Do I mention a non-serious employment incident on my law school character & fitness section?
September 1, 2008 7:45 PM Subscribe
Character & Fitness section on law school apps, what needs to be mentioned?
I'm currently working on my first law school app. I got to the character & fitness section that they submit to bar examiners and am a bit unsure of what to do. They ask if you have ever been "disciplined by an employer." I'm not sure if they want info on any minor infractions, or just if you were stealing, harassing someone, etc.
A few years ago I got in trouble for being late repeatedly, in that my boss assumed it meant I was wanting to quit, and my manager told me I could basically beg my boss for my job or quit, so I quit. I had been late a lot because I kept sleeping through my alarms despite my best efforts to be on time, probably because I'd been sick on-and-off for a month (and was also going to school full-time). It was sort of a misunderstanding because my old manager didn't care what time I came in, and the new one was telling my boss every time I was "late" (without my knowledge). If I do need to put it, how much do I need to explain about this? I would just check "no" to the question, but I'm afraid if they contact my old boss, he'll say I was quasi-fired and it will appear that I'm lying. It was really no big deal, but now I don't want it to hurt me applying to law school, or when I take the bar one day.
Just as extra info-- I'm applying to law schools in multiple states, but the one I'm working on first is for a school in Ohio. So, I don't know if schools in other states word things the same on their apps or not.
I'm currently working on my first law school app. I got to the character & fitness section that they submit to bar examiners and am a bit unsure of what to do. They ask if you have ever been "disciplined by an employer." I'm not sure if they want info on any minor infractions, or just if you were stealing, harassing someone, etc.
A few years ago I got in trouble for being late repeatedly, in that my boss assumed it meant I was wanting to quit, and my manager told me I could basically beg my boss for my job or quit, so I quit. I had been late a lot because I kept sleeping through my alarms despite my best efforts to be on time, probably because I'd been sick on-and-off for a month (and was also going to school full-time). It was sort of a misunderstanding because my old manager didn't care what time I came in, and the new one was telling my boss every time I was "late" (without my knowledge). If I do need to put it, how much do I need to explain about this? I would just check "no" to the question, but I'm afraid if they contact my old boss, he'll say I was quasi-fired and it will appear that I'm lying. It was really no big deal, but now I don't want it to hurt me applying to law school, or when I take the bar one day.
Just as extra info-- I'm applying to law schools in multiple states, but the one I'm working on first is for a school in Ohio. So, I don't know if schools in other states word things the same on their apps or not.
They want you to include everything. Except for obvious, big red light flashing problems they really don't care very much what you've done if you can explain that it's in the past. In fact the Character & fitness section is much more a test of honesty than anything else.
posted by JakeLL at 8:13 PM on September 1, 2008
posted by JakeLL at 8:13 PM on September 1, 2008
doesn't hurt you to put it on there, but if it was me I wouldn't
posted by lockestockbarrel at 8:27 PM on September 1, 2008
posted by lockestockbarrel at 8:27 PM on September 1, 2008
It doesn't hurt to put it on there. If you don't, and they find out, it will hurt a lot.
They want everything. Give them everything.
posted by toomuchpete at 10:15 PM on September 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
They want everything. Give them everything.
posted by toomuchpete at 10:15 PM on September 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
doesn't hurt you to put it on there, but if it was me I wouldn't
lockestockbarrel, I see you identify as a "pre-lawyer." If you ever want to be a lawyer, I suggest you reconsider your view on this issue. You can pass a C&F review with a lot of baggage, but failing to report one seemingly minor item can cause a lot of grief. (See here for just some examples).
anon, report it. It'll never hurt your chances of being admitted to law school or passing the bar, but failing to report it might.
posted by pardonyou? at 7:38 AM on September 2, 2008
lockestockbarrel, I see you identify as a "pre-lawyer." If you ever want to be a lawyer, I suggest you reconsider your view on this issue. You can pass a C&F review with a lot of baggage, but failing to report one seemingly minor item can cause a lot of grief. (See here for just some examples).
anon, report it. It'll never hurt your chances of being admitted to law school or passing the bar, but failing to report it might.
posted by pardonyou? at 7:38 AM on September 2, 2008
Put it in there. If nothing else, you will have to report everything on the bar application and you want everything to match. It is totally minor and people with much worse have been accepted to law school and the bar, but you really don't want to lie. At all.
posted by Pax at 7:45 AM on September 2, 2008
posted by Pax at 7:45 AM on September 2, 2008
One of my closest friends misinterpreted a question on an app for a top tier law school, and accidentally said that he had been "expelled, suspended or put on academic probation". It didn't hurt him at all. He got in just fine (though he was a truly outstanding candidate).
posted by NormandyJack at 8:14 AM on September 2, 2008
posted by NormandyJack at 8:14 AM on September 2, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by norabarnacl3 at 8:09 PM on September 1, 2008