AboutSally A. Kane Expertise As a recent law school graduate who excelled in law school, I can answer questions regarding the law school experience including preparing for and applying to law school, excelling in law school, law review, legal writing tips, the law school curriculum, exam success, financing law school, balancing work and school, clerkships and externships, job interviewing and more. I do not answer homework questions.
Experience I have thirteen years’ experience in the legal field, ten as a litigation paralegal and three as a corporate attorney. During law school, I juggled many priorities including a full time job, law school and a newborn baby. In law school I served as a law review editor, wrote for student publications and completed two externships, one with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and one with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Publications I have published law and career related articles in a variety of publications including Legal Assistant Today, The Legal Intelligencer, Juris and The Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting.
Education/Credentials I possess a B.A. in Writing from Edinboro University, a Paralegal Certificate from Duquesne University and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law.
Expert: Sally A. Kane Date: 4/8/2008 Subject: Character and Fitness
Question I want to go to law school but I have numerous traffic tickets, all over five years old. I filed chapter seven bankruptcy about seven years ago. And I was charged with a felony count of hot check violation but the charges were dropped about five years ago. Is there any chance I can get a law license with a record like this?
Answer Hi Adam,
One of the prerequisites for the practice of law is good character and fitness. Examiners look for qualities such as honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, reliability and strong morals. Minor traffic violations will not affect your character and fitness evaluation. In some states, a felony conviction will prohibit admission to the bar but since you were not convicted, it should not present a problem.
A declaration of bankruptcy is not necessarily grounds for denial of admission. The committee will usually examine the facts and circumstances surrounding a bankruptcy. Making false statements, admissions or acts involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in connection with the filing of bankruptcy may be grounds for denial of admission.
