I'm not sure why that would be, but I can't say for sure how many people get H's in LRW. I can't imagine the school would put the stamp on a curve that gave significantly fewer than 35% H's, especially considering that notions of median/rough percentiles are becoming better defined over time. I know a few BSA's that might have some perspective on this, but I can't guarantee that even they know.AllTheLawz wrote:Out of curiosity.. does anyone know definitively whether there is a special curve for LRW?? Ive heard conflicting things.. some people swear that the percentage of people who get an H in LRW is far less than doctrinal classes.GeePee wrote:Put the time in and get an H in LRW. Really. If you try hard enough, you will get an H. Try to see if you can schedule a check in appointment or two with your Climenko and make sure you're giving them what they want.JDflowergirl wrote:Regarding LRW, does this class really screw people over? TLS makes it seem like its one of the hardest things in Law School. Since its graded at Harvard (curses!!!), how do employers use this in making their their decisions? Also any tips on how to do well?
There are few classes where putting additional time in is nearly guaranteed to pay dividends in your grade. In fact, I would argue that spending too much time getting bogged down in the details is objectively bad for some classes and some professors. I'd say 98% of the people at Harvard are good enough writers to get an H in LRW, yet only 35% do. If you really spend time refining your prose, you're probably going to get an H -- it's just kind of the reality of the situation.
On the philosophy of LRW, I think that the time and seeking additional feedback are both probably necessary to do well first semester. My understanding is that there are fewer than 35% H's given out on the first memo, because everyone screws it up and it's supposed to be a motivating learning experience. However, I still think the curve sorts itself out by the end, and it becomes easier to "do it right" on the open memo. Learning how to craft concise legal prose (and learning things like when it's appropriate to speak from the point of view of the court's reasoning versus stating the rule or proposition directly) takes time, and you should try to understand your Climenko's philosophy. I maintain that it is learnable, however, and it can pay significant dividends.