Comments on: Should Substance Abuse Affect Bar Admission? http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect-bar-admission/ breathless punditry and one-breath poetry with David Giacalone Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:58:52 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Giacalone http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect-bar-admission/comment-page-1/#comment-216914 David Giacalone Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:13:54 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/formerlyknownas/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect#comment-216914 Joe, Hiding your situation does not seem to me to be a wise strategy. Have you tried contacting the admissions office of particular schools in order to talk with a counselor who might help you understand the school's stance on substance abuse? Are you certain that you want to join a profession that has so many dissatisfied members? What have you done to assess your values and how they fit with the legal profession? Check out our posting "<a href="http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2005/08/16/1l-of-a-decision/" rel="nofollow">1L of a Decision</a>". Consider contacting former admissions officer and legal career counselor <a href="http://www.ronaldwfox.com/" rel="nofollow">Ronald Fox</a> to ask him for assistance with your substance abuse question. And, see his article on <a href="http://profdev.lp.findlaw.com/column/column16.html" rel="nofollow">Choosing the Right Law School</a>. Best wishes. Joe, Hiding your situation does not seem to me to be a wise strategy. Have you tried contacting the admissions office of particular schools in order to talk with a counselor who might help you understand the school’s stance on substance abuse?

Are you certain that you want to join a profession that has so many dissatisfied members? What have you done to assess your values and how they fit with the legal profession? Check out our posting “1L of a Decision“.

Consider contacting former admissions officer and legal career counselor Ronald Fox to ask him for assistance with your substance abuse question.

And, see his article on Choosing the Right Law School.

Best wishes.

]]> By: Joe http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect-bar-admission/comment-page-1/#comment-216907 Joe Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:50:03 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/formerlyknownas/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect#comment-216907 Not only is this a problem for bar admission, but for law school admissions as well. I am a prospective law student, and am unsure of how I should address my chemical dependency and recovery efforts on my applications. I have criminal record consisting entirely of alcohol or drug related charges, 5 charges to be exact. I fear that if I do not disclose information about my treatment on my application it may be used against me when I apply to the bar. I also fear that by disclosing that I am currently in treatment, law schools will not want to admit me fearing I may be too much of a liability or responsibility to deal with. Not only is this a problem for bar admission, but for law school admissions as well. I am a prospective law student, and am unsure of how I should address my chemical dependency and recovery efforts on my applications. I have criminal record consisting entirely of alcohol or drug related charges, 5 charges to be exact. I fear that if I do not disclose information about my treatment on my application it may be used against me when I apply to the bar. I also fear that by disclosing that I am currently in treatment, law schools will not want to admit me fearing I may be too much of a liability or responsibility to deal with.

]]> By: Jay http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect-bar-admission/comment-page-1/#comment-44462 Jay Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:20:00 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/formerlyknownas/2004/01/22/should-substance-abuse-affect#comment-44462 The first order of business should be treatment and recovery other than worries of disbarrment or other work related consequences. Left untreated, their addictions will not only cause their performance to go down but also will negatively impact those they are serving. The first order of business should be treatment and recovery other than worries of disbarrment or other work related consequences. Left untreated, their addictions will not only cause their performance to go down but also will negatively impact those they are serving.

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