Seriously, how are law school grades even relevant? Forum

[crEEp]

As a 3L, I've heard my fair share of professors defend the objectiveness of their exams. These defenses range from naive/deceptive ("multiple choice exams offer the best way to ensure consistent grading!") to plausible ("extremely difficult exams generate a larger set of characteristics useful in evaluating performance"). This was cute until one professor recently conceded that his exam in no way represents daily life for attorneys within the specialty the course serves.

There's nothing particularly surprising or even noteworthy about his remark. After the first day, even a 1L would recognize that a three hour cumulative essay exam prepares law students for litigation just as much as the game Operation prepares med students for surgery. Notwithstanding the axiomatic nature of law school exams' irrelevance to practicing law, a justifiable cause for alarm exists.

Currently, I've earned 60-something credits, and will earn another 15 this semester. Assuming a 3.0 average for the 60 credits, currently I would have earned 180 quality points. Straight C's this semester in my five courses (2.0*15 credits == 30 quality points) would have the same effect on my GPA as three B's, a D, and an F. (3.0*9 credits + 1.0*3 credits + 0.0*3 credits == 30 quality points). Should either scenario occur, my GPA would fall from a solemn and dignified 3.0 to a respectable 2.8.

Imputing significance to this drop is meaningless without a context in which to define a 0.2 GPA point increase. To accomplish a 0.2 point GPA gain, this semester's grades must increase my total quality points from 180 to 3.2*75 credits == 240. That's a 60 point increase; only one combination of grades nets 60 quality points: five A's. I would need straight A's in five law school courses to increase my GPA by 0.2 points.

1L GPAs are extremely volatile because each grade's percent contribution to the cumulative GPA is significantly higher. As such, a rational 1L would gun for straight A's. However, continued education dilutes each course's percent contribution to the cumulative GPA, which justifies, ipso facto, a rational basis for 3L apathy. This presumes the non-existence of any externalities that affect the extent to which a 3L derives utility from the examination process.

Recall from above my professor's remark that his exams in no way represent what we might expect in practice. Recall also the two most important factors in assessing one's employment potential: grades and school. For 3Ls, both factors are immutable characteristics of their history.

This realization encourages me to take classes that grade students on a cumulative paper they write, rather than a cumulative exam they take. Writing such a paper provides utility sufficient to establish presence of the externalities previously mentioned; viz., I could potentially publish the paper, use it as a writing sample, or refer back to it at a later dates. Exams, on the other hand, are locked away for eternity in some lurid administrative office.

So, who else thinks this process is insane and barbaric?

[johansantana21]

Duno, but they need some way to distinguish between who gets biglaw and who gets shitlaw.

[BlueDiamond]

he mad?

[sundance95]

he mad?

o yea

ETA:

[zomginternets]

Duno, but they need some way to distinguish between who gets biglaw and who gets shitlaw.

This is the only reason for grades.

[thesealocust]

I thought about typing a response, but your post was long and looked butthurt when I squinted at it, so instead I didn't read it.

[Arbiter213]

Duno, but they need some way to distinguish between who gets biglaw and who gets shitlaw.

I thought that was why we had the t14 and everyone else?

[johansantana21]

Duno, but they need some way to distinguish between who gets biglaw and who gets shitlaw.

I thought that was why we had the t14 and everyone else?

Was before ITE.

Now bottom half of lower t14=ttt and should drop out

Like I'll be doing in a few weeks.

[meg5096]

Trying WAY too hard to sound smart and sophisticated with all them big and fancy words and such

[Guchster]

SO MUCH RAGE!

--ImageRemoved--

[sundance95]

SO MUCH RAGE!

--ImageRemoved--

oh man, this just killed me, ty

[Ludo!]

That was even more pretentious and obnoxious than most of my law school professors. If you write like that on your exams no wonder your grades are shit.

[crEEp]

SO MUCH RAGE!

--ImageRemoved--

There's actually no rage!! I legitimately just don't give a fuck anymore and am hoping that I'm not alone in that regard

[Morgan12Oak]

ITT: poor law student justifies poor performance with poor reasoning and poor use of legal lingo?

[kwais]

Trying WAY too hard to sound smart and sophisticated with all them big and fancy words and such

+ a bajillion

[crEEp]

That was even more pretentious and obnoxious than most of my law school professors. If you write like that on your exams no wonder your grades are shit.

--ImageRemoved--

[Guchster]

That was even more pretentious and obnoxious than most of my law school professors. If you write like that on your exams no wonder your grades are shit.

--ImageRemoved--

Stick to posts with words and leave the .jpg to me.

[MrKappus]

Is it bad that the biggest problem I had w/ the OP was "a respectable 2.8"?

[Guchster]

Is it bad that the biggest problem I had w/ the OP was "a respectable 2.8"?

yes.

[BlueDiamond]

Is it bad that the biggest problem I had w/ the OP was "a respectable 2.8"?

i was gonna point that out.. but exams have seemed pretty rough.. so i may soon have to pitch employers with "a respectable 2.8"

[MrKappus]

Is it bad that the biggest problem I had w/ the OP was "a respectable 2.8"?

yes.

Good. Because I'm bad. I'm bad.








I know it.

[crEEp]

Stick to posts with words and leave the .jpg to me.

I guess you're unfamiliar with Privilege Denying Dude?

[Guchster]

Stick to posts with words and leave the .jpg to me.

I guess you're unfamiliar with Privilege Denying Dude?

*yawn* tl;dr

[shepdawg]

Exams, and especially exam weeks simulate the experience of being a lawyer under pressure during an extended trial, merger, etc. The grades from these exams show who has the mental stamina to make it through experiences that "normal" people could not handle.

[thesealocust]

Exams, and especially exam weeks simulate the experience of being a lawyer under pressure during an extended trial, merger, etc. The grades from these exams show who has the mental stamina to make it through experiences that "normal" people could not handle.

Not sure if serious...