” He was a jailhouse lawyer while in prison, and has become a powerful advocate for the formerly incarcerated through a New Orleans organization called Voice of the Experienced ( VOTE ). Since his 1993 conviction, Bruce Reilly has “ turned his life around. After evading police for a year, Reilly was convicted of second-degree murder and robbery, and served twelve years in prison. Reilly then stole Russell’s car, wallet and credit cards. The two men fought, and Reilly ultimately bludgeoned Russell to death. After a sexual encounter, Reilly became enraged and began stabbing Russell in the neck. In September 1992, when he was 19, Reilly accepted a ride from Rhode Island Professor Charles Russell, who brought him to his home. Reilly’s 1993 murder conviction is likely to give any Bar Examiner pause when considering his moral character. As he has acknowledged, one piece of the admissions process may be just out of reach: a positive character and fitness determination. Reilly graduated from Tulane law school in 2014. Some past indiscretion, error in judgment, or ongoing personal battle has deemed them presumptively unfit in the eyes of the Bar Examiners.Ĭonsider the plight of well-known civil rights activist Bruce Reilly. However, despite receiving the same education, some students may have trouble proving to the bar that they meet the moral character requirements. It is a combination of knowledge, opportunity, and connections that instills confidence and energy.” Most students entering into law school have a similar goal in mind: to practice law.