My Niece Got A Dui Last Night......

[DingoGirl]

Hey everybody...I can't reach any of the attorneys I know today and need some help!

I have a very distraught and sobbing 23-y-old niece who was fired last night from the pub where she worked. A little background info: niece contacted the Labour Board to report their widely-known crooked methods (just one example - - having their accountant remove overtime hours from employees - accountant confirmed in meeting last night that they had asked her to do this). A screaming match ensued - the owners of this pub are literally EVIL - - widely known as being really horrible, usurious people. My niece came prepared to the meeting, but she was fired. It was emotional and heated and THEN she downed two pints before leaving. Got in an accident (no other vehicle) but THANK GOD is okay.

Her big concern now is whether she can get into law school with this DUI. I am quite certain that she can, but we are wondering how difficult it will be to pass the MORALS part of the exam, after passing the Bar, to become an attorney.

Experts? need some help!

oh, we are reporting her business to the IRS for auditing, also she'll continue to work with labour board....but she is the whistle blower in this situation and she feels beyond miserable. Her godfather is an attorney and there may be legal action taken as we feel she has recourse....but that's for a later time. She's just worried about law school currently.

Thanks for any insight you can provide! I love this forum!!

[jerseyangel]

We love you too, Susan!

I know that Bronco is an attorney--hopefully he will be on tonight or over the weekend and see this.

Beyond that, I don't have any good advice--I see there is an attorney in the family (her godfather) and that's good.

Tell her to calm down, take a deep breath and that everything will get worked out. I'm sure this can be handled in such a way that one mistake won't have to affect the rest of her life. Thank goodness no one--including her--was hurt.

[Nancym]

I doubt there's going to be a problem. Just look at how many lawyers get into trouble. But they usually become Senators or Congressmen first...

Good luck, I'm sure it'll work out.

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Here is the good news.

When I applied for law school (2000), I had a "record". Most of the stuff was misdemeanors when I was younger (3 of them), but, I also had an arrest for DUI in 2000.

MY DUI was eventually pled down to a "Wreckless Operation of a Vehicle".

My advice is to get a GOOD attorney - one who specializes in DUI's or one has many Prosecutors as friends (especially the one in your case) - these people are usually able to work plea bargains out of these cases.

I disclosed everything on my application. So many people have DUI's on their records now that it is almost "common".

When I submitted my moral character application after I passed California, Nevada and Arizona's bar exams, I disclosed everything and they still admitted me (albeit after a meeting with the state bar, but that is normal).

In the end, I think she will be ok. They let me in (and Nevada is one of the hardest states to pass moral character in -- I know, I know, you wouldn't think so, but it is).

Hope this helps ease your worries...

Bronco

[Lisa]

If she currently has an otherwise clean record, perhaps her attorney could reduce the DWI to a reckless driving charge.

I love Nancy's answer though.

[DingoGirl]

oh THANK YOU!!! I feel so much better and so will she. Good news, BroncoBux and thanks for the thorough response. Yes, I do think DUI's are common, unfortunately, among youth. She has a pretty stellar record otherwise and graduated magna cum laude from UNLV......so maybe a plea bargain is the thing to do.

I don't know if we'll pursue anything with those horrible "despots" who own the pub......despite the fact that my father was an attorney we are not a litigious family, but, we've got some connections so that may help.

(I love Nancy's answer, too! Can anyone say, CHAPPAQUIDICK?? )

thanks, guys!