Re: moral character. Credit card debt and Cal bar don't generally mix.

Having 12k in credit card debt will not be a bar to getting admitted in any State. If having credit card debt were a hurdle to admission, I'd bet we'd have a lot fewer lawyers in the Country!!! Please check the thumbs up button below if this answer is helpful to you, thanks! Very truly yours, Dean D. Paolucci, Attorney at Law Select Legal, PC P> 800-825-7010 E> [email protected] www.SelectLegal.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: This e-mail or other correspondence does NOT create an attorney client relationship. This e-mail or other correspondence represents a general overview of law developments and should not be relied upon without an independent, professional analysis of how any of these provisions may apply to a specific legal situation. Any information contained in this communication was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of legal advice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------

I would be surprised if the Bar had a problem with 12k in credit card debt if that is your only issue. Even adding student loan debt to the mix, I would not expect this to be a moral issue for the Bar. It might be that you would have an issue if you stopped paying and had someone file a collection action against you, but I honestly don't know. My suggestion would be to make timely payments on what you owe, building a history to point to as proof of your good intentions. Programs that advocate stopping payments might be something for you consider at some point, but you are probably correct in your assessment that this is not the thing to do at this point in your career. In case you need to provide materials to the Bar in the future on your finances, you could start drafting a concise, non-emotional statement that details your family history and current attempts to bring your debt issues under control. Good luck! This response does not form an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to be anything other than the educated opinion of the author. It should not be relied upon as legal advice. The response is based on the limited facts provided. Given additional or different facts, the response would change. Attorney is licensed to practice law in the State of California. Responses are based solely on California law unless stated otherwise.

Certainly having 12k in debt is not a problem in getting admitted to the bar. I doubt that exercising your legal rights to file bankruptcy would either. You may want to call the bar and ask them if they see that as a hurdle. I know of many attorneys who either did not file taxes, owe back taxes, or filed for bankruptcy. None of those things are usually an issue with their license. However, I also know the IRS had a program where they notified the bar of attorneys who failed to file tax returns. I don't know of any such program for failing to pay taxes. As you are already learning, the law is not black and white so researching options and risks is the right approach. You are on your way to gaining experience so you can advise clients of the few black and white areas of the law and the numerous grey ones. Good luck and don't hesitate to meet with an attorney on the phone or face to face for a free consultation.

Your credit issue might not be a bar to admission, the key is honesty and dealing with your current situation. You are not the only potential lawyer out there with financial issues, just set up a plan to deal with it and be honest with the bar, there is no tolerance for dishonesty. For more information, visit www.freebankruptcyinformation.info or checkout my legal guides regarding this topic posted on my profile. Legal Information is Not Legal Advice My answer provides information about the law based on the limited information provided in the questions asked and is not intended to be legal advice. The law differs in each jurisdiction and may be interpreted or applied differently depending on the location or situation. I highly recommend that you consult with an attorney to discuss the specific details of your situation so you can get legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. The information in my answer is for educational and information purposes only, and is not legal advice or legal opinions. The answer provided to the question asked does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship

Everyone is right that debt isn't an automatic bar to getting admitted to the bar. I'm not admitted to California, but I know of a few people who applied to the Illinois bar who had issues because of their debt load, but I think what happens is if they are concerned about your debt load, while you are applying to get admitted, they will inform you of this having any impact on your ability to get admitted. Your student loans shouldn't be an issue, as most new lawyers have substantial student loans (or lots do if not most), and $12k in credit card debt isn't even that high. I would think if you are acting responsibly with your debt you should be fine. If you are experiencing issues with the application process, I think it would be a good idea to find a local attorney that specializes in helping attorneys deal with character & fitness issues with the bar (among other related things). I can't imagine your situation is unique.