Looking for some help here

[varkam]

I need some help locating some particular scholarships, and I thought I'd ask here since you're all pretty smart. I've been accepted into law school for this fall and, also, am a convicted felon. My felony conviction doesn't have anything to do with drugs (as felony drug convictions preclude one from applying for federal aid), but I can't get FAFSA as I am going for an advanced degree. So I'm wondering if anyone knows of any scholarships that are intended for felons that are not limited to drug offenses. I've checked Fastweb and Google, and I'm about to e-mail the school's financial aid officer.

Any ideas would be much appreciated! :toast:

[babylonsister]

1. No clue, but here's a kick, and congrats on law school!

:toast:

[varkam]

3. Thanks for the congrats!

:hi:

[DesertFlower]

2. good luck. nt

[lonestarnot]

4. Why would you want a JD if you can't practice law?

[varkam]

6. Having a felony conviction doesn't necessarily preclude one from...

being admitted to the bar. In my case, so long as I am honest, keep a clean record, and show evidence that I have rehabbed myself then I should be able to practice just fine.

[lonestarnot]

8. Well I hope so. You wouldn't get in in this state.

[varkam]

9. It might be different from state to state.

I checked with the office of bar admissions in this state though, and it should be fine. Hell, I know a few lawyers that are practicing who have a felony.

ETA I'm assuming you're in Texas. It appears that a felony conviction wouldn't preclude admission there, either, so long as five years have passed since the completion of a sentence.

[lonestarnot]

10. They would let poor ole' geeze now I can't think of his name... in here.

He murdered a dude in a drug deal, did his time and no deal. I believe he is a practicing paralegal/legal assistant, whatever he calls himself. Best of luck to you! :toast:

[varkam]

12. Thanks for the well wishes.

I'm sure I'll need it just to keep my sanity during my first year

Wait, how can you keep something you've never had? :crazy:

[lonestarnot]

14. Hey are you on duty?

I'm going to pm you.

[varkam]

15. Us Moderators Are Always On Duty!

:superman:

Well, except when we're not. :D

[lonestarnot]

17. Did you get my p.m.?

[varkam]

18. I did. Did you not get my response? eom

[lonestarnot]

20. Yes I did.

Thank you.

[lonestarnot]

16. Hamm (sp) That was the name of the dude.

• Justices refused to consider the case of a convicted murderer who graduated from law school and is being thwarted in his efforts to become a practicing attorney in Arizona.

James Hamm served 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering a man in a drug-related robbery. Both victims in the 1974 shootings were unarmed. Last year, the Arizona Supreme Court denied Hamm's application to practice law, saying he had failed to establish the good moral character necessary to be admitted.

Supporters in his application included a letter from the judge who sentenced him for murder, from several practicing attorneys in good standing and from the president of the Arizona Psychological Association.

The Arizona Supreme Court found that Hamm was not completely forthright regarding the murders because he says he did not intend to kill, but only to rob his victims. The Arizona Supreme Court said he shot one victim twice to make sure he was dead and shot the second victim to prevent his escape.

In a filing at the U.S. Supreme Court, Hamm's lawyers said he has "focused all his time and energy on progressively accepting responsibility for his crime, worked to change himself as a person and has spent the intervening 30 years attempting to atone for his actions."

Hamm earned a degree in sociology from Northern Arizona University through a prison program. After his sentence was commuted, he attended Arizona State University's law school and passed the bar exam in 1999.

The case is Hamm v. Committee on Character and Fitness of the Arizona Supreme Court, 05-1245.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2006-05-22-supremecourt_x.htm

[varkam]

19. There's the problem:

The Arizona Supreme Court found that Hamm was not completely forthright regarding the murders because he says he did not intend to kill, but only to rob his victims. The Arizona Supreme Court said he shot one victim twice to make sure he was dead and shot the second victim to prevent his escape.

Whether or not Hamm was being truthful, it doesn't give the appearance of accepting responsibility given the facts of the case (or at least it seems that way to me). In my state, most applicants who are denied are denied because they are less than forthcoming with their past or they are not accepting responsibility.

[lonestarnot]

21. They can say anything they want in a decision. Stare decisis is

just bullshit when they want to do what they want to do. Not trying to discourage you. Hope you didn't take it that way. Just considering all the facts is difficult sometimes when you're emotionally attached. That's why they say man who represents self has fool for client. Again best of luck to you! Goodnight.

[varkam]

22. That's why I've consulted widely about this.

I've talked to several different lawyers and a few professors of law. I haven't had anyone tell me anything other than it shouldn't be a problem. I've got to go for it...it's better than laying down and dying :D

[DesertRat]

24. delete

[Breeze54]

23. Scholarship Info! - (6 convicted felons are members of the Arizona bar)

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE6DB1F39F930A2575AC0A965958260

snip-->

A half-dozen convicted felons are members of the Arizona bar, officials say, although none are murderers.
But even murderers practice law elsewhere, one of them before the Federal bar in the District of Columbia.

-----------------------------------

http://www.ncsconline.org/wc/CourTopics/FAQs.asp?topic=LegEdu

Can I be admitted to the bar if I have a felony conviction?

Most jurisdictions will not bar a convicted felon from admission to the bar, but a
character and fitness evaluation is required of bar applicants in most jurisdictions.

---------------------

Scholarship Programs

http://www.maldef.org/education/law.htm

pdf File 2008 Law School Scholarship Application.

MALDEF’s law school scholarship program is open to law students entering their 1st, 2nd
or 3rd year of law school.

The 2007 application deadline was Oct. 1, 2007. We are currently reviewing completed applications.
We expect to select scholarship recipients and send out notification letters in early March.

2008 MALDEF LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program awards scholarships up to $7,000 each year to deserving
individuals entering their first, second or third years of law school. Students must be enrolled
in law school full-time in the upcoming school year to qualify.

The scholarships are awarded to students based upon three primary factors:

1. demonstrated involvement in and commitment to serve the Latino community through the legal profession;
2. academic and professional achievement;
3. and financial need.
more..

-------------------------

StraightForward Media - Law School Scholarship
That's why we created the $500Law School Scholarships, offered four times per year.
You can apply online now -- check the deadline schedule below for the ...
www.straightforwardmedia.com/law-school/

-----------------------------

Medical, Law, and MBA Scholarships - Distinguished Scholarships
Medical School Scholarships; Law School Scholarships; MBA Scholarships;
Click here for the Grant Source Library (separate page) ...
www.distinguishedscholarships.unc.edu/scholarships/medlaw.html

-------------------------------

Find a Law School Scholarship | OEDb
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Scholarships for Law Students
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FinAid | Other Types of Aid | Financial Aid for Law School
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Searches related to: law school scholarships
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[lonestarnot]

25. Thanks Breeze54 for helping V!

I'm going to bookmark for future inspection!

[better tomorrow]

11. the only thing is....how long do lawyers stay honest....

just kidding.....

[varkam]

13. Hehe...

Well, I hope I can for as long as I am one (assuming I get to be one, that is)

[better tomorrow]

5. that financial aid officer will be your best bet. Good luck and

thanks for reforming yourself from whatever you did if you did it....

[varkam]

7. Oh, I did it.

I've never made any bones about that. But thanks for the well wishes :hi: