Responsible Behavior After Bankruptcy Leads To Conditional Admission

A conditional admission was granted by the Louisiana Supreme Court

Petitioner applied to take and successfully passed the Louisiana Bar Examination. However, the Committee on Bar Admissions (“Committee”) subsequently declined to certify petitioner for admission to the bar based on facts and circumstances pertaining to the neglect of his financial responsibilities. Petitioner then applied to this court, seeking admission. We denied the application, with the provision that he could not reapply for admission for a period of three months, “and only after providing documentation that he has made arrangements to satisfy his financial responsibilities.” In re: Committee on Bar Admissions CFN- 945794, 15-2299 (La. 2/5/16), 183 So. 3d 507

One year later, petitioner filed the instant petition, representing that he had obtained an order of discharge in bankruptcy of the debts cited by the Committee. We remanded the matter to the Committee on Bar Admissions Panel on Character and Fitness to conduct an investigation and appointed a commissioner to take character and fitness evidence. During the proceedings, petitioner introduced evidence that although some of his debts had been discharged in bankruptcy due to circumstances beyond his control, he had reaffirmed other debts, including his vehicle and an office building. Furthermore, petitioner introduced evidence that he had entered into a monthly payment arrangement with his student loan creditor. Petitioner also introduced evidence that he had made payments to the IRS to satisfy a portion of a federal tax lien against him and had entered into a monthly installment agreement with the IRS to satisfy the remaining sum due. Thereafter, the commissioner filed his report with this court, recommending petitioner be admitted to the practice of law. Neither party objected to this recommendation.

Considering the commissioner’s recommendation and the entire record of this proceeding, we conclude petitioner is eligible to be conditionally admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana, subject to a probationary period of three years.

This order provides quite a bit more detail than most Louisiana conditional admission orders. (Mike Frisch)