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Facing felony charges...should I even bother with law school?
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Date: January 30th, 2010 11:56 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza (For matters of state-specific law, I'm in GA.)
So basically I was really irresponsible and sold prescription drugs to make money for a while. In April 2009 the cops were called to a house I was hanging out at for some reason or another and I was busted with about 300 Xanax and Suboxone. I'm facing two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Because of the circumstances of my case, my attorney is fairly confident it will be dropped. The officers simply did not have probable cause to enter the house and arrest me, and so the evidence will most likely be suppressed.
What I'd like to know is how this impacts my chances of success in the legal field. Even if the charges are dismissed and the arrest expunged, obviously I will have to disclose this in the C & F process. While I'm not too worried about being denied admission to the bar, I wonder if I'll ever have a shot at having a successful career. I'm sure firms are swamped with applications without the stain of felony charges...
I'm currently in undergrad, majoring in economics. My goal is to do biglaw for a few years to pay off loans, then possibly become a prosecutor (ironic, isn't it?). If I get really high grades and LSAT, go to a top school and am in the very top of the class, is it possible that my tainted past will be overlooked? I really hate the idea of being judged for the rest of my life for something I did when I was only 20 years old. I mean, it's not like I raped or killed anyone... |
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Date: January 30th, 2010 11:58 PM Author: Electric Snowy Volcanic Crater take the lsat first (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13967158) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 10:47 AM Author: umber charismatic shrine /thread. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13969842) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 12:01 AM Author: Exhilarant son of senegal church building rate me as a poaster (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13967193) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 12:26 AM Author: dark native fanboi you are a douche. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13967529) |
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Date: February 5th, 2010 11:34 PM Author: arousing property Do decent on the LSAT, and a Law school will accept you. if you go to prison, you can go to law school there. hth (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14029336) |
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Date: February 7th, 2010 10:53 PM Author: Massive organic girlfriend Subject: street cred Well, dude, you can't work for the feds as a lawyer. Any agency that requires an SSBI (look it up) and a favorable adjudication from it will nix you. So kiss your ass goodbye to USAOs/DOJ. You have to report your arrest, btw, regardless of the outcome. (Well, maybe you can apply when you're 55 and wise.)
A state supreme court--the body that regulates lawyers--may or may not admit you. If you're convicted, I hope to god that it doesn't. A felony conviction is grounds for disbarment.
But....if you manage to get admitted, criminal defense is the field for you. You'll have street cred, especially w/pill pushers. |
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Date: February 8th, 2010 1:18 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza So basically, there's no hope of putting this behind me? BTW, I'm still in UG, so adjudication would be coming years before I'd even be applying to the bar. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14054887) |
Date: January 31st, 2010 12:35 AM Author: opaque curious trailer park really tough guy i would think if you keep a clean record from here out and admit everything on your law school apps and to the c&f you would be fine. i am a law student though and i certainly wouldn't take my word for it. ask an authority. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13967655) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 12:37 AM Author: spectacular olive love of her life If you don't get convicted, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
You're not going to put an arrest on your fucking resume. |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:03 AM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza No, but if a grocery store refuses to hire me because of charges showing up on my background check, why wouldn't a more prestigious employer? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968064) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:08 AM Author: underhanded seedy pistol center "No, but if a grocery store refuses to hire me because of charges showing up on my background check, why wouldn't a more prestigious employer?"
flame or stupidity? what employer would give a fuck about arrests without convictions? people are falsely arrested all the fucking time. |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:13 AM Author: amber titillating theater headpube i bet there's a fair degree of bayesian signaling that comes with even a false arrest (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968145) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:17 AM Author: underhanded seedy pistol center cops frequently harass poors for no good reason. if you lost the socioeconomic lottery, chances are good that you've been arrested a few times for BS. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968188) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:24 AM Author: amber titillating theater headpube doubt it. most likely to get hassled if you hang around with drug dealers and low-level criminals. sure, you're not doing anything illegal, but you're still probably not a good gamble for an employer (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968250) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:34 PM Author: topaz address sneaky criminal If you don't think that poors get pulled over for driving certain cars and/or being minorities and then locked up for obstruction/resisting/etc. when it's not appropriate, you are literally retarded. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13970575) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 10:23 AM Author: Burgundy Mad-dog Skullcap isn't he a middle-upper class gay? he probably doesnt understand the world outside of the bubble (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13979653) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 11:36 AM Author: Aphrodisiac reading party philosopher-king "doubt it. most likely to get hassled if you hang around with drug dealers and low-level criminals"
You don't understand how life in America works. It happens literally every day. I'm a white guy who grew up in government subsidized housing as a kid. Trust me, it happens. If you are poor in this country, you get railroaded with no recourse. |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 1:07 PM Author: khaki people who are hurt as it should be you disgusting poor (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13980701) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 1:46 PM Author: copper preventive strike This is true, as a DA I saw black doods, get arrested for some BS reasons, with no real PC. But because some dood is addicted to a substance and has multiple arrests and convictions , even though this time this guy had NO DRUGS on him, he is not going to be released at his PC determination, and spend 10-15 DAYS IN JAIL EVEN THOUGH HE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. Try keeping your minimum wage job when shit like this happens all the time. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13980930) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:11 AM Author: spectacular olive love of her life You currently have charges pending. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968129) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:04 AM Author: Nofapping Alcoholic Deer Antler you should go to rehab and say you had a rpoblem and admitted it to urself but now ur clean (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968069) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:36 PM Author: Haunting Pearly Queen Of The Night titcr. c&f boards love a good redemption story. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13970591) |
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Date: February 5th, 2010 11:26 PM Author: arousing property op sold xanax and shit, not just use them (if he used at all). doh (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14029292) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:06 AM Author: Hyperventilating meetinghouse multi-billionaire BLESSING IN DISGUISE (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13968089) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 10:22 AM Author: Gold Indian Lodge I think this might depend on which state you are in, but I am fairly certain that, at least in a few states, even if asked explicitly, you do not have to disclose anything except for arrests that led to actual convictions (ie if you asked if you have been arrested, you only need answer yes if you were later convicted).
I don't think private employers have access to police reports and arrests. I think they only have access to public court records (only convictions). Not 100% sure about this, so do more research and get back to us. |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:26 AM Author: histrionic rehab kitty This is what I thought as well. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13969908) |
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Date: February 5th, 2010 11:16 PM Author: drunken lay sweet tailpipe This is how it should be. If merely being arrested by a gov't official could prevent you from becoming a lawyer, arrests would have to comply with 14th Amendment procedural due process requirements. It's a hazy area, but the cop's procedures here certainly wouldn't pass the test. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14029192) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 10:45 AM Author: Talented Unhinged Resort Foreskin I think you should question whether or not to go to law school, regardless of the felony charge. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13969839) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:21 AM Author: Canary therapy french chef (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13969893) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:23 AM Author: umber charismatic shrine Except that the dood is dreaming. Probable cause is easy enough to conjure up. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13969899) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:27 AM Author: Canary therapy french chef PC to enter a house without a warrant is hard.
PC to check his pockets is much easier, and once they found the drugs on him, they had every reason to arrest him |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:28 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza I was never outside, though. I opened the door to walk outside at the same time they were approaching the house. I closed the door when they were at least 20-30 feet away without setting foot outside. If that's not invoking your 4th Amendment rights and refusing to let them in, I don't know what is.
Furthermore, in court, the arresting officer testified that he only "called out to talk to me" before I closed the door. He didn't say "Freeze!" or "Halt!" or anything to indicate he was conducting a valid Terry stop. Therefore, this was a voluntary first-level encounter with the police and I was well within my rights to refuse. The police had no business opening the door and running in after me.
Furthermore, they arrested me for "obstruction" and used that as the pretext to search me. What grounds did they have to arrest me? That I didn't want to talk to them? |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 11:40 AM Author: Aphrodisiac reading party philosopher-king What area of GA did this happen in? Metro atlanta? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13980145) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 12:59 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza No. I'd rather not say the specific city.
And why does everything think I'm making this up? |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:34 AM Author: Bateful Startling Business Firm I think this is a flame. How many real OL actually know and come on this site. Either that, or this guy is a cop trying to get us disbarred for giving legal advice out. I smell a rate.
On the slim chance I am wrong I offer the following.
Oh and this is not legal advice, if you want legal advice go to a lawyer. The best I can give you is some religious council. :)
But I think your fine. Just pray about it, and God should tell you if he wants you to go to law school. :-) And don't be this stupid again! Committing Felonies in no way ever is in your best interest! This is not Oceans 11! Most people get caught and do go to jail. You got really lucky these "foolish" cops messed up. Now don't jeopardize your future and make something of yourself! Whether that's practicing law or some other field, that's between you and God.
Oh and stop selling drugs!! What where you thinking???
Oh and if you don't get right with God your just going to end doing something else unethical someday and get disbarred. You have a history of breaking the law, that's nearly impossible to stop without some serious divine intervention. I recommend you start by reading the Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus is the only one that change your heart man. :-) <<End of religious rant. :-)>> |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 1:24 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza I found this site and jdunderground a couple months ago and have been lurking. I made a similar post on JDU a while back but I can't find it now that the forums are changed. I'm certainly not a cop or anything like that.
I don't have any intention of doing anything like this in the future. I guess my question now is whether I should even bother trying or just killself now (not being literal here, of course). |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 2:51 PM Author: Puce Floppy Theatre Degenerate This is awful, unfunny flame (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13971341) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 10:18 AM Author: awkward school cafeteria I actually think his flame is pretty lulzy, although this particular poast was over-the-top. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13979634) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:25 AM Author: light cruise ship brethren DON'T go to law school (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13969903) |
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Date: January 31st, 2010 11:38 AM Author: Motley area Take the LSAT test without prep.
Post results here |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 9:38 AM Author: Bateful Startling Business Firm study for it or fail! Not studying = 140 (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13979532) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 9:51 AM Author: opaque curious trailer park really tough guy unless you're not an idiot. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13979556) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 10:19 AM Author: awkward school cafeteria lolz, please continue this flame, don't listen to the haters. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13979639) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 10:01 AM Author: Crystalline Step-uncle's House Goal In Life Firms don't really ask about your criminal record. When they make you fill out an employment application it asks about convictions but that's it. From what I've heard from friends in the field, though, I think you'd have a tough time getting a DA position. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13979577) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 1:37 PM Author: Glittery zombie-like hospital idiot how'd the cops get in? kicked in your door and shit? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#13980877) |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 3:14 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza First off, it wasn't at my house, if that matters.
Basically, I was hanging out at someone's house along with several other people. Two of them had some sort of feud and one decided to call the cops to try to get the other in trouble. The officers happened to arrive at the house at the exact moment I was about to step outside for some fresh air. As soon as I opened the door, I saw the officers out in the yard, maybe 30 feet away. I closed the door without ever setting foot outside. In court, the arresting officer testified that I was "loitering" outside the house and ran back inside - complete lies on his part. Mere seconds after I closed the door, the officers barged in after me and arrested me for obstruction, a totally trumped-up charge. There simply was no justification for them to have entered the residence absent of a warrant or even probable cause for an arrest. They didn't observe me committing a crime or anything of the sort. |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 3:19 PM Author: Adventurous cerise fortuitous meteor "The officers simply did not have probable cause to enter the house and arrest me, and so the evidence will most likely be suppressed."
This doesn't matter. There are tons of cases of officers entering the WRONG house, finding drugs, and bam, drug conviction. |
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Date: February 1st, 2010 8:42 PM Author: Bateful Startling Business Firm I guess these cops are not familiar with probable cause or the need for a warrant before searching a home. I actually feel sorry for you in a sense. You should not have been committing felonies true.
But these cops completely denied you your constitutional rights by conducting a clearly illegal search, arresting you on false charges, and then lying about the whole ordeal. I am sure this is the not the first time people have been mistreated by these officers. The good news is things like this catch up to people like that and they will likely be dismissed from the force for breaking with procedure. So hopefully you will be the last person to suffer through something like this.
Think of this false arrest as mild reminder on why not to commit felonies. You really dodged a bullet here. Your life would have been over if these cops had actually done things by the book. :-)
I still think the bible holds the answers your looking for, but I am a religious nut. :-) |
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Date: February 5th, 2010 10:59 PM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza Do you really think they would be dismissed from the force? After all, they seized 300 pills and got a "drug dealer" off the streets, no matter that they violated my constitutional liberties. The real clincher is that it wasn't at MY house, so my standing to contest the intrusion is limited. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14029065) |
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Date: February 5th, 2010 11:02 PM Author: narrow-minded concupiscible ratface karate tbf, a cop shot the Mayor of a town's dog and pistol whipped his grandmother in the kitchen and he kept his job. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14029080) |
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Date: February 5th, 2010 11:27 PM Author: unholy death wish You'll have a GREAT personal essay. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14029297) |
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Date: February 7th, 2010 3:20 AM Author: Bateful Startling Business Firm 180!!! (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14040509) |
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Date: February 9th, 2010 11:27 AM Author: carnelian bisexual piazza Specifically, I'd like to know if the arrest/indictment/etc. by itself would impact my chances of working for the federal government. Obviously if I'm actually convicted there's no chance...but what if the charges are dismissed? I take it any kind of job in DOJ is completely out of the question either way:
"Security and Suitability Issues (Background Investigation): Candidates who accept an offer must undergo a full field background investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The investigation includes a name and fingerprint check; interviews with references, close personal associates, former spouses, former employers, co-workers, neighbors, landlords, and educational institutions; and a thorough check of credit, military, tax, and police records. The background investigation covers a period of seven to ten years. This process may take seven months or more to complete." |
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Date: February 9th, 2010 11:32 AM Author: Galvanic rough-skinned halford cans? panties? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1207735&forum_id=2#14064778) |