If I Have A Criminal Record, Can I Still Become A Lawyer
Go to: Previous Article Next Article
A profession in law is a popular concept as it attracts high salaries and secure careers. To become a solicitor or barrister involves a fairly complicated and exceptionally competitive process. If you can get the grades at school to study a Law degree, a four year course, then a further year in a Legal Practice Course (LPC) before finally undertaking two years in a 'training contract' at a legal organisation (assuming you can get one) none of which guarantees you a job in law. All this is very competitive from the outset and lends itself to recruiting the 'best of the best'.
Students who had the best a-levels and got into the best universities get the best legal jobs. They will have outperformed their classmates and got involved with plenty of extra-curricular activities. Legal recruiters are looking for the best of the best and you need an impressive CV, so how will a criminal record look?
Getting any job can be difficult with a criminal record depending on the severity so you could assume that Law was no different. And you would be right! It can be difficult enough to get into university with a criminal record, let alone get a job so what do you need to do?
The solution is honesty! If you are frank and honest about your entire criminal record from the start it will better your chances, if you can provide by providing evidence of personal development and possibly some decent character references might help too.
When in doubt, a university will do a background check and if you were lying all along, you will get you banned from all higher education applications. Employers are going to do a background check anyway so If you lie and when they discover you weren't being honest, you'll have no chance of getting a job.
As mentioned, it does depend on the severity of your offence(s) so don't expect to become a lawyer if you did 25 years for murder. If you committed small offences/misdemeanours and served a small sentence you stand a much better chance, especially if it has been a long time since your offence. Many young offenders' institutes actively encourage education and will help you pursue a career in Law if you wish. You may also find that 'knowledge' of the legal system can put you in a position to provide niche experience to a legal profession.
In any circumstance you need to put everything out in the open from the very beginning and be prepared for uncomfortable character judgements every now and again. The simple answer is that if you can't get in with your history, maybe Law is not the profession for you.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
- Find an Immigration Lawyer - Find a
Criminal Lawyer - Find a
Divorce lawyer - Find a
Real Estate Lawyer
- Find a Family Lawyer - Find an
Employment lawyer - Find a
Business Lawyer - Find an
Intellectual Property lawyer
- Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer - Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
- Find a Lawyer about anything
- File for an Online Divorce => without the help of a Lawyer <=
- Ask a Solicitor
Word Count: 463
Reduce Your Debts Without Bankruptcy. See How Much You Can Save. Free Debt Analysis
