Career Clinic: Should I own up to lying on my CV?

Neither. "He" should withdraw his application immediately.

Anonymous -15 Mar 2007 | 11:44

Blimey, I see the pompous brigade is out in force again.

Anonymous -15 Mar 2007 | 12:29

The consequences of being found out (whatever the risk of that happening may be) are far too high to just "sit tight". He needs to either explain that there appears to be an error on his CV and correct it or, as suggested above, withdraw the application. What is more puzzling is why someone who is several years qualified felt the need to lie about their A Levels.

Large regional firm -15 Mar 2007 | 12:32

There's clearly been a lack of integrity up to this point and he seems to have got away with it, so why is he suddenly starting to worry about it now?!

Anonymous -15 Mar 2007 | 12:33

It would be wrong to carry on with the job having acquired the job offer through dishonesty. If he confesses he will have the job offer withdrawn. The only appropriate courses of action are to confess or to withdraw his application himself. It's up to him which he would prefer. He WILL be found out eventually - many firms use professional reference checking services that check exam results against databases of public exam results - A-level results are easily searchable. If he's several years qualified he really should have known better - honesty is a requirement in this profession - and he's a complete fool as once you're a few years qualified no-one cares about your A-level results.

Magic circle associate -15 Mar 2007 | 13:37

If he has several years' experience I doubt if this US firm even considered his "A Level" results or understand fully what they are. If he is concerned, however, he should correct the error as casually as possible i.e. in the context of some other communication with them on the post.

Bill -15 Mar 2007 | 16:42

Best professional ethics advice I ever received was whilst working up North. "You can get away with chinning someone lad, but don't tell porkies."

Magic Circle associate -15 Mar 2007 | 17:04

Let's be practical here. I can't believe even a US law firm would have offered a job to a senior associate based on his high school grades; didn't they look at higher education results and work exeperience to date, at which firm etc? You need to correct the CV and let them know, for sure, and I bet they won't change their mind. Question I have for you is this: is that the only lie on the CV?

In-house lawyer, big company -15 Mar 2007 | 17:57

US firm won't understand what A-Levels are?(Above)That's nonsense! Sod the ethics, you don't owe anybody anything. And all that stuff about law being an honest profession is rubbish too.There should only be one thing on his mind and that's avoiding the sack, the time for morals was before he lied. It's a bit of a gamble, but I say sit tight for now. He'll be screwed anyway if he resigns, and no-one will believe it's a typo.

US associate (who knows what A-Levels are) -15 Mar 2007 | 20:03

Commercial law is in no small part about codified concealment and the representation of clients' interests, often to the extent of being economical with the facts. It's a game and lawyers are paid to manipulate the rules to the benefit of clients. The bottom line is what you can get away with.

Anonymous -16 Mar 2007 | 08:49

If your boyfriend isn't bothered about lying, why are you? If this worries you, then I can't imagine what you will be like if you suspect he is cheating on you with another female colleague. And to answer your question, I couldn't give a rats bottom if the lawyer advising me has three As or three Es as long as he can give me proper legal advice.

Investment Banker (ex-Lawyer) -16 Mar 2007 | 11:11

Did his lie(s) help to get his training contract too? Isn't obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception a crime under section 16(2)(C) of the Theft Act 1968? Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive ...

Anonymous -16 Mar 2007 | 13:32

Shocking behaviour. I hope he is found out and that the offer is withdrawn. End of. The stuff about the firm not caring about his results is probably true, but what do his actions say about his integrity?

Reed Smith -16 Mar 2007 | 15:20

"You can get away with chinning someone lad, but don't tell porkies."So assault, which is a criminal offence, is OK but don't tell the odd fib on the CV. Some lawyers have very funny ideas about integrity.

Anonymous -16 Mar 2007 | 15:31

Well yes, that's exactly the point. Both are criminal offences, but only one involves dishonesty. Assault has nothing to do with integrity. Buy an ethics book.

Associate, magic circle -16 Mar 2007 | 16:57

If he does get found out, then the law firm is as likely to be as concerned about his stupidity as his deceit. Given that his A-level grades are less likely to be relevant to his job than his experience - which is presumably why he is being hired - perhaps he should sit tight. As for lying in the future, just remember you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Associate -18 Mar 2007 | 18:50

Of course - because people are always getting prosecuted for making up stuff on their CV. A typical CPS meeting: "The evidence shows this scrot wasn't even on the mooting team, let's send the filth down."And what kind of ethics book? A general one? Would that be next to the Guide to Fortitude and the Dictionary of Resilience in the Library of Abstract Nouns? If we are talking about a legal ethics book, I doubt they've started adding chapters whereby it's OK to hit people. Well, at least you're hitting people honestly.

Anonymous -19 Mar 2007 | 09:11

I made an (honest) mistake on my CV when I applied for my job at my present firm a year ago. As soon as I realised (which was after having accepted the job offer), I came clean. I'd given myself a distinction on the PGDL, rather than a commendation (which strikes me as a little more serious/relevant than A-Levels). Did the firm care? Did they hell. Seriously now, I reckon this is a sting by a tabloid hack to see if lawyers suggest that their peers can get away with lying.

Associate, US firm -21 Mar 2007 | 16:49

He might find he has to withdraw his application when the firm asks for copies of his academic certificates. If they don't ask for copies, chances are they will be using a company to check them anyway. It is exceptionally stupid and vain to lie on a CV - and doesn't hold out much hope for integrity in other areas of that person's life either.

Anonymous -22 Mar 2007 | 11:39

It's the willingness to lie, rather than the absurdity of the request, which is the problem. As well as the fact it's such an easy lie to spot...

stmonan -22 Mar 2007 | 16:24

If he owns up to an "error" it is doubtful whether he will be believed and his firm should throw the book at him. The alternative is to do nothing - the firm may have employed a checking agency and already know of his deceit. I have heard of some companies sitting on such information and then using it x-many years down the line when they need to axe someone without having to worry about troublesome employment legislation. His lie has therefore removed the protection offered by law - which would make me panic!

Marc -22 Mar 2007 | 16:57

Lies, Lies, Lies! I bet half the lawyers employed in practice today have lied about thier A-Levels and even their class of degree. I don't think anyone ever checks, though they should! You ought to dump him, however, as he is plainly not quite the ticket, to have lied in the first place, and not to have thought about the consequences until now.

Lawyer -22 Mar 2007 | 19:17

the guy that rants on above about ethics being obscure should try some reading about fiduciary duties, not a particularly obscure concept (to a lawyer at any rate) and pretty important to a career in law. i'd place more trust in an honest thug than a thief.

Anonymous -16 Apr 2007 | 19:07