Many law school students also intend to further obtain a doctorate in law in order to become practicing lawyers. In addition to obtaining degrees, they must pass the bar exam and practice law in any of the 50 States in the United States.
If you are still trying to apply for law school, the bar exam may be far from you. But you must carefully consider the characteristics and adaptability of the lawyer exam. How you answer these questions now can show whether you face obstacles to entering law school, and also show your strength in applying for lawyer qualification after graduation.
The bar exam in the United States varies from state to state, but all applicants for bar qualification must fill out a personality and health questionnaire before being recognized by any American judicial body.
The required personality and health status vary, but they usually cover several key areas, including dishonest applications, criminal records, untreated mental illness and drug abuse, and economic irresponsibility.
If you are applying to law school and plan to pursue a legal career, consider whether anything that happened in the past or now will lead to your personality problem, and if so, how to fix it immediately. Here are five ways to help you deal with any potential danger signals, not only in front of the law school admissions Committee, but also in preparing for the bar exam in the character and health section.
1. The most honest of all your application materials: the so-called "disclosure" problem in the law school application requires you to disclose your criminal history clearly and completely.
When you are in doubt about whether a specific event must be disclosed, you'd better describe it carefully and accurately. If the personality and health survey in your application materials are inconsistent or inaccurate, this inaccurate statement may affect your qualification to apply for admission to law school and may hinder you from taking the legal qualification examination.
Except for the problems disclosed, all other application materials should truthfully describe themselves, such as resumes. For example, don't exaggerate or distort your work experience or your academic honor. In every application submitted, show yourself truly and accurately.
2. If you have a criminal record, show positive reform steps: In addition to truthfully stating your criminal history in your law school application, show the positive measures you have taken to reform yourself for the admission to law school and the admission to the bar exam later.
For example, highlight your commitment to community service and any other positive social contributions you have made to show your remorse, responsibility and rehabilitation. Show that you have taken decisive action to correct your mistakes and keep your distance from previous mistakes.
3. Seek treatment for any mental illness or drug abuse: The character and health section of the bar exam in most states also includes questions about mental illness and drug abuse. Although the exact nature and scope of the problem are different, applicants for the bar qualification examination are responsible for reporting mental illness and drug abuse problems and related treatment experiences.
Knowing this reporting obligation may deter future applicants for the bar exam, including law students seeking help. But don't fall into this trap.
If you are struggling with mental illness or drug abuse, seeking treatment is a key step to protect the integrity of your future career. A responsible attitude towards life can also show the strength of your personality.
Problems in these areas are not terrible in themselves. However, it is very problematic not to take action to seek treatment. Not seeking active and effective help will not only threaten your prospects for obtaining the qualification as a lawyer, but also hinder your ability to practice effectively.
4. Maintain financial responsibility and correct past mistakes: the lawyer examiner will look at your credit report, income tax return, any litigation-related records, and records of failure to fulfill any financial obligations.
As a law school applicant, you can now take measures to live in a financially responsible way and make necessary corrections to your past financial mistakes. This means paying attention to your credit history and correcting any inaccuracies as soon as possible.
If you have any overdue debts or bankruptcy records, or have not paid child support, written a wrong check or failed to declare or pay taxes, you'd better take active measures to correct these mistakes now.
As in other areas of personality and health, financial irresponsibility in history is far less harmful than not taking action to correct it. In other words, no matter how your situation develops, the worst thing you can do is to do nothing.
If you are in debt, prove that you are trying to take responsibility by establishing a payment plan. Provide evidence of responsibility in the financial field through the current frugal life. If you have a history of financial irresponsibility, start to restore your reputation as soon as possible.
5. Present a positive and appropriate image on social media: I hope you have considered your social media image in the process of applying to law school.
You should objectively evaluate your image on all platforms. Invite a trusted consultant to see how you express yourself. Make sure you project an appropriate image, and nothing will make your personal role questioned.
The same principle applies to the bar exam. Your social media behavior and existence should not arouse any sense of personality, professionalism, integrity or joining the community as a legal professional. If there are any signs of danger, such as indecent photos or wrong comments, start cleaning up your image now.
Preparing for lawyer qualification and health assessment seems to be a distant obstacle, but this assessment is an indispensable part of the law school application process. Since applicants must show that they are suitable for studying law, this is an excellent opportunity to think about any problems related to personality and health.