WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR DENIAL OF A BAR APPLICANT?
A pattern of dishonesty in dealings with employers, schools, and authorities, including the Office of Bar Admissions is the most frequent reason for denial of bar applicants. Giving false information on the application or failing to be entirely forthcoming and completely candid in the application process is a serious error which will have negative consequences for an applicant. The failure to be fully responsive to application questions, or any other lack of candor in an application, involves sworn statements made to an agency of the Supreme Court itself; since such dishonesty is both current and ongoing, the applicant to whom it might be charged will have a difficult time showing that rehabilitation–which requires more than contrition–has occurred and will be sustained.
