Getting arrested and convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) can make life more difficult, long after you’ve served out the sentence or punishment issued by the court. A DUI can have severely detrimental effects, particularly when you’re looking for a job or applying for college admissions.

The Effects on Current and Future Employment

Many companies require you to inform them of any convictions you’ve had in the past. Potential employers might look at hiring a person convicted of a DUI as a potential risk, especially if the job requires them to operate machinery or automobiles. They may face higher rates from insurance companies if they hire a person with a prior DUI conviction, or be liable for paying more damages if they’re ever sued for any injuries caused by you.

A potential employer might also deny you employment if you need to obtain a license for the job, like plumbing, nursing, etc. You might be required to report criminal convictions or arrests to the agency that maintains and issues licenses. While you may be able to keep your license after the DUI, it could be temporarily suspended or revoked, if you fail to report the conviction or arrest. It’s best to check the reporting requirements, which are usually available on the agency’s website. If you’re unsure, call them or consult a DUI attorney.

DUI Impacts on Education

If you’re studying or applying for college admissions, a DUI conviction might limit your options for colleges as well as financial aid. Just like employers, many colleges would require you to note any prior convictions on the application forms and if you don’t, your application might get rejected for failing to report DUI arrests or convictions. A single conviction might still be overlooked if you agree to or have already completed a counselling program for drug/alcohol abuse, though many might deny admission or suspend students for multiple offences.

That’s not all, some colleges require enrolled students to report any arrests within a fixed timeframe, and students could get temporarily, or permanently suspended, if they fail to. While a temporary suspension might not be as disastrous, it can severely affect your grades and financial aid. In addition to the policies of the college, students opting for specialized career paths that require licensing might be suspended, or their applications rejected, if the licensing agency is unlikely to issue the license because of DUI convictions or arrests.

What You Can Do to Limit the Effects of DUI

Depending on your particular field of work or studies, and the company or college you’re applying for, a DUI conviction might not immediately affect you. However, there’s no telling what the future has in store and it might benefit you to take steps to reduce the effects it might have. Here are a few ways you can improve your odds-

Probation and DUI Expungement

If you have the option of probation, you should probably push for it. If you are given a probated sentence, and you complete it successfully, most states will let you apply for expunging your DUI record. If you have to serve jail time or you fail to complete your probation, obtaining an expunction for a DUI is much more difficult. Not all states permit expunging of DUI convictions or offenses and it will still count as a prior for repeat offenses. You may still have to disclose it on applications for employment, security clearances and others.

In an expunction, a while after your conviction, you petition to the court to remove the conviction from your record, alleging that you’ve completed your probation. If you have met the expungement requirements of your state, a judge will hear your case and decide whether to clear your record of the DUI conviction.

Non-Disclosure Petition

In case your state doesn’t permit DUI convictions and offenses to be expunged, you might have the option of petitioning for a non-disclosure. Non-disclosures are quite similar to expungement and also require successful completion of a probated sentence or a DUI probation. The end-result is a little different in the case of non-disclosure, where the DUI conviction will remain on your record, accessible to district attorney offices and law enforcement agencies. However, employers, employers and the general public will no longer be able to access your DUI records.

When you’re facing DUI charges, it’s important to discuss your goals for employment or education with your DUI attorney, so they can work out the best plea deal for you and limit the impact the conviction will have on your future.