Grades Question Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am at the top of my class (~top 1-2%) at a T14 with multiple book awards. My LRW grade, however, is going to be much lower than my doctrinals. Is this a serious issue for clerkship apps? I don't really have a sense of how judges view LRW classes generally, whether a stellar performance across doctrinals matters more, whether I should address it preemptively, etc. Any input or advice would be appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I should have noted that I am a rising 2L, if that wasn't already clear.

[Anonymous User]

It's going to matter, unfortunately. How much depends on the relative strength of you as an applicant as weighed against the other applicants. I would not preemptively mention it in your cover letters or anything like that, but have an answer prepared if you are asked about it.

[Anonymous User]

Do you already have your grade? Or do you know it's going to be low but don't have it yet? If it's the latter my guess is that you wouldn't be top 1-2% anymore (I don't think you'll drop very far though), which is probably what matters the most. If it's the former and you're still top 1-2%, you're fine. I don't know that a judge would look at your transcript and immediately have a poor opinion of you because you got a lower grade (relatively) in Legal Writing than in your other courses. But who knows, maybe some would. I'd try not to think too hard about it as there's nothing that can be done other than to try and keep doing well next year.

And how big of a grade difference are we talking? Like a B+ in a sea of all A's? Or a C? The latter is going to hurt a lot more for your GPA (which again is what matters the most for clerkship purposes) and will also stand out a lot more on your transcript such that you might get asked about it during an interview, but you also might not. If it's a B+ I don't know that anyone will care very much.

[Anonymous User]

Do you already have your grade? Or do you know it's going to be low but don't have it yet? If it's the latter my guess is that you wouldn't be top 1-2% anymore (I don't think you'll drop very far though), which is probably what matters the most. If it's the former and you're still top 1-2%, you're fine. I don't know that a judge would look at your transcript and immediately have a poor opinion of you because you got a lower grade (relatively) in Legal Writing than in your other courses. But who knows, maybe some would. I'd try not to think too hard about it as there's nothing that can be done other than to try and keep doing well next year.

And how big of a grade difference are we talking? Like a B+ in a sea of all A's? Or a C? The latter is going to hurt a lot more for your GPA (which again is what matters the most for clerkship purposes) and will also stand out a lot more on your transcript such that you might get asked about it during an interview, but you also might not. If it's a B+ I don't know that anyone will care very much.

I do not have it yet but it will likely be a B+, in a sea of As and A+s. There were extenuating circumstances outside of school that directly impacted the LRW grade in particular. I'll need to find a way to explain that if asked without sounding like I'm making excuses.

[Anonymous User]

Do you already have your grade? Or do you know it's going to be low but don't have it yet? If it's the latter my guess is that you wouldn't be top 1-2% anymore (I don't think you'll drop very far though), which is probably what matters the most. If it's the former and you're still top 1-2%, you're fine. I don't know that a judge would look at your transcript and immediately have a poor opinion of you because you got a lower grade (relatively) in Legal Writing than in your other courses. But who knows, maybe some would. I'd try not to think too hard about it as there's nothing that can be done other than to try and keep doing well next year.

And how big of a grade difference are we talking? Like a B+ in a sea of all A's? Or a C? The latter is going to hurt a lot more for your GPA (which again is what matters the most for clerkship purposes) and will also stand out a lot more on your transcript such that you might get asked about it during an interview, but you also might not. If it's a B+ I don't know that anyone will care very much.

I do not have it yet but it will likely be a B+, in a sea of As and A+s. There were extenuating circumstances outside of school that directly impacted the LRW grade in particular. I'll need to find a way to explain that if asked without sounding like I'm making excuses.

I think you're fine. Your GPA will take a slight dip but you'll probably still be comfortably top 5% (though obviously check with your school). I can't imagine you'll get asked about it in interviews but I guess you never know.

[Anonymous User]

Do you already have your grade? Or do you know it's going to be low but don't have it yet? If it's the latter my guess is that you wouldn't be top 1-2% anymore (I don't think you'll drop very far though), which is probably what matters the most. If it's the former and you're still top 1-2%, you're fine. I don't know that a judge would look at your transcript and immediately have a poor opinion of you because you got a lower grade (relatively) in Legal Writing than in your other courses. But who knows, maybe some would. I'd try not to think too hard about it as there's nothing that can be done other than to try and keep doing well next year.

And how big of a grade difference are we talking? Like a B+ in a sea of all A's? Or a C? The latter is going to hurt a lot more for your GPA (which again is what matters the most for clerkship purposes) and will also stand out a lot more on your transcript such that you might get asked about it during an interview, but you also might not. If it's a B+ I don't know that anyone will care very much.

I do not have it yet but it will likely be a B+, in a sea of As and A+s. There were extenuating circumstances outside of school that directly impacted the LRW grade in particular. I'll need to find a way to explain that if asked without sounding like I'm making excuses.

I think you're fine. Your GPA will take a slight dip but you'll probably still be comfortably top 5% (though obviously check with your school). I can't imagine you'll get asked about it in interviews but I guess you never know.

Makes sense. Thank you for your help!

[Anonymous User]

It's going to matter, unfortunately. How much depends on the relative strength of you as an applicant as weighed against the other applicants. I would not preemptively mention it in your cover letters or anything like that, but have an answer prepared if you are asked about it.

Thanks. As I was saying to the other responder, it's going to be a B+ where all my other grades are in the A/A+ range. I'm hoping that doesn't stick out too much.