Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

Misdemeanors and law school, law practice

First off, you need to read your law school applications very carefully. Some might ask for all convictions, some might ask for just felonies, some might ask for arrests. BE ABSOLUTELY HONEST IN YOUR REPLIES!!! Lying on a law school application can be a ground to get your kicked out of law school or not allowed to sit for a bar exam or practice.

In my experience, the bar exam applications are much more rigorous than the law school applications. (I've applied to probably 10 law schools in my life and been admitted in two jurisdictions to practice law.) Further, most state bars will conduct a background check of applicants. For example, the SD bar application asked me about ALL convictions, including traffic violations. AGAIN, BE ABSOLUTELY HONEST IN THESE APPLICATIONS! If indeed you have been "rehabilitated," a letter or letters from court services, employers, teachers, or others who know you well (but not your mom or your minister or rabbi!) explaining the turnabout in your life can be helpful. Also, a letter from you or an explanation in the application about your new ways will probably be required.Further, I would not put any stock in the fact that if your convictions are in State A that it won't matter in State B. It will. In addition, with the computerization of records, states have easy access to another state's records.I am not aware of any attorneys that practice in this area. That's not to say they aren't there, I just don't know of any.While the public's perception of the legal field is often that we are all a bunch of scalawags, state bar organizations want to insure that their members meet high ethical standards.Good luck in your quest.