Here at Waldron Fann & Parsley, Attorneys at Law, in Tennessee, we represent many drivers accused of driving while intoxicated and/or other alcohol-related driving offenses. We therefore know how critical it becomes that you defend such charges to the best of your and your attorney’s abilities. The last thing you need is a DUI conviction on your record.
It goes without saying that a DUI conviction could land you in prison and result in the revocation of your right to drive. But you probably have not thought about other potential ramifications of receiving a DUI conviction, especially those related to your employment. Nevertheless, as FindLaw points out, negative employment consequences become a real possibility after any conviction, including one for DUI.
Professional licensing
For instance, if you are a student studying to become a doctor, lawyer or other professional, you will need a license to practice. The licensing board, however, may not issue you a license if you have a criminal conviction on your record. Likewise, if you desire to get a job requiring a commercial driver’s license, your DUI conviction most assuredly will preclude your getting a CDL for years to come.
Background checks
Even if your preferred job does not require a special license, your prospective employers will almost certainly run a background check on you and can discover all sorts of negative information about you should you receive a DUI conviction, including the following:
- Court records from any cour(s) in which you underwent prosecution for DUI
- Incarceration records resulting from your DUI conviction
- Driving records from any state(s) in which you received a DUI or other traffic-related conviction
- Driving records from any state(s) in which your driver’s license became suspended or revoked due to your DUI conviction
Unfortunately, all these negative pieces of information about you could wreck your chances of obtaining any job for which you apply. Fair or not, many employers view any kind of a criminal conviction, including one for DUI, as a huge black mark on your character. They may well give the job you want to another applicant with the same or lesser qualifications than you, but with a clean record.
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