[karmic]

I am desperatly needing some advice.

In 2008 NYE I made a reckless decison and after consuming a large glass of red wine, i drove home. There was an altercation with a taxi driver and i contacted the police because he became aggressive. when the police arrived, we were both breathalysed and i blew 60. i pleaded guilty in the first instance and was given a 12 month ban, £250 costs and did not get any points.

My lack of consequential thinking has cost me a lot in terms of the damage i have done to my familys reputation, the impact this has had on my emotional well being and the shame i constantly live with.

I have wanted to study law for a long time and have on two previous occasions enrolled onto the GDL but with the pressures of fulltime work, family commitments and studying..I decided to leave my studies and return tp fulltime study at a later date.

I am now wanting to return to study after recently giving birth but am seriously concerned about How will my conviction impact on gaining a place on the GDL and subsequently LPC. i am overcome with fear that i will be unsuccesful. My actions will remain with me for the rest of my life, coming from an asain background, i have brought great shame on family members and my actions will remain with me for the rest of my life. No amount of explanations will and can ever justify my actions on that evening but i made a genuine yet dangerous mistake and sincerly hope and pray that this does not impact on my one chance of studying to one day go on to become a solicitor.

Can anyone please give me some advice. thanking you in advance

[Crazy Jamie]

Certainly the best thing would be to contact the SRA directly. Hmaus is quite right about that being the first point at which there would be a hurdle. There is a process that the SRA go through in relation to previous convictions, though with it not being an offence of dishonesty I highly doubt you will encounter any issues ultimately. You certainly wouldn't be the first solicitor with a conviction for drink driving, and I doubt you'll be the last either. It is worth checking with the SRA to get more information on the general process, but you should be fine.

[nulli tertius]

I echo the previous advice.

The SRA have said that they have toughened up on character issues for student enrollment but it isn't cear what this means in practice.

[karmic]

Thank you all for your advice. I will contact the SRA and hopefully I'll adviced to apply accordingly. Nulli tertius: your right about the SRA tighten up the selection list, had a quick look at the application and it seems pretty strict which is understandable.. Guess I'll just have to see what happens. Will keep you all posted; fingers crossed it isn't bad news. Thank you once again for taking time out and replying to my post. Much appreciated and good luck with your studies.

[*soph*]

It depends on what your conviction is for. I had heard that driving convictions weren't taken into account, and one lecturer said that if solicitors weren't able to register with the SRA due to drink-driving, there would be a shortage of solicitors. How serious this comment was intended to be, I don't know and if they have tightened the rules you are definitely right to check before making a very expensive enrolment!

[jacketpotato]

I wouldn't have thought this would stop you. The SRA are most concerned with offences that show dishonesty e.g. theft or fraud, they are less concerned with offences such as drink driving or assault. Obviously you should contact the SRA to confirm the position.