1L Grades

So, your grades are in. And they aren't what you'd hoped they'd be. 

First off, they probably don't suck nearly half as badly as you think they do. Depending on what school you attend, your curve is most likely set up in such a way that something like 75% of the students get to be at or above what looks like a top-half mark. So even if you didn't hit a homerun this time, you're still in this thing. But knowing that most readers are a highly motivated bunch even for law students, I realize that that's not going to be much consolation.

And you're right. If you didn't rape the donkey with a balloon this past semester, it's entirely possible that you won't get lucrative employment this summer, to which I say: So What? Consider it a license to do something infinitely more fun and educational. You're going to have your entire life to work at firms. Take this summer to try something different.

How about being a professor's research assistant? Usually pays a bit, instant rec letter, actual research. Everyone I know who did that is glad. (By the way: you'll want to ask your target profs about their summer needs as soon as you're done reading this.)

Or go the judicial internship route. I know one lucky bastard that interned for a federal district judge over the summer and got a clerkship offer from the judge without having to go through the entire hellish clerkship application process. In my book, that's like sex without the dinner. Or without the cash.

And here's where I'm supposed to say "go volunteer for a public interest organization or a DA's office...some law schools might even fund you!" But I'm not really into, like, helping people, so it would be pretty hypocritical of me to advocate that. Besides, if you're not going to do something that furthers your career, I'd suggest concentrating on the most desperately needy charity you know: You.

This could very well be your last completely free summer. Use it wisely. I know everyone is freaked out about the "what did you do this summer?" question during Fall interviews, but honestly, that question rarely comes, and when it does, you don't need much. Join the summer staff of a journal and complete your work from your laptop on the beach. Or take one summer school class that you won't have to attend much. Or shadow someone inspirational, like Dan Abrams or Starr Jones. Just something partially law-related to get the firms off your back if they ask. And then use the rest of the summer to recharge and find your spirit. Oprah-style.

But this summer is only half of the story. You still have a semester left to ratchet up your GPA before fall interview season, and you've learned a lot that can help you. You're not scared of being called on anymore. You know how the library works. You know that the one study partner you were counting on to explain ConLaw to you is a moron. And you know that lots of the bastards with nice fall grades--and even more of those without--are going to be slacking off this semester. Whether it's because they're overconfident, or they've lost all hope, or just because it's a lot harder to study when it's warm outside, tons of your classmates are going to slip. Don't let that happen to you. Be the one who makes up some ground.

Mainly, remember that it's only law school. Have some fun. Hell, after a semester, you probably don't even want to be a lawyer anymore. So why stress?       

Comments

[Reckless Murder]

So you're saying if I did well, it's time to cruise right? I was planning on starting my drug consortium this semester. And not the RX kind, starting off with speed (since all law students need more energy) then moving on to crack and coke. That way when I get the "what did you do last summer?" question I'll say that I successfully defended a drug trafficing case.

[K. S.]

Interestingly, your words have made me feel better about my grades than anything anyone else has said. Thought you ought to know...

I'm dropping out. 4 As and 1 B. I can't have a B.

[Ruby]

Well said!! I was so so so crushed when my 1L grades came out ... cried like a baby, the whole thing. Everybody said "No, seriously, I know you did not do as well as you had hoped, but you did good, you should be proud, do you know how many people would love to have your grades??" And I did not listen, and instead wasted a couple of perfectly good months being depressed as hell and trying not to cry in public whenever anyone mentioned a word that began with the letter "A." This whole experience was on my mind a couple of weeks ago, because one of my profs screwed up our grades for last semester. When the fixed grades came out, my lowest grade from last semester was boosted up a notch and I was SO HAPPY! Of course, in an ABC-After-School-Special-Enjoy-These-Days-Of-Your-Life lesson, the newly boosted grade became ... the grade I was weeping about so much from my first semester. I wanted to run out and tell every freaked out 1L I saw, but since I did not know any of their names I thought that might freak them out even more in a oh-my-god-I-am-trying-to-hide-it-but-everybody-knows-I-hate-my-grades kind of way. Anyway, the point being, listen to Wings, he knows his shit.

what if all the public interest jobs turn you down and you can only get interviews with big firms? (not joking)

[alex]

best post ever.

[JR]

I have to take issue when you suggest that public interest jobs won't help your career. Employers like to see legal experience. If one mentions on a resume all the discovery requests, memos and briefs one helped produce at his or her public interest job, employers will be sure to take notice.

[wingsandvodka]

True, though I've been informed that putting my briefest of stints doing work for the ACLU at the top of my resume for 1L spring interviews may have been somewhat responsible for my dismal showing.

That, and the thing with the sheep.

[astuce]

astuceacuraaston martinad awareantivirusantivirus en lignealbumsastrologieantivirus gratuitadobe acrobatastuce jeu videoalbumassurance autoacrobatastrologie gratuiteantivirus a telechargerantivirus gratuit a telechargeralfa romeo brera