C&F Issues on Bar App Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I just found out a few issues on my bar application.

1) I had a legal internship position in college. Everything was okay with it (no red flags) except it was a paid internship (as is described on my law school application) but I have always mistakenly remembered it as unpaid. The bar application requires me to disclose only paid internship so I didn't disclose in my original application. I just found out about it while I was going through my law school app, so I asked my processors if I should amend my application. Their response is "at this point you don't have to amend your application."

2) I was offered and accepted a research assistantship for my law school professor. Even though I was put on the pay roll etc., not a single task was performed because of my heavy work load. I didn't do any work for this position and therefore didn't put it in my original application. I also emailed the processors and their response is the same as above: "as this point you don't have to amend your application for it."

I am panicking a little right now because my sloppiness appears to be a failure to fully disclose on my law school application. I don't really understand why the processors said at this point I don't have to bother amending my application for it. What does it exactly mean?

Any advice? Should I still amend my application?

Thank you!

[nixy]

If the processors for your application 1) know about these discrepancies because you’ve told them, and 2) told you that you don’t need to amend your application, why would you think that you should?

[Anonymous User]

I am trying to figure out when they say don’t bother, whether it’s because my initial non-disclosure has already raised a red flag or just because they don’t think it’s something serious. I am trying to see if I need to mentally prepare myself for something worse or i’m just scaring myself. I also feel the urge to amend it since it’s what the application form technically requires.

The processors’s latest response is “at this point your application is almost complete except one employment reference.” I still don’t understand what this entails and why it makes the update not necessary.

Thank you!

[blair.waldorf]

The latter means (I think) that one of your employers hasn't returned their email/phone call/whatever asking to verify your employment. The same thing happened to me because the email went to my employer's spam folder and she never saw it.

[GoldenPuppy]

I would save those responses in case you apply to another jurisdiction and include the omissions. To show that the previous bar was ultimately made aware of the omissions. I do wonder whether bars tattle to other states that "so-and-so forgot to report X in his application, maybe look into that..."

[Anonymous User]

What I’m confused with is why at this point in the process, they’re asking me to not bother amending and disclosing something that I should’ve disclosed as they require? To me that sounds like either a “you’re good to go anyway” or, more likely, “we need to scrutinize you anyway so don’t bother.” I do have something else on my application that could raise a c&f red flag but I have fully disclose every bit of detail of it.

[Anonymous User]

I would save those responses in case you apply to another jurisdiction and include the omissions. To show that the previous bar was ultimately made aware of the omissions. I do wonder whether bars tattle to other states that "so-and-so forgot to report X in his application, maybe look into that..."

Thanks! I decided to amend and update the information anyway since I will be applying in another jurisdiction later. I wouldn’t want to cause any more trouble so having it on records at least shows my candor?

[nixy]

I would save those responses in case you apply to another jurisdiction and include the omissions. To show that the previous bar was ultimately made aware of the omissions. I do wonder whether bars tattle to other states that "so-and-so forgot to report X in his application, maybe look into that..."

I mean, I don’t know why one state would bother to comment on an application to another state? I would imagine that the second state could request the application info from the first state and whatever had happened would be in that record already, but nobody has time to tattle, as you describe it.

[sleeplessindc]

I would save those responses in case you apply to another jurisdiction and include the omissions. To show that the previous bar was ultimately made aware of the omissions. I do wonder whether bars tattle to other states that "so-and-so forgot to report X in his application, maybe look into that..."

I was just about to make the same comment. Alternatively, OP, did your state's C&F processors tell you that you cannot/must not amend your C&F application? If there's no downside, I would probably amend the application (and include a formal addendum stating the processors' advice for the record) if I were in your shoes in case I ever wanted to get licensed in another state and frankly for peace of mind. (The C&F staffers already told you basically that you're not in trouble due to the discrepancy.)

To address another comment, I think the issue is less one state "tattling" to other states and more that a state might require an applicant to submit all prior licensing applications submitted to other states, in which case OP would have to explain the discrepancy. That may end up being no big deal, but it sounds like an awkward and anxiety-inducing situation to avoid/minimize if possible.

By the way, OP, I've read a lot of C&F horror stories and I don't think yours will be one. I think you'll be fine.