Thread: Worried about Moral Character on application for the Bar (full explanation)

In 2007 when I was 21 I worked as a Deputy Sheriff at an agency in Florida. I think I will still too immature to have the position and I tried to cut corners to get things done. We had to make sexual offender checked every month and they had to be face to face contact. I stupidly decided that it would be faster if I just tried to call them and if i was unable to make contact I would say forget it and just mark down that I saw them and try to make contact the following month.

I did this while I was still on probation (your on probation your 1st year of employment) and superiors found out that one of my dates were incorrect. They terminated me for "failure to meet probationary standard," which is a generalized way to terminate employees while within their first year.
After my termination Internal Affairs administrativly stated my conduct was untruthful as well as marked me for insubordination and unacceptable conduct for an employee. I understand I was stupid and learned from my mistakes, but I cannot change the past. I am also under the impression if I was not on probation I would have not been terminated, just "written up."

My Florida Department of Law enforcement (FDLE) certification was never contested and I am still a certified law enforcement officer in good standing with FDLE. In addition, no criminal charges were ever produced as all of the IA investigation was for administrative purposes. Since that time I finished my undergraduate degree and have joined the military. I have never been arrested and never gotten in trouble at school or any other job. I also have a completely clean military record.

I am now 24 years old and considering law, but I do not want to waste the $90,000 it will cost to go to law school, only to have my application to the bar denied. ANY information on this would be greatly appreciated, as well if there is any way to find out my chances for acceptance to the bar in FL or any other state. Also, will I disclose all this upon application to law school, so that if they feel I will be denied to the bar the will not accept me?

Dan, pursue your quest to become an Attorney. If your mistake was inconsistent with your Character and instead a by-product of your immaturity, it will be borne out with time. So go forward and be honest and always tell the truth to any Investigative Body regarding that incident. I am a former Chicago Police Officer who is gearing up to study for the Florida Bar and it is my belief that if you learn from that mistake with a re-newed commitment to Honesty & Integrity you will survive your mistake and someday soon become a fine member of the Bar.

Johnny

Dan, as a follow up to my previous answer, I cannot "emphasize" enough the IMPORTANCE of revealing that incident in any and all Law School Applications and/or to any Investigative Units, be it from Academic or State Agencies, etc.
Transparency & Honesty is the ONLY way. Lay it out front and you will be okay. Take care.

Johnny

P.S. Law School Admissions is very competitive, so don't think that any Declination decisions have anything to do with the revelation of that incident. Again, be honest and lay it out front.

You should contact an ethics attorney in Florida and ask what s/he thinks. No offense to the Chicago police officer, but I think you need to consult someone who has actually seen cases like yours. Unfortunately, it is not always true that showing that you learned from your mistake will get you through the moral character application. If you do apply to law school and then to the bar, I do agree that you must disclose everything right from the beginning. If you don't do that it will only create bigger problems later on.