Moral Character Problems in the Bar Admissions Process
Candidates for admission to the State Bar of California bear the burden of establishing their good moral character based on such traits as honesty, candor, fairness, and respect for and obedience to state and federal law. California bar applicants are not only under a strict duty of full disclosure as to all the questions presented in the Application for Determination of Moral Character, they also must update the information initially provided on a continuing basis. The moral character review process routinely takes six months or longer, and it is not unusual for the process to take upwards of two years.
Loss of a job for misconduct, any criminal conviction, academic or disciplinary problems in college or law school, or any other conduct that would cast doubt on an applicant's fitness for admission to the bar can mean denial of the application on the grounds of a lack of moral character. If your application has been denied on any of these bases, or if you want to avoid the prospect of denial of your admission to the California Bar, contact the Law Offices of Zachary D. Wechsler.
As a former member of the California Committee of Bar Examiners who served several years on the Subcommittee on Moral Character, Mr. Wechsler has valuable insight and experience with the deliberative processes that inform decisions for admission or denial based on the applicant's background. If you are facing denial of your application for admission to the California State Bar, or if you need advice or assistance with the application or an upcoming informal conference with the moral character subcommittee, Mr. Wechsler can give you a solid understanding of what you need to show the board in order to obtain a positive determination. Perhaps more significantly, he can give you a realistic idea of what you need to do in order to satisfy the moral character criteria.
For candidates with criminal records, especially those involving breach of fiduciary duty or offenses of moral turpitude, the necessary proof of reform and rehabilitation can be difficult to present and document. Mr. Wechsler will work closely with you to confront and overcome these obstacles, and will give you an honest appraisal of the impact your presentation will make on the committee. You can feel confident that Mr. Wechsler will give you an honest assessment of your application, and will give you advice about how to overcome any challenges you face in the application process.
As well as advising clients facing denial of their initial application for admission to the State Bar of California, Mr. Wechsler also works with suspended lawyers who need to demonstrate rehabilitation as a condition of reinstatement of their law licenses.
Additionally, Mr. Wechsler chaired the Subcommittee on Testing Accommodations for several years while he served on the Committee of Bar Examiners. This experience helps him provide dependable advice and representation for candidates whose inability to pass the examination or performance requirements for admission can be attributed to a failure to provide reasonable accommodations to address their special needs during the testing process.
To learn more about Zach Wechsler's assistance with matters concerning admission to the State Bar of California, especially those involving denial of an application based on moral character, contact the Law Offices of Zachary D. Wechsler in Los Angeles for a free initial consultation.
