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No, I haven't done anything patently illegal (although I'm sure there are many posters who would be shocked by this haha), but I was browsing the C&F test through the Illinois Bar website, and I started freaking out a bit.

I have horrendous credit...horrendous. I made a lot of stupid mistakes during UG, ran up credit cards, and at one point, when I lost my job (yay economy), I just stopped paying some of my bills (focused on, ya know, paying rent and keeping the lights on, which was most important). I'm in a better place now financially, thankfully, but I'm still trying to clean up the hot mess my credit has become.

Thankfully, GradPlus wasn't an issue, as I have a co-signer. But looking at the C&F test, they ask all sorts of questions about going into default on anything in your lifetime. I really thought that college loans were the only things they look at (which I have never gone into default on), but apparently, it's anything. Is this going to be a cause for them to deny me admittance to the bar? I don't want to spend 3 years in law school, accruing debt but doing (hopefully) well enough to get a job after graduation, and pass the bar exam, only to find out I won't be admitted to the bar regardless because of financial issues in my past.

(FTR, I don't need a lecture on finance, I've heard it enough. Just would like to know how these past issues will affect me down the road with regards to C&F only, thanks.)

I'm not sure TLS can give you a reliable answer, I think the best bet would be to consult an attorney in your state.

kaydish21 wrote:I'm not sure TLS can give you a reliable answer, I think the best bet would be to consult an attorney in your state.

Agreed. But I can't imagine you're even close to the only person with terrible credit. Just stay on the right track and pay your bills from now on and by the time C&F comes around you should be okay. Just my thoughts though.

I don't think you'll find many people on this board that can give you a good answer. However, some states (like MO), will let you apply for an early C&F determination before the end of your 1L year. Check into that for your state... that way you'll know sooner rather than later.

I applied for it, and the process was very detailed... they did pull a credit report. That said, I've always heard that as long as you're honest with them, most things won't be an issue (meaning anything outside of felonies).

Also, I know you can call the Board of Law Examiners and talk to them about potential C&F issues. I don't know if they'll ask for your name or not, but I'd give them a call.

hellokitty wrote:

kaydish21 wrote:I'm not sure TLS can give you a reliable answer, I think the best bet would be to consult an attorney in your state.

Agreed. But I can't imagine you're even close to the only person with terrible credit. Just stay on the right track and pay your bills from now on and by the time C&F comes around you should be okay. Just my thoughts though.

That's what I was thinking/hoping, but I'm nervous as hell to find out.

AntiScalia, that's a great idea. I think I'm going to look into that.

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.

JD_Bound wrote: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.

theantiscalia wrote:

JD_Bound wrote: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 screeing 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.

This is what I was thinking as well. Not going into any corporate/tax/financial law field.

You're screwed for going to a TTT, not for any credit issues, although doing the former isn't going to help the latter much either.

MTal wrote:You're screwed for going to a TTT, not for any credit issues, although doing the former isn't going to help the latter much either.

Oh, STFU MTal...I KNEW you'd come and comment, trollie. Go back to business school or whatever it is you do?! LOL

Obviously, none of us can say; you need legal advice to know how such things are handled. But, I would think about it thus: losing your job and being unable to pay bills doesn't show moral defect (if it did, why would bankruptcy be legal?). Reckless use of credit might, if you borrowed money which you couldn't reasonably expect to pay back; but that's a little different. Similarly, if you still owe a ton of money, there may be concern that the debt would make you susceptible to temptations to do wrong, and that might cause both C&F problems and employment problems.

Start immediately living in a way that shows how responsible you are, and I think you'll be ok.

I've been slightly worried about this, as well, and was thinking about contacting the bar association.

Holly Golightly wrote:I've been slightly worried about this, as well, and was thinking about contacting the bar association.

In most (all?) states, the "bar association" is not the same as the state bar. If you call the bar association, they are likely to tell you that you need to contact an attorney, but whatever judicial entity is responsible for bar admissions might shed some light.

Renzo wrote:

Holly Golightly wrote:I've been slightly worried about this, as well, and was thinking about contacting the bar association.

In most (all?) states, the "bar association" is not the same as the state bar. If you call the bar association, they are likely to tell you that you need to contact an attorney, but whatever judicial entity is responsible for bar admissions might shed some light.

That's what I meant. I need caffeine.

New topic, if I pee in my departments microwave as vengeance for them smelling my office with their rancid prole food, will it bite me in the ass at C&F.

Desert Fox wrote:New topic, if I pee in my departments microwave as vengeance for them smelling my office with their rancid prole food, will it bite me in the ass at C&F.

Pics or GTFO

Desert Fox wrote:New topic, if I pee in my departments microwave as vengeance for them smelling my office with their rancid prole food, will it bite me in the ass at C&F.

It would be epic. You must document this.

C&F wants to know EVERYTHING. Just because you have some bad stuff doesn't mean you won't be allowed to sit for the bar. You have to be really really bad to not sit for most bars. So you should be fine. Still, if you are concerned, just ask them.

chicagolaw2013 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:New topic, if I pee in my departments microwave as vengeance for them smelling my office with their rancid prole food, will it bite me in the ass at C&F.

It would be epic. You must document this.

I don't know why, but the phrase "rancid prole food" made be laugh out loud.

And I pretty much think you can do anything except commit a felony and you'll be fine... as long as you disclose.

chicagolaw2013 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:New topic, if I pee in my departments microwave as vengeance for them smelling my office with their rancid prole food, will it bite me in the ass at C&F.

It would be epic. You must document this.

qf wanting df cock shots

I was an idiot about paying bills on time in college and as a result am still improving my credit score as well. Don't worry about it, just make sure that from now through the end of 3L you pay all of your bills on time and your score will steadily tick up and up. I have an impossibly difficult time imagining you won't be admitted to practice law because you blew off the Comcast bill for a few months when you were 20.

chicagolaw2013 wrote:

MTal wrote:You're screwed for going to a TTT, not for any credit issues, although doing the former isn't going to help the latter much either.

Oh, STFU MTal...I KNEW you'd come and comment, trollie. Go back to business school or whatever it is you do?! LOL

I'm no longer in school dude, I'm a stockbroker. I actually EARN money as opposed to wasting it on a piece of sheepskin.

MTal wrote:

chicagolaw2013 wrote:

MTal wrote:You're screwed for going to a TTT, not for any credit issues, although doing the former isn't going to help the latter much either.

Oh, STFU MTal...I KNEW you'd come and comment, trollie. Go back to business school or whatever it is you do?! LOL

I'm no longer in school dude, I'm a stockbroker. I actually EARN money as opposed to wasting it on a piece of sheepskin.

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA God I love this guy. Go ahead and brag about your series 7 and 63 certifications again, I KNOWWWW you're dying to... I LOVE THIS TROLL!

theantiscalia wrote:

JD_Bound wrote: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.

I don't like being one of those "Well, actually..." folks, but as someone with 6 years of post-grad HR experience, I want to weigh in on this, as I dealt with many of these issues. While yes, many of the positions requiring credit checks are related to the financial dealings of a particular company, that is simply a correlation. In truth, most companies require credit checks for any position that receives exposure to confidential or sensitive information. For some companies, this can extend all the way to administrative support staff, but for virtually ALL companies, this includes attorneys. If any flags are raised, the check will usually go to a hiring manager, who has a series of checklists to determine whether the person should be hired or not. That checklist also varies from company to company.

I can't speak to C&F (although my gut says that you should be fine if you disclose it in your application), but the real issue is with your hiring organization. I'd recommend working with your creditors to address any issues in your report.

Working out all the numbers, I should have everything paid off (and hopefully most negative reports removed...I plan on negotiating that with every creditor as I pay them off...has worked with a few so far) by the end of 2L. So the actual credit report that employers would see if they requested one from Experian/Equifax/Transunion should look super as of, let's say, mid-2012. My main issue is the C&F thing...I mean, I will disclose and be honest...I just don't want shit that happened in my past, and that I've made every effort to rectify, to come biting me in the ass just for being honest, as it would no longer show in great part on my credit report anymore. That would suck.