CA Bar Moral Character and Fitness Concern (prior concern with fake ID and possession) Forum

[ledv]

Thank you for your help!

[Jimmyg08]

Less is more. The state bar will likely ask you questions regardless of how much information you give them. Be honest and claim responsibility for your actions and state that since then you have lived an honest life free from unlawful acts.

Peer pressure is never an good excuse for your actions and not using ecstasy does not matter.

I have several run ins with the law and substance abuse in my past. It took eleven months to pass the moral character it was a nervous time but be honest and don't hide anything and you will be fine.

I suggest brief succinct answers - that is what a ethics attorney in SF instructed me to do when I had to amend my application.

Good luck

[AspiringCALawyer]

I agree that your explanations should be more succinct, cutting out any unnecessary information. For example, state what the incident was, the outcome and your lesson.

Incident 1: I was confused about your participation in the drug program for getting a citation for having a fake ID. Did the school report mention something about drugs? It looks like you had two drug related incidences within a short period of time and a citation for dishonesty/forgery.

If possible, perhaps you can consult with someone who is familiar with this process to get advice on the best way to present these incidences, especially since six years doesn't seem that long ago from my layperson's perspective.

I had a former co-worker who was trying to get admitted into PA and his moral character and fitness application was delayed (requiring additional references) for excessive parking tickets. He would purposely park in no parking area near his law school.

During my interview in NY (part of the admission process), I had sued a former landlord for return of my security deposit after my sister and I moved out of her apartment without giving 30 days notice because in the middle of November we were without heat/lights (couldn't see the mice) because she was too broke to pay the ConEd bill (constructive eviction). I almost fell off my chair when the interviewer started to ask about seeing a copy of the paperwork. The lawsuit was from 18 years earlier. I couldn't imagine where I would've stared in trying to locate that paperwork from some court in Brooklyn. Fortunately, she let it pass and I was admitted.

Good luck to you. I took February 2016 exam and am working through my application (my landlord lawsuit is now 34 years ago, so I'm hoping it won't be an issue).

[Tls2016]

No no no.
This is way too long.
Get an expert to help you.

Leave out all the crap explaining how you didn't smoke weed or take ecstasy. Or that you only noticed your friends had weed when you got there but that the cop smelled the weed from farther away. Or why your eyes were bloodshot. Or why you flashed your lights.
You sound like you are creating elaborate excuses.The more I read, the less I believed you. You just drive around with ecstasy in your car that you bought at a concert but never intended to take? Who is going to believe that even if it's true.

Just say what you were cited for and what your sentance was. I don't know if California requires you to say what you have learned but blaming it all on being young and peer pressure is not good.

[BrokenMouse]

+1 to Less is more.

You don't need to give them a step by step play analysis. Tell them in 1 sentence what you did, what you were convicted for, and how you have reformed.

[rpupkin]

No no no.
This is way too long.
Get an expert to help you.

Agreed. OP, I'm going to be blunt: you're a poor writer. Although the C&F examiners are not supposed to care about competency, I think a C&F applicant hurts his cause when he can't write clean sentences. Make sure someone edits your final statement.

[mori2015]

No no no.
This is way too long.
Get an expert to help you.

Agreed. OP, I'm going to be blunt: you're a poor writer. Although the C&F examiners are not supposed to care about competency, I think a C&F applicant hurts his cause when he can't write clean sentences. Make sure someone edits your final statement.

+1 on this. Make sure it is proofread or it will reflect poorly on you. Also, I have to mention that the past tense of the word "smell" is "smelled," not "smelt." I believe smelting is the process of removing precious minerals from ore.

[Chairman021]

I agree with others. Less is more. You have provided way TOO MUCH information. Be direct and succinct - admit your mistake and show personal growth and stability.

Years ago, I struggled with addiction and had one arrest. I submitted supplementary forms to show that I am in active recovery and diligent with my sobriety. I kept my documentation short and concise and only provided what they asked. My explanation was two paragraphs (about 10 lines)

Additionally, the bar exam will test your writing ability to an extent - don't give Calbar an excuse to prevent your admission outside the exam based on writing related to your moral character application.

Keep it short and sweet and you will be fine.

[KTnKT]

My reaction: you're either extremely unlucky or lying and very lucky.

Stick to the facts: I was cited on ___ day for ___ reason. ____ was the outcome. No issues since.

I was fine with mentioning your age... looks like you just had a crap decision year instead of couple of years.

Good luck!

[caveman2]

Agree with everything said above. About the sixth time you mentioned you were "immature" before but have "matured" since I couldn't help rolling my eyes. You are laying it on way too thick, and not well.

[zot1]

I would definitely seek professional advice even prior to submitting your application. I don't really mind the drug charge (yes, the bar will care), but the false document is problematic (even though it is a common offense). The more I read your narrative, the more it seemed like you were lying about what actually happened and that you were trying to downplay your level of guilt.

I have a friend who had moral character issues in CA. They held her license for over a year and there wasn't much movement on her case until she hired an attorney to handle her case.

It sucks, I know, but if you get a job, your employer might not like it if you don't get barred when you're supposed to.