Top Law Schools

Many of the schools I'm applying to require you to disclose everything, some even traffic tickets, offenses as a minor, etc. So here is the full deal with approximate dates. I am gathering the exact dates for my addenda.

• Age 14 (15 Years Ago) Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon (Felony, 6 months deferred adjudication)
• Age 18 (11 Years Ago) Possession of <1g Marijuana (Arrest, Misdemeanor, 6 months deferred adjudication)
• Age 19 (10 Years Ago) Public Intoxication (Arrest, Misdemeanor, 6 months deferred adjudication)
• Age 19 (10 Years Ago) Assault (Arrest, Misdemeanor, Dismissed)
• Age 16-22 (13-7 Years Ago) Probably around 10 traffic tickets, some resulting in Failure to Appear, maybe like 3 failure to appear (Paid off Warrants from FTA, Rest were Deferred Adjudication)
• Age 22 (7 Years Ago) Possession of 4 oz to 5 lbs of Marijuana [1 lb to be specific] (Arrest, 2 Years Deferred Adjudication)
• Age 22 (7 Years Ago) Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm (Occured with other charge, Dismissed)
• Age 28 (10 Months Ago) Driving With a Suspended License (Conviction, Paid Fine, Was Due to Unpaid Surcharges I didn't know about that were dismissed due to indigence)

I'm pretty ashamed and saddened by this list. I now have a 4.0 and I'm about to graduate from undergrad and I am a single father with custody of my daughter. I have seen a lot of people say just disclose it and you should be fine, but those are always like, I was caught drinking or something minor like that. A lot of schools I'm applying to are conservative. I am a white male, but have still tried to make it clear I came from a lower socioeconomic background on my personal statement. Has anyone else had a similar record and made it into a T1? Personal or anecdotal stories welcome, or just any general thoughts. Thanks in advance.

• I have contacted the bar, a C&F attorney, and read the language in the C&F portion of my state's bar requirements. After 5 years of completing a felony sentence, I am eligible to be licensed, on January 23, 2017 it will have been 5 years since I completed my last probation. I am applying for Summer/Fall 2017.
• I have been getting federal loans throughout my undergrad.
• I can seal or expunge all of my deferred/dismissed charges, which is all of them except for one ticket. This wont help me on applications, however, because I have to disclose even sealed/expunged charges. Nor will it help me on the state bar C&F because sealed records are made available to certain state agencies. It will help me on my job search, though. I also plan on going solo after spending a couple of years in a small firm.

In regards to law schools in T14 you would not have to disclose expunged records to Harvard and Duke.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=235838


Unsure about bar c&f

I don't know him, but there was that guy a few years back that attended Yale after serving like 7 years in jail for trafficking drugs. Last I heard, he worked for a highly ranked NY law firm.

"What an amazing year to be part of the Class of 2014. In Seattle, Shon Hopwood graduated from the University of Washington School of Law. In Miami, Desmond Meade graduated from Florida International University College of Law. In New York, Marty Tankleff graduated from Touro Law Center. Their achievements help me put my own degree from Tulane University Law School in perspective. We collectively represent over 42 years in prison, in cages to be more accurate, and now hold certification that we “officially” understand the fundamentals of the American legal system."


From https://www.laprogressive.com/from-pris ... aw-school/

It's unfortunate that you have something less than a year ago, because without that, it's kind of a textbook redemption story. Fortunately, the most recent charge was something pretty minor and can be sort of explained.

Expunge what you can expunge, but you can't hide your record so you might as well embrace it as a story of redemption and learning. I think with a high LSAT and a well-written personal statement that incorporates your record instead of trying to pretend it never happened, you'd get plenty of bites from schools. You might underoerform your numbers or have an unpredictable cycle, but get that LSAT over 170 and I bet at least a couple of good schools will be interested. And make sure you don't add so much as a parking ticket to your record! If you any next winter, you'll have well over a year totally clear of even the piddly stuff.