BLOOMBERG LAW — Becoming an attorney is not easy. From getting into law school to footing the six-figure bill for three years of classes, to passing the bar exam, the sheer number of hurdles a would-be lawyer must clear is daunting for even the highest-achieving student. But even after successfully navigating all these obstacles, yet another looms large and dissuades untold numbers of individuals—especially people of color—from ever embarking on the journey to induction. This impediment must be immediately removed if we are truly serious about improving diversity, equity, and fairness in our legal system. The problem is Question 26 on the New York Bar admission application, which reads: “Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, ticketed, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding?”