Please Help--3.38/160s/charge/suspension Forum

[kmart5]

First post: I understand the full significance of disclosing all information regarding criminal background and educational dismissals on applications and sitting for the bar, however, I was hoping for any feedback given my current circumstances...

3.38 GPA w/ a degree in Hospitality Management, and taking the Oct LSAT (score will most likely be in the 160's given my extensive practice exams) I was suspended from the University I attended my freshman year. I received WD's first semester and returned the second semester with a 3.8. I was suspended because I punched the kid I walked in on sleeping with my girlfriend at the time. After transferring schools I was charged with a DUI my senior year that is about to be heard and will most likely be reduced to a wreck less driving or expunged due to the circumstances and evidence in the case. (for those of you who care I was speeding and refused a breathalyzer b/c I was under the impression the state I was in had a zero tolerance policy)

I'm a good person and have learned from my mistakes--I currently work as a paralegal at a prominent boutique firm in Manhattan and have great recommendations, community service record, etc.I would greatly appreciate brutal honesty and advice about my chances of admission to schools that my academic and LSAT credentials qualify me for but my personal record might hinder me from admission. Basically, how serious is my personal track record? Thanks.

[KibblesAndVick]

You need a real LSAT score before anyone can give you helpful information. The difference between a 3.38/160 and a 3.38/169 is very large. And that's assuming you'll score in the 160's like you think.

Being suspended and arrested aren't the end of the world or the end of your chances at law schools. Just man up and take responsibility for your actions in an addendum and explain how you've matured since. But all of this is moot until you actually take the LSAT.

[GettingReady2010]

The former charge should make an interesting addendum.

[kmart5]

The former charge should make an interesting addendum.

I'm open to suggestions. Do I need to explain exactly what happened?

[GettingReady2010]

The former charge should make an interesting addendum.

I'm open to suggestions. Do I need to explain exactly what happened?

I think it's going to a little bit harder than other addenda. I don't know whether or not you should say that you walked in on your roommate and your girlfriend. Though, I guess you could say something like "after coming home from blank, I found that my girlfriend and roommate had been engaged in an intimate relationship. I regrettably acted without thinking and struck my roommate with my fist. I am sincerely ashamed of my actions, and have done blank blank and blank to ensure that this incident is not repeated." Then you might mention how you are not a violent person and that this is an isolated incident. Don't turn this into a dissertation. State the fact and what you learned from it. If you went to anger management, mention it.

[MrKappus]

most likely be reduced to a wreck less driving

Your D.A. is crazy! I thought driving wreck-less was the goal.

[kmart5]

The former charge should make an interesting addendum.

I'm open to suggestions. Do I need to explain exactly what happened?

I think it's going to a little bit harder than other addenda. I don't know whether or not you should say that you walked in on your roommate and your girlfriend. Though, I guess you could say something like "after coming home from blank, I found that my girlfriend and roommate had been engaged in an intimate relationship. I regrettably acted without thinking and struck my roommate with my fist. I am sincerely ashamed of my actions, and have done blank blank and blank to ensure that this incident is not repeated." Then you might mention how you are not a violent person and that this is an isolated incident. Don't turn this into a dissertation. State the fact and what you learned from it. If you went to anger management, mention it.

No anger management as I am not even close to an angry person, however, it was an almost instantaneous and emotional response and it was within the first month of my college experience. Do I need to disclose the specifics of the suspension? Is this information just as important as the details of my DUI charge? Of course, this is all something that with enough thought I will hopefully find the right words to express my lesson, but I certainly appreciate the feedback and would love to hear what anyone has to say on the topic.

[CanadianWolf]

Were you suspended for throwing just one punch when you caught them in the act? Or did you continue to beat him/her ("the kid") ?
Admission to some law schools may be hindered because both acts are dangerous & one charge is recent.
Too early to guess as to how it may affect possible character & fitness evaluation for a bar exam. The best advice is that the longer you stay out of trouble, the more likely that these charges will be minimized in the eyes of the bar.
Consider hiring an experienced DUI/DWI attorney to represent you & maybe one of your concerns will be resolved favorably.

[bleu]

[bleu]

--ImageRemoved--

[clintonius]

Ok, so here's the thing: I don't know shit about the people who work in admissions, but if the world turned topsy-turvy and I became one, and I read that an applicant had knocked the teeth out of some guy who was sleeping with applicant's girlfriend after applicant walked in on the victim during the act, I think I'd go, "Well, what the fuck else would you do?" So I'd want to hear the facts and nothing else. I don't think that's the sort of thing that requires an anger management course (apparently, neither does the OP. Or the school that suspended him, for that matter).

+1 for getting a slick DUI attorney. You may have even done the right thing by refusing a breathalyzer. Did you consent to a blood test?

[kmart5]

It was one punch and there was no serious harm done, additionally, the police were not involved. He happened to be my teammate on the golf team as well. I also have a "slick" DUI attorney.

[djjf39]

OP, here is my take:

Suspension: lots of time has passed, own the issue in an addendum with bare-bones description, try not to sound bitter.

DUI: assuming you get it reduced, then I would strongly consider taking a DUI education class even if the court doesn't order it. Also you might try to get some volunteer time with MADD or some other organization to highlight that you didn't just pay your way out of it. Unless I misunderstood your post not much time will have passed between this issue and the time you apply, so you may get dinged at some surprising places just because of your history. Probably need a separate addendum for this issue as well, just try to keep it pithy, honest, and humble.

Admissions Cycle: Obviously, unless you have stellar softs, you will loose decisions where it is you versus someone with identical numbers and no outside issues. Character references might help to offset this scenario, but you will mostly be at the mercy of the Adcomm that gets your file first (hopefully they will not be someone with negative DD experience).

Overall, until you have an LSAT my opinion is just conjecture, but needless to say you would be much better off trying to drive your score up as high as possible.

Good luck

[GettingReady2010]

The former charge should make an interesting addendum.

I'm open to suggestions. Do I need to explain exactly what happened?

I think it's going to a little bit harder than other addenda. I don't know whether or not you should say that you walked in on your roommate and your girlfriend. Though, I guess you could say something like "after coming home from blank, I found that my girlfriend and roommate had been engaged in an intimate relationship. I regrettably acted without thinking and struck my roommate with my fist. I am sincerely ashamed of my actions, and have done blank blank and blank to ensure that this incident is not repeated." Then you might mention how you are not a violent person and that this is an isolated incident. Don't turn this into a dissertation. State the fact and what you learned from it. If you went to anger management, mention it.

No anger management as I am not even close to an angry person, however, it was an almost instantaneous and emotional response and it was within the first month of my college experience. Do I need to disclose the specifics of the suspension? Is this information just as important as the details of my DUI charge? Of course, this is all something that with enough thought I will hopefully find the right words to express my lesson, but I certainly appreciate the feedback and would love to hear what anyone has to say on the topic.

Specifics? I thought all that happened was that you were suspended for a period time. Just state how long the suspension was for. Is there anything else important about it?

it was an almost instantaneous and emotional response

See, you're already half way there with your explanation. Just keep it concise. It doesn't have to be Shakespeare like your PS does. There not trying figure out your writing style. They just want the facts.