To become a licensed attorney, law school graduates must pass the dreaded bar exam, a two or three-day, grueling exam that has been characterized as a brutal and hellish experience. Many attorneys describe the exam as “among the most painful experiences of their lives.” But, there is a lesser known yet equally as important hurdle that bar applicants also must overcome—the character and fitness inquiry. Applicants have the burden to show that they are morally fit to practice law. They must reveal a plethora of personal information, dating back years or even decades, depending on the age of the applicant. They must reveal arrests, convictions, speeding tickets, bankruptcies, court judgments, employment discharges, and much more. For some applicants, this may prove to be the most challenging part of the admission process.
The-Other-Bar-Hurdle_-An-Examination-of-the-Character-and-FitnessThe Other Bar Hurdle: An Examination of the Character and Fitness Requirement for Bar Admission
