...all I'm saying is that it would suck if I was judged solely on the fact that I was a naive UG student, and that I paid my bills up until the time I got laid off. Is C&F going to hold the "economy", if you will, against me?

Like I said, I doubt it. I'd make sure my credit was squeaky clean throughout LS and be able to explain all of my spending that I missed payments on. (e.g. I was buying groceries not a new tv.)

[chicagolaw2013]

The missed payments were while I was laid off??

[03121202698008]

The missed payments were while I was laid off??

Are you asking me? My point is, if you couldn't pay your bills were you still wasting money on stuff you couldn't afford? Did you cancel your cable? If you kept spending knowing you couldn't pay...that's tantamount to fraud.

[MTal]

It sucks that I'll be judged for a) me being a naive college student, and b) me getting laid off with about 10 other folks due to the economy. Any reasonable person would pay the essentials and tell, say, Discover to go shove it up their ass. So so sad.

Oh laaaaaaaaaaawwwwwd....I been VIKTIMIZID!!

I coulda been a contenda!!

Woe is me!!

Edit: Will put money down on his blaming the law schools for his plight when he graduates with 6 figures in debt from his TTT with no job.

[chicagolaw2013]

It sucks that I'll be judged for a) me being a naive college student, and b) me getting laid off with about 10 other folks due to the economy. Any reasonable person would pay the essentials and tell, say, Discover to go shove it up their ass. So so sad.

Oh laaaaaaaaaaawwwwwd....I been VIKTIMIZID!!

I coulda been a contenda!!

Woe is me!!

Edit: Will put money down on his blaming the law schools for his plight when he graduates with 6 figures in debt from his TTT with no job.

I just have to laugh at this. This is why he doesn't get laid. I'm a woman, MTal. You know this.