previous convictions

[dylsmam]

i was charged with an offence back in 2001 and i'm now studying law but people keep telling me it's a waste of time as i have a criminal record and could never do anything with my study's is this the case

[youngmum]

thats right once you have had a crimal recound your life is messed up

[randyraven]

youngmum - Same person who is 16 and up the duff ?
Sounds like your life is on course.

[dylsmam]

i don't mean to be funny be your answers are not helping this is a serious question and need a serious answer so if you have nothing constructive to add please don't bother

[stonekicker]

depends what you did - juicy details required for a fair dissecting on this site!

[dylsmam]

i got charged with fraud and deception and i got 40 hrs community service but would like to go further with my studys so please if you have a genuine answer that would be a great help

[chappie]

I'm no expert but that sounds like a serious conviction to me. I would guess that a profession as a lawyer has gone out of the window for you.

Sorry to be so negative, and perhaps someone else more knowledgeable will post for you.

[randyraven]

Consider becoming an Estate Agent. Your previous convictions will help.

[stonekicker]

put it this way...if you need to hire a lawyer and there's a choice between one that's been done for fraud and the other who has no record - which would you choose? i think that fraud is a type of offence that would seriously hamper your chancesof practising law - as professionals are supposed to be decent and morally upstanding. You can carry on studying and maybe get a related job - something like policy or advice, but is not a risk i would take seeing how much degrees actually cost these days. you are better off doing something less risky and stressful

[randyraven]

I work in Finance (Indirectly). A criminal conviction , would not bar me from working in Finance. But I would never get a job with a criminal record.
As soon as they do a criminal record check on you, any employer is going to think twice. If they have several other people they are interviewing for the same position, it will not exactly help.

[chappie]

Were those convictions for fraud and deception though, wizzard?

I think, perhaps if it was a shoplifting offence, or something that's classed as a petty offence, then maybe it would be overlooked. But fraud and deception sounds quite serious.

I hope I am wrong though. Where's Buenchico? He'd know!

[jno]

http://www.tsg.org/Default.aspx.LocID-06e00600 1.faq_id-189.htm

[dylsmam]

thank you so much thats very helpful again thanks for your help

[Buenchico]

The answer that you require (although I fear that it may not be the one that you want) can be found here:
http://www.sra.org.uk/documents/students/stude nt-enrolment/characterguide.pdf

However, that response assumes that you want to become a solicitor (or a barrister, where similar regulations will apply). There are, of course, many other career paths for law graduates. See here for some suggestions:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_p age/Options_with_your_subject/Your_degree_in_l aw/Job_options/p!empFbib

Chris

[dylsmam]

thank you at last people with real answers. Will this conviction now be spent as it happened six years ago.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply.

Most non-custodial sentences become 'spent' (except where the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 don't apply) after 5 years (or after 2� years if the offender was under 18 years of age on the date of conviction). See here for more detailed information:
http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/rehabact.htm

Chris

[dylsmam]

i would again like to thank you for all your help the sites you have told my about are very helpful

many thanks

[chappie]

Good luck with it, whatever you decide to do, dylsmam.

[gipsey]

Goodluck dylsmam at least you are trying to turn your life around.