Will a DUI conviction end your career?

You likely already know that if you receive a Maryland DUI conviction, you could face substantial jail time and a large fine.

What you may not know, however, is that a DUI conviction can also make it very difficult, if not impossible, for you to find the employment you desire.

For instance, as FindLaw explains, if you currently attend grad school with the goal of practicing in one of the professions, you will need a license. Unfortunately, your DUI conviction may result in the licensing board refusing to grant you one.

Criminal background checks

Even if you have no intention of practicing medicine, law, etc., your DUI conviction can still come back to haunt you when you apply for jobs. Why? Because most employers conduct criminal background checks prior to hiring a new employee. Depending on the extensiveness of this check, any or all of the following could show up:

• The court record of your DUI trial and conviction
• The record of when, where and the amount of time you spent in jail or prison
• Your state driving record reflecting your conviction
• Your driving record(s) from any state(s) where your conviction resulted in a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license

Negative impact

In today’s less than ideal job market, one cannot overstate the negative consequences of your DUI conviction. Prospective employers may well choose someone else with a clean record to fill their open position(s). In addition, no one will hire you if the job for which you apply requires you to have or obtain a commercial driver’s license. Your DUI conviction will prevent you from obtaining a CDL for at least 5-7 years.

All in all, a DUI conviction represents a very serious occurrence indeed. Your best interests dictate that you do everything possible to prevent it. This is general educational information and not intended to provide legal advice.