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Hi All,

I have a biglaw interview that I just found out about last night for next week. It's for a lateral commercial litigation position. I have 4 years of experience at a pretty decent regional firm. I submitted my resume and they didn't ask for a transcript...but I noticed the vacancy notice does say "excellent academics required." Unfortunately, I have horrific law school grades. Any advice on how to spin that if it comes up? Should I even bother going? I'm a wreck!!

BobsYourMan30 wrote:Hi All,

I have a biglaw interview that I just found out about last night for next week. It's for a lateral commercial litigation position. I have 4 years of experience at a pretty decent regional firm. I submitted my resume and they didn't ask for a transcript...but I noticed the vacancy notice does say "excellent academics required." Unfortunately, I have horrific law school grades. Any advice on how to spin that if it comes up? Should I even bother going? I'm a wreck!!

Assuming this is not a flame

They always say excellent academics required. Are you reading this somewhere that is public (like their website)? Clients and other firms can read that too.

Not flame. It says it on their vacancy notice on a job board.

Whats considered bad law school grades? Did you graduate from a T14?

Bottom 30%. T2. But have worked at good quality firm for past 4 years. It's really annoying that grades matter at this point.

T2 as in Harvard or T2 as in Mississippi State?

BobsYourMan30 wrote:Bottom 30%. T2. But have worked at good quality firm for past 4 years. It's really annoying that grades matter at this point.

Is this the firm that you were accepting a position with in April of 2014, that was your first real job?

Anonymous User wrote:T2 as in Harvard or T2 as in Mississippi State?

the latter

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

BobsYourMan30 wrote:Bottom 30%. T2. But have worked at good quality firm for past 4 years. It's really annoying that grades matter at this point.

Is this the firm that you were accepting a position with in April of 2014, that was your first real job?

sorry i meant 1-2 years of experience. but I do have lots of law school internships.

BobsYourMan30 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:T2 as in Harvard or T2 as in Mississippi State?

the latter

still, definitely go for it.

big law firms have numerous full-time recruiters. they get hundreds of apps for every position. they obviously saw something special in your resume or credentials that they liked.

no matter what your grades were in law school, if you dazzle them during the interview, your grades won't matter. find compelling things to say about your 2 years as a practicing attorney, and be prepared to explain your law school grades when asked about them. since you were bottom 3rd, i'd be surprised if you weren't asked about your grades, but just confidently tell a story about how you worked really hard, etc. etc., and just weren't a good exam taker, find ways to talk about the classes you did well in, and then say how much you love being a real attorney and talk about why they should hire you.

Anonymous User wrote:

BobsYourMan30 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:T2 as in Harvard or T2 as in Mississippi State?

the latter

still, definitely go for it.

big law firms have numerous full-time recruiters. they get hundreds of apps for every position. they obviously saw something special in your resume or credentials that they liked.

no matter what your grades were in law school, if you dazzle them during the interview, your grades won't matter. find compelling things to say about your 2 years as a practicing attorney, and be prepared to explain your law school grades when asked about them. since you were bottom 3rd, i'd be surprised if you weren't asked about your grades, but just confidently tell a story about how you worked really hard, etc. etc., and just weren't a good exam taker, find ways to talk about the classes you did well in, and then say how much you love being a real attorney and talk about why they should hire you.

I keep trying to think of clever ways of discussing the grade issue. I did have another interview where it came up and I totally tanked it.

BobsYourMan30 wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

BobsYourMan30 wrote:Bottom 30%. T2. But have worked at good quality firm for past 4 years. It's really annoying that grades matter at this point.

Is this the firm that you were accepting a position with in April of 2014, that was your first real job?

sorry i meant 1-2 years of experience. but I do have lots of law school internships.

Sketchy?

Br3v wrote:

BobsYourMan30 wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

BobsYourMan30 wrote:Bottom 30%. T2. But have worked at good quality firm for past 4 years. It's really annoying that grades matter at this point.

Is this the firm that you were accepting a position with in April of 2014, that was your first real job?

sorry i meant 1-2 years of experience. but I do have lots of law school internships.

Sketchy?

Yeah for starters don't lie in your interview maybe.

Did the ad also list a requirement for good moral character?

BobsYourMan30 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

BobsYourMan30 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:T2 as in Harvard or T2 as in Mississippi State?

the latter

still, definitely go for it.

big law firms have numerous full-time recruiters. they get hundreds of apps for every position. they obviously saw something special in your resume or credentials that they liked.

no matter what your grades were in law school, if you dazzle them during the interview, your grades won't matter. find compelling things to say about your 2 years as a practicing attorney, and be prepared to explain your law school grades when asked about them. since you were bottom 3rd, i'd be surprised if you weren't asked about your grades, but just confidently tell a story about how you worked really hard, etc. etc., and just weren't a good exam taker, find ways to talk about the classes you did well in, and then say how much you love being a real attorney and talk about why they should hire you.

I keep trying to think of clever ways of discussing the grade issue. I did have another interview where it came up and I totally tanked it.

I would concentrate on current work product. Just because you couldn't do well in exams doesn't mean you can't do superior work for clients. This only works if you've had good experience to back that up.

But yeah, I would be more straightforward about your details rather than playing loose with them.

Good luck!