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danthemann8989959

Joined: Apr 2025
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Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Sunday, Oct 16 2016

***1000 characters.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Sunday, Oct 16 2016

@.rizeq unfortunately there's some schools that don't give an option to write an addendum unless it's for GPA/LSAT purposes. What do you say regarding that?

Yes, some of the schools I'm applying to won't let me attach an addendum. I have like 100 characters to explain everything. For me, that will not be enough to explain my criminal background.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ Me too! Thank you so much for the kind words.

This 7sage community is way better than TLS. TLS seems likes a bunch of trolly trolls, lol.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@.rizeq but seriously stop talking down on yourself!

Thanks! I know I should be more positive. The past week has been super rough so I have been a super downer. Now that it's Saturday I'm in a little bit better mood. I'm getting my fingerprints taken later today and will get a complete history of my criminal background, including juvenile.

BTW, for anyone else who needs to do this, you can get a full background check through the FBI or through your states department of public safety. The FBI one takes 12-14 weeks to process, so I''m taking the latter option. If the print out gives exact dates, I should be good to go (I would think that this would be an accurate record of all dispositions?).

If anyone else needs to have similar records procured and has 12-14 weeks to spare, go here:

https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

If you want to go through a state agency, you will have to find the appropriate state website.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@.rizeq Yeah....this is tough because you do want the record to show that you are a since changed and matured individual. I don't understand why you wouldn't be given an opportunity to explain yourself. Is there no place at all for any addendum

Some applications do not allow a formal C&F essay and make you explain everything in 1000 characters or less. I think it really depends on the state you are in, and the school.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

GOOD NEWS!! I found out that my top school choice has the following C&F statement on their application:

Have you ever been convicted of a crime or adjudicated delinquent, or are there any criminal charges pending against you?

(You need not report either juvenile matters for which records have been sealed or minor traffic violations.)

This makes me look like only kind of a fuck up, not a complete fuck up. Hooray!

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ If you were a minor and have a record of seeking therapy/counseling I think that will work in your favor as well!

I don't personally have the records and I know the shrink I used to see is retired. Would this make or break my application?

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ Wow thanks for the thorough feedback! Some of the criminal charges were when I was a minor, the record has been sealed but I know that an FBI background check will bring them up. I did seek therapy/counseling as an adolescent. But some of the later charges were after that point in time.

@ Absolutely get copies of certified dispositions and keep them in a file.

So would that be the same as getting a background check through the FBI? How in the hell do I get dispositions?

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

OK, so two of the offenses were driving 1-10 miles an hour over the speed limit, one was "SPEEDING OVER THE REGULATED OR POSTED SPEED LIMIT," one was following too closely, one was for negligent driving/imprudent or full attention, and one was fly rose at stop sign.

How would I even address this? Do I address all of the individually or can I explain them all together? To be honest, I don't even remember what happened during the "following too closely" charge.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

Damn... I'm so surprised to hear that the traffic violations will be the main concern. I would have thought those would be minute compared to the possession of marijuana.

Well thanks guys, @ you did not come off too aggressive and I appreciate the candid feedback.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ nooooo sorry i'm just giving you my opinion!

I don't mean to be so overly sensitive, I just have put so much effort into my future in law school. Once I found out about the background stuff I nearly passed out. It sounds like I really need to make my case to the admissions officers.

Talk about Karma!

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ Scratch that, it was 7. I just looked up my record on my state's dmv website. Had one in 2009, three in 2010, two in 2012, and one in 2013. Will they really see a poor pattern from this? I feel like a majority of the population has a worse driving record than I do.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

BTW, thank you all for your support. I feel like I should owe you money for this therapy.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ Wow, I figured the traffic violations would be the least of their concerns. In my 11 years of driving, I want to say I've gotten somewhere in the realm of 8 traffic violations altogether. None of them serious, most driving 10-15 over the speed limit, I think there were a few "failure to come to a complete stops" in the mix. Wow...Traffic violations? They judge you based on something like that? OMG I'm going to have a stroke by the time I submit my application.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@.rizeq Well hit up the schools you're applying to and ask them directly if they would need this info.

I will do that. Gosh, I'm so embarrassed.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

Oh my god... Even being suspended in high school?! Well... I have a lot more to add my list. I practically lived in detention in high school.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@ Well, I'm glad to hear that I am not fucked. I've been scouring message boards to try and see if there is anyone else with criminal background like mine but I can't seem to find anyone. This literally gave me the hugest rude awakening. I found out last week, and since then, I have been freaking out. I haven't been sleeping or eating.

Admissions · Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

danthemann8989959

Saturday, Oct 15 2016

@.rizeq Thank you for the feedback! Yes, I plan on writing the best addendum anyone has ever seen. So are there other people who have applied to law schools with a criminal background similar to mine? Were they accepted?

Admissions

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Saturday, Oct 15 2016

danthemann8989959

Hi all... Need some advice in regards to criminal background.

I'm new to 7sage, but not to LSAT and the admissions process. I'm getting ready to apply for the fall 2017 cycle and I recently learned of something that could possibly ruin my apps... my criminal history. I was unaware, until now, that you MUST disclose your criminal background when applying.

My GPA is above the median for my target school and so is my LSAT score. I have good work experience, interned with a government consulting firm. I'm 27 years old (about to turn 28), and am just about to finish my BS in economics. And... I have 5 underage drinking charges and two marijuana possession charges. Oh, and god knows how many speeding tickets. No felonies or serious crimes. Just the mark of someone who loved to party when they were a teenager. So I heard some good things about 7sage and figured I would ask the community to see if I could get some guidance on my situation.

I really want an honest, unadulterated answer. Am i fucked? All of these charges happened between ages 15-21. So, they were a long time ago. I'm just worried that this might show a pattern of behavior that calls into question my "character and fitness." Granted it has been almost 8 years since I last had a run in with the law, I'm just worried the volume of charges might be too much for them to look past.

I feel terrible right now, and am kind of freaking out. I put in so much time and effort with school and the LSAT. Being rejected for my criminal background would just crush my whole world.