Understanding Background Checks in Law School Admissions: What You Need to Know
When applying to law school, one of the key concerns that applicants often have is whether admission committees will perform a police check or Social Security Number (SSN) trace to verify their answers to criminal history questions on the application. In this article, we will explore the actual procedures and requirements during the law school admissions process and beyond.
Character and Fitness Requirements
Law schools generally have a character and fitness requirement, which is usually addressed through a questionnaire during the application process. However, whether you lie or not is ultimately your responsibility. Admission committees do not typically perform background checks to verify the information provided by applicants. Instead, they rely on truthful disclosures from applicants.
It's important to note that while law school admission committees may not perform these checks, most jurisdictions in the United States require a thorough background check before an individual is licensed to practice law. If issues are discovered during this background check, they will be reported to the university, which can result in the revocation of your diploma for academic fraud.
Even before the licensing process, many law school internships require background checks. Therefore, it is in your best interest not to lie on your application, as the potential consequences can be severe.
What Happens After Graduation?
After you complete your law school and pass the bar exam, you will have to go through a process called the Character and Fitness (CF) committee to be admitted to practice law. During this process, you will again be required to disclose your criminal history, and in many states, you may need to be fingerprinted. The fingerprints are sent to the FBI for confirmation about your criminal history.
The CF committee will also cross-check your disclosed information with your admissions documents. Any contradictions may lead to the forfeiture of your expensive legal education diploma, as your degree will be deemed unviable.
There have been cases where individuals with criminal convictions have successfully made it through the CF process. However, in these cases, they need to convincingly demonstrate that they have changed and will not pose a risk to their practice. A pattern of lying, on the other hand, is a significant red flag and will likely disqualify you from the CF.
For example, one individual who did not make it through the CF process had a history of filing for bankruptcy three times before the age of 30 and also faced multiple DUI charges. Would you trust such an individual to handle someone else's financial assets? Another individual who was involuntarily committed to a mental health facility due to verbal outbursts during debates also did not make it through. Such behavior is not something you'd want associated with you in a courtroom environment.
Conclusion
The answer to the question of whether law school admission committees perform police checks or SSN traces to verify criminal history is generally no. However, you should be aware of the extensive background checks that will be conducted by your state's bar association, as well as the thorough CF committee evaluation that will follow your admission.
It's crucial to be honest on your application and throughout the admissions process. Honesty is essential to maintaining the integrity of your legal education and future career. A pattern of dishonesty, even if there are no criminal convictions, can still result in disqualification from the CF process and render your law degree unviable.