Lateral move BigLaw - Got the interview, bad transcript Forum

[arich24]

Man oh man it's been years since I've posted, but I always got good advice and now I'm in need of some!

I'm a 2nd year associate at a small firm looking to branch out into BigLaw. I practice in a niche area...it's all I do. Well, I came across a posting for a BigLaw position for a lateral move in my niche. Given my grades in law school (all decent except one HORRIBlE travesty 1L year that led me to graduate bottom half of the class (by a thousandth of a point), I figured I had no chance but they didn't ask for a transcript right off so I just tried to wow them with my experience.

Well, wouldn't you know I have an interview!! Exciting, right? Well now they want my transcript. I have no doubt that they will literally fall out of their chairs given their normal cut off.

Am I doomed?

[DwightSchruteFarms]

From what I understand, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, your transcript is important for lateraling if you do so within the first 3-5 years of practice. The greater the gap btwn law school and your interview, the less your transcript matters and the more important what you have done since graduation becomes.

[KidStuddi]

Is the BigLaw position an associate position or contract attorney? If it's the latter, grades matter far less than you would think.

Either way, if your GPA / class rank wasn't on your resume to begin with, they're probably not expecting great things from your transcript. Since they extended you an interview, just barely below median probably won't doom you.

[Renne Walker]

Is the BigLaw position an associate position or contract attorney? If it's the latter, grades matter far less than you would think.

Either way, if your GPA / class rank wasn't on your resume to begin with, they're probably not expecting great things from your transcript. Since they extended you an interview, just barely below median probably won't doom you.

How are your 2L grades?

[IAFG]

You're not really asking for advice. You'll have the answer soon enough. Good luck, hopefully your experience trumps your grades.

[hds2388]

I don't think your doomed. When they ask for your transcript, you likely won't wow them; but if they are granting interviews without even asking to see it, it's not a priority for them (at least at the outset). Keep emphasizing experience; if they ask about grades, talk about how you improved after a rough grade in a 1L class, and then move right back to your experience, and how you've learned much more in practice. If they want grades to determine who they hire, there's nothing you can do. They've done nothing so far suggesting grades are that important, which makes me think you have a shot.

Nail it!

[MinEMorris]

Like others have pointed out, no one can really say how much the firm will care. Either way, you're going to find out soon.

Going into the interview, though, I wouldn't feel apologetic for your grades. If they bring it up, I would address it unabashedly. In my opinion, there's nothing shameful about the general explanation "I blew my shot in law school, and now I bust my ass around the clock to earn a second chance." You can also spin the contrast between your school and work successs. You can talk about how watching someone talk about legal concepts in the abstract for five months and capping it off with a four-hour closed book exam just wasn't a motivating environment for you. As you went into practice and actually had clients, deadlines, and fact patterns that were actually fact patterns, law came to life for you, you love it, and now you're able to perform at a much higher level. I'm no interviewing pro, but I would think that once you've had successful experience practicing law, a bad law school transcript is just a wrong prediction.

Congratulations, by the way!!

[cgl27]

Bump this because I'm in a similar position as OP.

Lateraling in as a 1st year associate in a niche area, but submitted my mediocre transcript upon applying. BigLaw scheduled a call despite my transcript. My call is with a partner I have a previous work relationship with (partner likes me, we've had positive interactions). Am I doomed too -- is the call just a courtesy? Note I didn't reach out to the partner upon applying, I wanted my resume/application to speak for itself to secure a call.

[Desert Fox]

Bump this because I'm in a similar position as OP.

Lateraling in as a 1st year associate in a niche area, but submitted my mediocre transcript upon applying. BigLaw scheduled a call despite my transcript. My call is with a partner I have a previous work relationship with (partner likes me, we've had positive interactions). Am I doomed too -- is the call just a courtesy? Note I didn't reach out to the partner upon applying, I wanted my resume/application to speak for itself to secure a call.

You have lower self esteem than a fat, 14 year old girl with no dad.

Of course they are interested.

I'm sure some firms care about grades but I'm sure many more don't give a fuck. If the guy has a good working relationship, I'd assume grades play no part.

3-5 years is nerdy TLS FLAME.

[A. Nony Mouse]

No one has time to interview people as just a courtesy.

[kaiser]

If the transcript makes it so you cant even get through the door, then you have an issue. But if they chose to interview you, you.have a chance. Take that opportunity and really wow.them. If you have a.really great interview, have solid work experience, etc., then they may very well place less emphasis on grades. Create the.best impression possible that makes them essentially forgot about your.transcriprt.

[wildhaggis]

Bump this because I'm in a similar position as OP.

Lateraling in as a 1st year associate in a niche area, but submitted my mediocre transcript upon applying. BigLaw scheduled a call despite my transcript. My call is with a partner I have a previous work relationship with (partner likes me, we've had positive interactions). Am I doomed too -- is the call just a courtesy? Note I didn't reach out to the partner upon applying, I wanted my resume/application to speak for itself to secure a call.

You have lower self esteem than a fat, 14 year old girl with no dad.

Of course they are interested.

I'm sure some firms care about grades but I'm sure many more don't give a fuck. If the guy has a good working relationship, I'd assume grades play no part.

3-5 years is nerdy TLS FLAME.

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