Any type of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, will be closely examined by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. In fact, academic misconduct is one of the most concerning areas for the Board in Character and Fitness investigations. Lack of candor is another serious concern, so be sure to reveal this indiscretion to the Board.
Will Plagiarism In College Affect My Admission To The Florida Bar?
“In my last semester of college, I was rushing through a final paper. I changed a couple of words and rearranged a few sentences without giving credit to a source. I was reported for plagiarism, failed the course, and had to re-take it. That’s all that happened and it wasn’t a big deal. Should I be worried?”
The Council of Writing Program Administrators (WPA) defines plagiarism as deliberately using another person’s ideas, language, or other original material (material that is not common knowledge) in an instructional setting without acknowledging the source. Your school may have its own definition of plagiarism using slightly different terminology, but the basic idea remains the same.
Plagiarism is a big deal, and it poses a threat to Bar admission. Whether it’s a few sentences or a large section of the text, plagiarism involves the intentional misrepresentation of another person’s work as your own. This kind of deliberate deception raises serious questions about your ability to be truthful, which makes it a significant character concern for the Board of Bar Examiners. Plagiarism differs from failing to identify sources correctly because you don’t know how to, and/or don’t understand the assignment, and/or are careless due to poor time management/lack of planning. Some plagiarize because they lack self-confidence in their own ideas and their own ability to express them.
How To Prove Good Moral Character With Plagiarism In My Past
Whether you’ve been accused of or found responsible for plagiarism, your law school and Bar applications are not the time or place to downplay or challenge the accusation/finding. Taking responsibility demonstrates accountability, preserves some credibility, and advances the rehabilitation of your character. If the misconduct stemmed from carelessness or lack of time to complete the work, it’s helpful to let the Board know about any steps taken to improve Shortcomings with time management, which decreases the likelihood of another offense.
An effective apology for plagiarism contains both an apology to those whose work was copied as well as an apology to those who were misled by the copied work. I’d encourage you to read the following article by Jonathan Bailey, copyright and plagiarism expert/consultant with Copy Byte. He’s been fighting against plagiarism since 2001, and his article discusses invaluable pointers about an effective apology for plagiarism:
https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2014/08/07/perfect-plagiarism-apology-im-still-waiting-see/
Conclusion
Plagiarism accusations and findings threaten your admission to the Bar especially when you fail to mention them on your Florida Bar application. But don’t give up! Consult with an experienced Florida Bar Admissions Attorney who can help you navigate how to tackle this issue in your law school and Bar applications.
Elizabeth Conan is an attorney at law who helps law students overcome a plethora of issues that can affect bar admissions. Academic discipline and misconduct is one of the main focuses in her practice. Contact Elizabeth for a consultation.
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