They think I cheated on the LSAT!

September 28, 2009 1:28 PM

I got a Misconduct/Irregularities Verbal Warning Notice during my LSATs. Please help!

I took the LSATs for the second time on Saturday (the first time I took them I got a 168; I'm pretty sure I did significantly better this time. 172-174 range, probably). After I completed the fifth section of the test (and sat still for five hours!), they told us to turn our answer sheets over and sign the Certifying Statement if we had not already done so. I was daydreaming, and doodling on the table and failed to turn over my answer sheet. Apparently a proctor saw my pencil going and my answer sheet facing front up and assumed I was trying to work past time. They gave me a Misconduct/Irregularities Verbal Warning (violation III - working beyond time limits), despite my efforts to show them the doodles I had made on the desk.

I have read all of the literature about it, saying that my case will likely be recommended to the Subcommittee to evaluate. I am preparing a written statement explaining the situation (and the fact that I wasn't cheating and am just ADD and a daydreamer), but there seems to be a strong chance that the incident will show up on my permanent record, go out to all the law schools I'm applying to, and even affect the way my first score is received. Is that a realistic assumption?

What should I do? Has this happened to anyone else? What are the chances that this is going to completely ruin my chances of getting into a good school? I've been aiming for the top 10 law schools in the country, if that's important. What would you do?

posted by anonymous to law & government (6 comments total)

This may sound like a joke, but I would call a lawyer. Don't ask me for a referral, but I'm sure there are lawyers with experience representing students accused of misconduct and that's very similar to what this is.
posted by Xalf at 1:55 PM on September 28

I just googled academic misconduct lawyer and found some possibilities.
posted by Xalf at 1:58 PM on September 28

My cousin is an ADHD Lawyer and he's a damn good one, too. He's lucky in that his ADHD is easily treated by meds.

OP, do you have actual, diagnosed ADHD? And did you ask for accommodations for it for the LSAT? That might make some sort of difference.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:21 PM on September 28

[few comments removed - don't be jerks, thanks]
posted by jessamyn at 2:36 PM on September 28

I think you should contact the administering body (LSAC or whatever it's called) to find out exactly what the repercussions are. There is no use stressing over it until you know for certain, and there is no reason why they wouldn't be able to tell you that by phone.

If the worst-case scenario is true (that this information will be provided to the schools you apply for), perhaps you could address the situation in your application materials? I have a friend who, in her law school application, let the admissions committee know that her programme had a different grading scale than usual, and that this should be considered when calculating her GPA for admissions purposes. They did consider it, and she was accepted. I don't see why you couldn't explain your situation similarly. Sure, it may still have an effect...but this is all assuming it even gets that far, which you don't know yet!
posted by Pomo at 3:01 PM on September 28

Why not ask a law school admissions officer anonymously? Call up, say you're Joe Schmoe and you have a serious question.
posted by anniecat at 4:07 PM on September 28