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I have a question about how I should represent something on my resume. Currently, it reads, "top exams in Legal Writing, Property and Civil Procedure."

No comments on the Oxford comma plz

Is that phrasing a genuine way to explain the following facts?

-In the first semester of Legal Writing, we were handed a list of ranges for the different grades. A's went from 60 points to 65 points. My memo was graded a 65 and was included first in a packet of exemplar exams. I never received a number score for my grade the second semester, which was an A; there were no A+s given.

-In Property, my professor did not tell us the range for raw numbers and did not assign a "best exam," or put up the best exams for viewing. Instead, he wrote a feedback memo that quoted from a number of exams. My exam was quoted from most frequently and half of the answers were quoted in their entirety; this was done for no other exam. I got an A and no A+s were given.

-In Civil Procedure, which, like Legal Writing, was a year long, my exam was one of two to be released in the first semester as exemplary of a well-written exam. In the second semester, the professor did not release exemplary exams. I received an A, but an A+ was given to someone else.


I want to mention this information on my resume but it's a little tricky to figure out and to do genuinely. When people say, "wow, you had the best exam in all of these classes?" I feel a little uncomfortable. My school doesnt' give out "CALI" or "Book Awards" or whatever, so this is all I have to work with. Ideas?

edit: ideally, I'd like a scenario when asked about these exams that I don't have to look like I'm backing away from the statement and saying I was puffing on the resume. I'm proud of the achievements but not sure how to frame them.

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rad lulz wrote:You don't technically know that you got the top grades in any of the classes other than LRW. Don't say anything ab those.

Yeah, I'd say it's pretty disingenuous to say you got a top grade in any classes other than LRW. Even then, it's kind of suspect since you don't know about second semester and for first semester, someone else might have also gotten a 65.

I would leave it off. What you're effectively trying to convey is that you had one of, if not the top exam in three of your classes, but that's more or less communicated by the fact you got an A.

You may have a case for LRW but not for the other two. Making it seem like you were formally recognized is unethical in this circumstance. Ask your LRW prof whether and how to list it.

Wow, this is harsher than I expected. This is the only way these professors show which exams they liked the most, other than, I guess, A+s. Note it doesn't say "top grade," it says "top exam." There's no one that can say the same as I can in Property, and only 1 other in the first semester of Civ Pro. That should really mean nothing?

Anonymous User wrote:Wow, this is harsher than I expected. This is the only way these professors show which exams they liked the most, other than, I guess, A+s. Note it doesn't say "top grade," it says "top exam." There's no one that can say the same as I can in Property, and only 1 other in the first semester of Civ Pro. That should really mean nothing?

Correct. It should mean nothing. My professor told me I received the top score on an exam in a class, but did not distribute grades, did not give me an A+ and has yet to notify me of a CALI. Still not putting it on. You're just going to have to let your GPA speak for itself.

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Citizen Genet wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Wow, this is harsher than I expected. This is the only way these professors show which exams they liked the most, other than, I guess, A+s. Note it doesn't say "top grade," it says "top exam." There's no one that can say the same as I can in Property, and only 1 other in the first semester of Civ Pro. That should really mean nothing?

Correct. It should mean nothing. My professor told me I received the top score on an exam in a class, but did not distribute grades, did not give me an A+ and has yet to notify me of a CALI. Still not putting it on. You're just going to have to let your GPA speak for itself.

But you'd list an A+? And you'd list CALI (my school doesn't do CALI)? I guess we just part ways. Your resume is meant to contrast you to other applicants; I think, in your case, the fact that your exam was the best is a good way to distinguish you from your classmates.

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Anonymous User wrote:Wow, this is harsher than I expected. This is the only way these professors show which exams they liked the most, other than, I guess, A+s. Note it doesn't say "top grade," it says "top exam." There's no one that can say the same as I can in Property, and only 1 other in the first semester of Civ Pro. That should really mean nothing?

You really do not know if you have the top exam in either. (Since when has being quoted the most in a sample answer automatically translate into "i had the top exam"?) Go ask your property professor if you really want to know. As for Civil Procedure, saying top exam just seems deceptive since there was an A+ given out. I think it's fine to say about LRW since you know you got a highest score, but it's pretty shady to say top exam in regards to property and civ pro.

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Your potential employer will be looking at your transcript. They will see that you got an A in those classes. Why put it on your resume at all? That's where you put what isn't reflected by your GPA and transcript. The only thing you should put on your resume that's grade-related, besides the GPA, is a CALI award.

rad lulz wrote:You sound like a preftige grubbing striver. It's gonna give people the wrong idea of you put what you want, so don't do it, and ask your school to do Cali awards next time.

Sorry if this got a little adversarial. I guess we're lawyers-to-be so it happens. What if I change it to, "best-graded memo, Legal Writing; exemplar exams, Property and Civil Procedure"? Does that risk sounding like I am grubbing for prestige? Isn't that what resumes are for?

Thanks for other responses too. With respect to civ pro, the A+ was given at the end of the year and not during the middle (no A+s then - just the exemplar exam)

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First off, any help this gives you is probably minimal. You probably have a few As, which speaks for itself. Considering most schools only give out a few As per section, its clear you did well. No employer is going to care if you had the 5th best grade in property or the best grade in property.

Second, if an interviewer actually asks you how you know how you had the top exam in these classes, it might be awkward, because you don't actually know. If they think you're lying or embellishing (which you are), it's just going to annoy them.

TB12 wrote: Second, if an interviewer actually asks you how you know how you had the top exam in these classes, it might be awkward, because you don't actually know. If they think you're lying or embellishing (which you are), it's just going to annoy them.

This is my biggest gripe with OP's approach. Well that, and the fact you come across as an insufferable douche for putting something like that

Thanks for your input, guys. I'll remove Property and Civ Pro references. I'll also reexamine my ego

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for your input, guys. I'll remove Property and Civ Pro references. I'll also reexamine my ego

Glad we could help, good luck

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for your input, guys. I'll remove Property and Civ Pro references. I'll also reexamine my ego

Also, while I wouldn't list this on a resume, I'd consider using these profs as recommenders. Their LoR would be way more helpful than a simple blurb on a resume.

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for your input, guys. I'll remove Property and Civ Pro references. I'll also reexamine my ego

haha i don't think it's bad to be really proud of the grades you got -- they really were great grades. (Just don't show how proud you are on your resume.) Good luck!