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Langford*  \nCharacter is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.  \n—Abraham Lincoln  \nI. INTRODUCTION: THE “EXAM” YOU CAN’T PREPARE FOR  \nGaining admission to the Bar is not easy. An undergraduate education, the LSAT, three intensive years at a law school, and the infamously difficult Bar exam (especially in my state, California) presumably screen out a fair share of potential attorneys from even pursuing a career in the legal field. Although difficult, these hurdles are comprehensible, with clear objectives. The applicant is fully aware of the expectations and requirements. Ultimately, the applicant’s success is contingent on hard work and preparation.  \nIn addition to the Bar exam and the prerequisites necessary to take the Bar exam, there is a less well-known requirement Bar applicants must satisfy for entry to the Bar: the moral character requirement. The moral character requirement demands that each applicant seeking admission to the Bar bear the “burden of demonstrating to the appropriate body in charge that he or she possesses the character needed to successfully and ethically practice law.”1 For those applicants potentially facing delayed admission or outright denial based on a failure to meet the character requirement, this task is easier said than done.  \n* Carol M. Langford is an Adjunct Professor of Law at U.C. Hastings College of Law. She is a past Chair of the California Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct and has a full-time practice in the attorney conduct area of law. This Article could not have been written without the support and assistance of Tom Sansani, law office clerk extraordinaire.  \n1. Marcus Ratcliff, Note, The Good Character Requirement: A Proposal for a Uniform National Standard, 36 TULSA L.J. 487, 488 (2000) .  \n1193  \nLANGFORD.FINAL 10/22/2008 9:49:58 AM  \n1194 HOFSTRA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 36:1193  \nNo uniform definition of “moral character” exists despite the inclusion of the character requirement in every state’s Bar admission process.2 Because entering the mind of applicants is impossible,3 the determination of a person’s moral character ultimately depends on the applicant’s prior actions.4 The subjectivity inherent in predicting future wrongdoing based on prior actions poses a formidable obstacle not only for the applicants with a regrettable past, but for the examiners with the responsibility of determining an applicant’s admissions fate.5 The United States Supreme Court, in Schware v. Board of Bar Examiners6 and Konigsberg v. State Bar of California, two definitive character examination cases in the mid-20th century, openly admit the fluidity of the character requirement calling it “unusually ambiguous”7 with“shadowy rather than precise bounds.”8 The American Bar Association (“ABA”) seconds this sentiment, admitting in the Bar Examiner’s Handbook that “[n]o definition of what constitutes grounds for denial of admission on the basis of faulty character exists.”9  \nDespite its subjectivity, the moral character requirement exists as a precautionary measure aimed at protecting consumers from substandard practitioners 10 as well as preserving the professionalism of the law.11 This is especially necessary now more than ever as the general population perceives lawyers as one of the most untrustworthy and corrupt group of professionals.12 Not to mention that, in a post-Enron world, regulation and a focus on integrity is more popular now than ever  \n2. Arpa B. Stepanian, Note, Law Student Clerkships; Walking a Thin Line Requirement of“Good Moral Character”for Admission to the Bar, 3 J. LEGAL ADVOC. & PRAC. 67, 68-69 (2001); see Konigsberg v. State Bar of Cal., 353 U.S. 252, 262-63 (1957) .  \n3. Aaron M. Clemens, Facing the Klieg Lights: Understanding the “Good Moral Character” Exa","cbCaimOXK4rxVzBz","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimOXK4rxVzBz","pdf",152560,33,"English","# Introduction: The “Exam” You Can’t Prepare For\n## Bar exam requirements and applicant expectations\n## Moral character requirement and the burden of proof\n## Subjectivity and the lack of a uniform definition\n## Rationale: protecting the public and professionalism\n## Supreme Court and ABA perspectives","[{\"question\":\"What is the moral character requirement in Bar admission?\",\"answer\":\"It requires applicants to demonstrate to the relevant authority that they have the character needed to practice law successfully and ethically. The evaluation centers on applicants’ prior actions.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is the moral character requirement considered difficult to prepare for?\",\"answer\":\"Unlike the Bar exam, there is no uniform definition of “moral character.” The determination is subjective and depends on how examiners predict future conduct based on past behavior.\"},{\"question\":\"What purposes does the moral character requirement serve despite its ambiguity?\",\"answer\":\"It functions as a precaution to protect consumers from substandard practitioners and to preserve the professionalism of the legal system. It also helps maintain the integrity of the justice system.\"}]","BARBARIANS AT THE BAR - Regulation of the Legal Profession Through the Admissions Process | PDF",1789953479,83]