If a person has a criminal record for drug charges THREE times, and now he’s getting straight A’s in college, can that person still become a lawyer?
Tags: Criminal Charges, Criminal Record, Drug Charges, Lawyer, Three Times
Can you become a lawyer with a criminal record of drug charges?
If a person has a criminal record for drug charges THREE times, and now he’s getting straight A’s in college, can that person still become a lawyer?
yes
It depends on a lot of factors;
1) He HAS to disclose it on his law school application and his bar exam application. If he tries to hide it he will never be a lawyer anywhere. He’ll also have to do an interview and explain the charges when he applies for his license.
2) The longer ago the charges were the more likely they will be more flexible on it.
3) The type of drug charges will be important too; possession of some marijuana, not so bad. Trafficking in cocaine, pretty bad.
Bottom line - he’ll have an uphill battle but its not impossible.
of course , most lawyers are on drugs , you will fit right in
It is up to the bar admission committee in the state where he applies. If the charges were all misdemeanors and as long as he keeps his record clean from now on, most states would be willing to admit him eventually. If there are any felony charges, fewer states will be willing. Texas will take applicants with almost any type of criminal record as long as it is more than five years old.
With the exception of Hank, most of the answers are correct. Some additional information - in addition to disclosure on his application to law school, his application for his license (whether it’s the state’s supreme court or a mandatory bar association) he’ll have to disclose it again plus he’ll have to get Affidavits of Good Moral Character, probably 2 of them. I’m admitted in two states and had to get them for both. Not only that, but the applications for bar want to know if you’ve EVER had any kind of contact with the law - traffic tickets included.
Unless these charges were a very long time ago, I wouldn’t be all that confident (unless he’s in Texas apparently) that he will even get into law school, let alone admitted to practice.