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A mid-size firm offered me a 1L SA position after reviewing 3 of 4 grades. I accepted and soon after received my final grade. It is terrible and a complete outlier. I didn't fail, but it singlehandedly dropped my GPA ~.4. I understand that I need to go over the exam with the professor to see where I went wrong (not to appeal or argue the grade--just for my own education), but what I'm really worried about right now is damage control with the firm.

Should I send the firm an updated transcript? The firm hasn't requested one, but I assume it's only a matter of time before it does--right? Or should I stay quiet? I want to start my legal career off ethically, and I feel staying silent isn't the best way to do that.

Also, there was no mention of the offer being contingent upon maintaining my GPA. Does that mean I'm in the clear or am I still at risk of the firm rescinding the offer? The grade was in a doctrinal class (not LRW). Thanks.

They liked you enough to hire you. If hiring you was going to be contingent on getting a good grade in that last class, they could have waited. Maybe they expected you to do great, so then just have a good answer on why you didn't and what you will do to make sure that doesn't happen again. That said, people catch bad breaks, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

OP here. Thanks for the reply.

Any opinions on not sending the transcript until it is requested, sending it to the recruiting director now, or sending it to the hiring partner now? Whether I send it now or later, should I acknowledge the grade in the email with a 1-2 sentence, "I believe I messed up because of X, I'm doing Y to correct this" explanation or wait until the outlier is brought up?

Thank you.

I really don't think they'll care.

Don't send it until they request your transcript. It probably won't be until the end of summer, so hopefully you can do well in the spring and bring your GPA back up.

Don't send it until requested, unless obviously they've asked you to send it already.

OP posting again.

Just in case any future TSL'er is in this position, I wanted to post an update. I chose to disclose upfront, and (as was predicted) the firm didn't care. In fact, the hiring partner actually seemed to think it was humorous and said, "that's law school grading for you." Did I just luck out? Maybe. However, if you're ever in this position, don't fret about your offer being rescinded.

Anonymous User wrote:OP posting again.

Just in case any future TSL'er is in this position, I wanted to post an update. I chose to disclose upfront, and (as was predicted) the firm didn't care. In fact, the hiring partner actually seemed to think it was humorous and said, "that's law school grading for you." Did I just luck out? Maybe. However, if you're ever in this position, don't fret about your offer being rescinded.

best response ever! congrats

they liekd you. they dont wanna waste time hiring someone else. time is money