A criminal conviction can have damaging effects on anyone’s life. However, if a person is a student or is just starting a career, a conviction can limit opportunities now and in the future. Below are several ways a criminal conviction can affect a client’s life for years afterward even with the help of a criminal lawyer in Vermont.
Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility
Most people already know that an undergrad or graduate degree is very expensive. Because of the high cost, many students count on loans to pay for college. However, if a person is convicted in a drug case, even for simple possession, they are at risk of losing eligibility for federal student loans and financial aid.
Prospects for Higher Education
If a client’s plans include getting a degree, they need high test scores, a solid GPA, work experience, and references. What’s not needed is a criminal record. Because all graduate and professional schools require clients to disclose convictions, having one can mean the person loses a great opportunity.
Career Limits
If a client’s career goals include work in a field with licensing requirements, like law or medicine, a criminal conviction can make it difficult to get into the industry. State boards overseeing these professions do not look favorably on criminal activity, especially that involving alcohol or drugs. If a person has a conviction, they can spend a significant amount of money and time getting a degree that’s unusable because of licensing issues.
Employment Consequences
Like graduate schools, all employers require candidates to provide information including criminal convictions as part of the hiring process. Having a criminal conviction can make it hard to find a job, as many companies are reluctant to hire a person with a criminal history. This is particularly true for government positions that require security clearances.
Consult an Attorney
Having a criminal conviction can bring trouble that a defendant doesn’t need. It can put a person’s entire future at stake, making it important to visit Sawyerlegal.com to talk to a criminal lawyer in Vermont as soon as possible after charges are filed. Attorneys can work on a client’s behalf to form a solid defense and achieve a favorable outcome.
