How does a criminal record affect admission decisions?
This depends on the severity, frequency, and date of the offenses. Minor offenses (such as a speeding ticket or a fine for underage consumption of alcohol) generally do not have a negative impact on the Admissions Committees decision regarding an applicants file, especially if such an offense is an isolated incident, and/or happened a long time prior to the application date. Severe offenses, such as felonies or major misdemeanors, as well as frequent transgressions, often do have a negative impact on admissions decisions. The most important thing to consider when completing the Bar Exam Clearance Requirement section of the application (which asks about criminal offenses, among other things) is to be completely honest in answering all of these questions, because if there is a discrepancy between your law school application and your state bar application, you may not be able to take the bar exam, which means that you may not be able to practice law. For more information on background pro
