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I definitely wouldn't just list the GPA. Your school has done you no favors with that harsh curve. If you are sending your transcript with the application, then you probably should give the employer context so they don't think you're rock bottom of the class. I think either top 65% or 130/200 would be okay. I also wonder if you couldn't get away with not sending transcripts to employers who don't specifically request them, and leave the grade portion off altogether.

hoos89 wrote:I definitely wouldn't just list the GPA. Your school has done you no favors with that harsh curve. If you are sending your transcript with the application, then you probably should give the employer context so they don't think you're rock bottom of the class. I think either top 65% or 130/200 would be okay. I also wonder if you couldn't get away with not sending transcripts to employers who don't specifically request them, and leave the grade portion off altogether.

Thanks for your advice hoos89!
Should I list my GPA + Rank or just my Rank since a 2.80 looks plain terrible.

Do not even consider putting your GPA or class rank on your resume. List classes you have won top honors in, like your Witkin or Jurisprudence award. That's literally it. If you don't have any of those kinds of awards, then tough luck. By even bringing up your grades you are practically guaranteeing that a law firm will discard your resume. That's just the reality for those of us are below the median.

Tanicius wrote:Do not even consider putting your GPA or class rank on your resume. List classes you have won top honors in, like your Witkin or Jurisprudence award. That's literally it. If you don't have any of those kinds of awards, then tough luck. By even bringing up your grades you are practically guaranteeing that a law firm will discard your resume. That's just the reality for those of us are below the median.

Thanks Tanicius, that's what I have been doing, and so far I have been given a few screener interviews.
I am just afraid some firms might auto discard my resume for not listing my grade and assuming the worst.
I thought by listing a 2.80 / Top 65%, it would be probably be a tad bit better than "rock bottom"

I think on the whole you're better off not listing it at all, unless the employer explicitly requires transcripts. Not listing your GPA makes them more likely to read the rest of your resume. There are certainly employers who will see that you didn't list it and toss your resume, but those same employers are pretty likely to discard your resume if you do list it.

hoos89 wrote:I think on the whole you're better off not listing it at all, unless the employer explicitly requires transcripts. Not listing your GPA makes them more likely to read the rest of your resume. There are certainly employers who will see that you didn't list it and toss your resume, but those same employers are pretty likely to discard your resume if you do list it.

Roger. I'll just leave it off.
If I weren't patent bar eligible, I think I would have just dropped law school.

Anonymous User wrote:

Tanicius wrote:Do not even consider putting your GPA or class rank on your resume. List classes you have won top honors in, like your Witkin or Jurisprudence award. That's literally it. If you don't have any of those kinds of awards, then tough luck. By even bringing up your grades you are practically guaranteeing that a law firm will discard your resume. That's just the reality for those of us are below the median.

Thanks Tanicius, that's what I have been doing, and so far I have been given a few screener interviews.
I am just afraid some firms might auto discard my resume for not listing my grade and assuming the worst.
I thought by listing a 2.80 / Top 65%, it would be probably be a tad bit better than "rock bottom"

Unfortunately no. Even shit law firms like to pretend to themselves that they only select median students. It is very true that a lot of firms will discard your resume based solely on its school name or absence of an impressive GPA. But twice as many will discard it for below median grades. The battle is getting yourself into the interview room. If you can get into an interview room, then your school rank, class rank, and crap grades diminish as a substantial barrier.

Tanicius wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Tanicius wrote:Do not even consider putting your GPA or class rank on your resume. List classes you have won top honors in, like your Witkin or Jurisprudence award. That's literally it. If you don't have any of those kinds of awards, then tough luck. By even bringing up your grades you are practically guaranteeing that a law firm will discard your resume. That's just the reality for those of us are below the median.

Thanks Tanicius, that's what I have been doing, and so far I have been given a few screener interviews.
I am just afraid some firms might auto discard my resume for not listing my grade and assuming the worst.
I thought by listing a 2.80 / Top 65%, it would be probably be a tad bit better than "rock bottom"

Unfortunately no. Even shit law firms like to pretend to themselves that they only select median students. It is very true that a lot of firms will discard your resume based solely on its school name or absence of an impressive GPA. But twice as many will discard it for below median grades. The battle is getting yourself into the interview room. If you can get into an interview room, then your school rank, class rank, and crap grades diminish as a substantial barrier.

Thanks for your insight Tanicius!