Comments on: Law Students: Does Debt Correlate with Character and Fitness? http://www.gjel.com/blog/law-students-does-debt-correlate-with-character-and-fitness.html California's Preeminent Personal Injury and Auto Accident Lawyers Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:57:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: david http://www.gjel.com/blog/law-students-does-debt-correlate-with-character-and-fitness.html#comment-31384 david Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:31:24 +0000 http://www.gjel.com/?p=2901#comment-31384 I get that a person who doesn't purposely doesn't pay their bills is irresponsible, but to say that excessive debt is sufficient to show poor character is completely asinine. He has poor character because he wanted to go to school, and school was expensive? He has poor character because he didn't have any money? "He should know better" than to try to make something of himself and pursue a better career, which, by the way will allow him to pay off his debt? Did we also consider that maybe he didn't pay it off because he has a family to take care of, and frankly bill collectors can wait if the kids need to eat? I mean, seriously, WTF? Anybody with a mortgage should be considered to have bad character because they owe hundreds of thousands and they haven't paid it off, and most of us who have been to college and haven't paid off our student loands. If he were intentionally defrauding or gaming the system to ensure that he never paid it ever, that would be bad character. But just owing a lot of money says nothing about one's character. I get that a person who doesn’t purposely doesn’t pay their bills is irresponsible, but to say that excessive debt is sufficient to show poor character is completely asinine. He has poor character because he wanted to go to school, and school was expensive? He has poor character because he didn’t have any money? “He should know better” than to try to make something of himself and pursue a better career, which, by the way will allow him to pay off his debt? Did we also consider that maybe he didn’t pay it off because he has a family to take care of, and frankly bill collectors can wait if the kids need to eat?

I mean, seriously, WTF? Anybody with a mortgage should be considered to have bad character because they owe hundreds of thousands and they haven’t paid it off, and most of us who have been to college and haven’t paid off our student loands. If he were intentionally defrauding or gaming the system to ensure that he never paid it ever, that would be bad character. But just owing a lot of money says nothing about one’s character.

]]> By: Matthew http://www.gjel.com/blog/law-students-does-debt-correlate-with-character-and-fitness.html#comment-161 Matthew Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:31:46 +0000 http://www.gjel.com/?p=2901#comment-161 New York provides a list of conduct that raises concern regarding character and fitness. Specifically, "neglect of financial responsibilities or professional obligations" can give rise to further investigation. I would like to believe the Character and Fitness Committee further reviewed Mr. Bowman's debt and made a decision based on the specific facts surrounding his circumstances. New York provides a list of conduct that raises concern regarding character and fitness. Specifically, “neglect of financial responsibilities or professional obligations” can give rise to further investigation. I would like to believe the Character and Fitness Committee further reviewed Mr. Bowman’s debt and made a decision based on the specific facts surrounding his circumstances.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.gjel.com/blog/law-students-does-debt-correlate-with-character-and-fitness.html#comment-73 Sarah Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:54:26 +0000 http://www.gjel.com/?p=2901#comment-73 My understanding of this is that his debt mounted to such epic proportions because he failed to make any payments on his original debt of circa $250,000 because he disagreed with the amount. This is stupid. You pay, and then contest it later. Defaulting on your loans intentionally is crazy irresponsible. Would you want to hire an attorney who failed to answer a complaint because he disputed the merit of the claims or the grounds for jurisdiction? No. There are processes in place to make the system efficient. I have no issues with what the bar did to this guy. He should know better. My understanding of this is that his debt mounted to such epic proportions because he failed to make any payments on his original debt of circa $250,000 because he disagreed with the amount. This is stupid. You pay, and then contest it later. Defaulting on your loans intentionally is crazy irresponsible. Would you want to hire an attorney who failed to answer a complaint because he disputed the merit of the claims or the grounds for jurisdiction? No. There are processes in place to make the system efficient. I have no issues with what the bar did to this guy. He should know better.

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