Will a DWI Affect My College or Job Prospects?

A DWI can impact your ability to get into a university or limit your employment opportunities. While a DWI will not result in an admissions committee automatically denying your application, the severity of your offense could be reviewed. Even if you are the most qualified candidate, a DWI conviction could be a red flag for a college admissions committee or potential employer. If you have been denied a professional or educational opportunity following a DWI, our Columbia DWI lawyer at Landon Miller Law is available to inform you of your legal rights and help you after your DWI.

Timing Matters

An admissions committee or employer will likely review when the DWI occurred. If your DWI happened in high school, the admissions committee is less likely to hold it against you than if it happened more recently. Alternatively, employers are also less inclined to give added weight to your DWI if it took place a while ago. Of course, this is solely at the employer’s discretion, with many companies having a strict policy against criminal convictions on employee records.

Licensed or Professional Programs May Have Different Rules

While a DWI may not necessarily impact your ability to get into an undergraduate program, certain academic majors and licensing programs may have stricter rules. For instance, nursing and other healthcare programs may deny you for any type of criminal history. The same applies if you are applying for a criminal justice program, law school, or an education program.

Professional licensing boards could be inclined to deny your application or renew licensure with a DWI on your record. The rules will vary between licensing boards and will vary on a case-by-case basis. Under the Fresh Start Act of 2020, if your license is denied, the licensing authority must inform you in writing of the following:

• The grounds and reasons for the denial and disqualification
• Your right to a hearing under Chapter 621 to challenge the licensing authority’s decision
• The earliest date that you would be eligible to reapply for licensure
• That evidence of rehabilitation may be considered upon reapplication

“Ban the Box” Policy for Government Employers

State government employers are prohibited from asking potential candidates about their criminal past on an initial job application. Thankfully, the city of Columbia has passed an ordinance that bans private employers from doing the same. However, an employer is allowed to inquire about a candidate’s past once they are ready to make a conditional offer. At this point in the process, an employer is more able to consider whether the conviction will disqualify the individual from effectively performing the position.

How Our Columbia DWI Attorney Can Help

If you have been denied opportunities based on a past DWI, our Columbia DWI lawyer may be able to assist in having the offense erased from your record (expunged). To qualify, you must wait 10 years after completing your sentence. An expungement only applies to a first DWI offense. Missouri may allow expungement of certain first-time DWI/Alcohol-related driving offenses after the applicable waiting period if statutory requirements are met.

Getting your record cleared can open up doors, allowing you to move forward more easily. If you do not qualify for an expungement, you may be able to apply for clemency. Clemency involves being pardoned by the governor. A pardon restores civil rights and may remove legal disabilities, but does not expunge the criminal record, and it will still show up on background checks. If you want to learn more about your options, you should speak with Landon Miller Law.

Contact Our Columbia DWI Attorney Today

If you have a DWI offense on your record, the ramifications can follow you forever. Many DWI offenders have limited job prospects, educational opportunities, and even struggle to find suitable housing. If you are ready to change your circumstances, our Columbia DWI lawyer may be able to help. At Landon Miller Law, we advocate for individuals who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. To arrange your free consultation, contact our Columbia office online or by calling (573) 658-1919 today.