The Vale of Tears (3L Job Hunting) (No advice for 0/1/2Ls) Forum

[3|ink]

Can somebody give me some advice on this.

I recently graduated law school (and am unemployed) and my school allows one retroactive pass-fail option which I haven't used. I could use it on my lowest grade during my last semester (which was a B) and that would inflate my overall cumulative GPA a tiny bit (3.279ish to 3.294).

Is it worth it to do this? I'm guessing no. Because employers will probably be able to tell the grade was retroactively changed and will maybe assume the grade was worse than it was. And the bump in GPA is negligible. But then again, 3.29 is a lot closer to 3.3 than 3.279.

But I have to decide soon so please somebody give me some advice since the school itself is worthless when it comes to giving advice about this.

I would definitely do it.

Can I ask which school? I wish mind did because that would make a huge difference for me. I got a B my last semester that really dragged me down.

[JenDarby]

I would only do it if your transcript did not show that it was retroactively changed. The small GPA boost isn't worth your transcript making it look like you received something worse than a B, which IMO is how it would look if the transcript indicated a change.

You're close to a 3.3 either way and neither of those GPAs are bad unless your school is particularly known for grade inflation or something. Does your school require you use three decimal place rounding conventions? Rounding to 3.28 doesn't seem problematic otherwise.

[sparty99]

You are stupid for even asking the question. There is nothing to discuss. Have a higher gpa or lower. Hmmm. Such a hard choice.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You are stupid for even asking the question. There is nothing to discuss. Have a higher gpa or lower. Hmmm. Such a hard choice.

You're not supposed to post in this thread, sparty. Calling people stupid is not the way to get let back in.

[shredderrrrrr]

Can somebody give me some advice on this.

I recently graduated law school (and am unemployed) and my school allows one retroactive pass-fail option which I haven't used. I could use it on my lowest grade during my last semester (which was a B) and that would inflate my overall cumulative GPA a tiny bit (3.279ish to 3.294).

Is it worth it to do this? I'm guessing no. Because employers will probably be able to tell the grade was retroactively changed and will maybe assume the grade was worse than it was. And the bump in GPA is negligible. But then again, 3.29 is a lot closer to 3.3 than 3.279.

But I have to decide soon so please somebody give me some advice since the school itself is worthless when it comes to giving advice about this.

As an aside, why are you currently listing your GPA as 3.279 and not 3.28? Virtually every GPA I've seen has been rounded to the nearest hundredth. Not only does listing it to the thousandth look odd (to me at least), it needlessly makes your GPA look worse!

[El Pollito]

retroactively P/Fing a class is a horrible idea if it will be apparent to employers, as JD said

[AreJay711]

At Michigan we did retroactive pass/fails. It was just a "P" on the transcript. I guess it was obvious since, as far as I know, that was the only way to pass/fail a class, but I don't think it would hurt you.

[Pleasye]

So I got an offer today.

[BVest]

Congrats Pleasye! Is it one you're happy with?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Congrats Pleasye!!

[s1m4]

Hey all - I was wondering if you could help me out with some wisdom:

I got a job at a firm after graduation and was offered a low hourly rate and verbally promised that I would be promoted to a salary position with substantially higher pay upon passing the bar.

Its been over a month since I learned that I passed the bar, but have had no movements in terms of a permanent offer. Ive spoken to the supervising partner about three weeks ago who told me that it would eventually happen but im getting to the point where I really need to start coming up with a plan to pay down my debt, and im currently just barely surviving. Should I speak with the supervising partner of the firm? Can anyone recommend a way to do this? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thank you

[a male human]

Hey all - I was wondering if you could help me out with some wisdom:

I got a job at a firm after graduation and was offered a low hourly rate and verbally promised that I would be promoted to a salary position with substantially higher pay upon passing the bar.

Its been over a month since I learned that I passed the bar, but have had no movements in terms of a permanent offer. Ive spoken to the supervising partner about three weeks ago who told me that it would eventually happen but im getting to the point where I really need to start coming up with a plan to pay down my debt, and im currently just barely surviving. Should I speak with the supervising partner of the firm? Can anyone recommend a way to do this? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thank you

Not sure if this will help but a friend used to be in (not exactly the same but) a similar situation. I believe he was decently salaried as a law clerk but really wanted an actual attorney position after passing the bar. I suggested that he speak to some members of the firm (including his supervisor), but he felt like he was getting squeezed out (less dependency and work). He ended up bouncing to a completely different area of law, just so he could be an actual attorney.

[minnbills]

Hey all - I was wondering if you could help me out with some wisdom:

I got a job at a firm after graduation and was offered a low hourly rate and verbally promised that I would be promoted to a salary position with substantially higher pay upon passing the bar.

Its been over a month since I learned that I passed the bar, but have had no movements in terms of a permanent offer. Ive spoken to the supervising partner about three weeks ago who told me that it would eventually happen but im getting to the point where I really need to start coming up with a plan to pay down my debt, and im currently just barely surviving. Should I speak with the supervising partner of the firm? Can anyone recommend a way to do this? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thank you

Are you an attorney yet?

And congrats Pleasye!!!

[UnamSanctam]

So I got an offer today.

Legit

[El Pollito]

congrats again pleasye!!!



3 exclamanation points 4 u

[s1m4]

Hey all - I was wondering if you could help me out with some wisdom:

I got a job at a firm after graduation and was offered a low hourly rate and verbally promised that I would be promoted to a salary position with substantially higher pay upon passing the bar.

Its been over a month since I learned that I passed the bar, but have had no movements in terms of a permanent offer. Ive spoken to the supervising partner about three weeks ago who told me that it would eventually happen but im getting to the point where I really need to start coming up with a plan to pay down my debt, and im currently just barely surviving. Should I speak with the supervising partner of the firm? Can anyone recommend a way to do this? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thank you

Are you an attorney yet?

And congrats Pleasye!!!

Yes, im an attorney.

[minnbills]

Well if you're already licensed and they're not making moves to bump you up - I think it's time to start quietly looking for another position. Hopefully things work out with your current firm, but you should be protecting yourself here too.

[Pleasye]

Congrats Pleasye! Is it one you're happy with?

Thank you everyone . Yes I'm happy with it! They do what I want to do and pay decently. Location is not my fave and they're on the smaller side of what I wanted BUT practice area kind of trumps all for me. I haven't accepted yet but I'm 99% going to.

[s1m4]

Well if you're already licensed and they're not making moves to bump you up - I think it's time to start quietly looking for another position. Hopefully things work out with your current firm, but you should be protecting yourself here too.

Thank you - im going to start looking for other work. Should I still actively seek an internal raise by knocking on a different partners door and trying to speak with him about the situation, or are things like these only really discussed at reviews etc?

Ideally I would like to remain with this firm - I really like the niche area of law that I practice there and would be hardpressed to find anything similar entry level at a different firm (securities).

[s1m4]

Well if you're already licensed and they're not making moves to bump you up - I think it's time to start quietly looking for another position. Hopefully things work out with your current firm, but you should be protecting yourself here too.

Thank you - im going to start looking for other work. Should I still actively seek an internal raise by knocking on a different partners door and trying to speak with him about the situation, or are things like these only really discussed at reviews etc? I really need the raise, but my bargaining position is not strong here - unfortunately I cant just walk out the door and find a similar position elsewhere and Ideally I would like to remain with this firm - I really like the niche area of law that I practice there and would be hardpressed to find anything similar entry level at a different firm (securities). I'm sure that the firm is aware of this.

Thanks.

[s1m4]

Dub

[minnbills]

I don't think bringing it up with another partner is the right approach - your best bet is to let things play out with the partner you spoke to earlier. Your firm knows you want a bump in status and pay (who wouldn't?)

If you really like your firm you can just stick it out and not apply anywhere. The problem is if you lose your current job it will be more difficult to find another. (It's always easier to find work when you have a job).

[rinkrat19]

Some tentative good news to add to the pile...one of the recipients of the school PI fellowship that I didn't get back in April got a real job and turned down their fellowship award, and it was offered to me!!!! I still have to see if the host employer I'd lined up (prosecutor's office in Portland area, where I have moved back to) is still able to host another fellow (or maybe the school could give me a week to scrape something else up really fast), and it's still contingent on passing the bar, but I'm feeling something other than negative and hopeless about my job prospects for the first time since I was pretty well rocked by not getting the fellowship.

[Lwoods]

Congrats Rink & Pleasye!!!

Pleasye--not sure where you prefer to be geographically, but if you'd like SD better than the city where you got an offer, I can keep my eyes and ears open for lateral opportunities down the line. Congrats again!

[rinkrat19]

and congrats, Pleasye!