2lol or not so much Forum

[Anonymous User]

Locked up a job at v10 with around a 3.4 gpa. THe letter says they offer is conditional on a transcript with comparable GPA. how good do my grades really need to be? would i be safe with anything above a 3? or are firms generally more strict than that?

[zot1]

I would think they want you to maintain it or improve it. 3.0 is definitely not comparable to 3.4.

[Br3v]

Yeah and in fact a conditional offer like that is grounds to keep looking for other firms IMO. Though if your school is a 3.3 curve then it seems pretty safe.

[Anonymous User]

not to hijack - but if this type of language isn't in summer associate offer letter, do firms typically take a look at transcript pre-summer associate gig starting?

[PourMeTea]

Is it normal for v10 firms to send out conditional offers?

[Br3v]

Not normal to be in letters and most firms don't care except for drastic changes. I know of a lot of people who received their full time offers before firms even saw 2L grades.

[Anonymous User]

I don't even remember CSM asking for an updated transcript for me.

[BizBro]

This is some BS. Is this normal? None of my offer letters even mentioned grades, granted they were not v10.

[KidStuddi]

If I recall correctly, I think my letter said something similar but the firm never actually asked for my transcript until after I graduated (and even then, the transcript was only to show I actually graduated before they'd give me my bar summer stipend). It's probably just a paragraph someone threw into the form letter that no one really cares about. Bottom line is, so long as the firm didn't drastically exceed their target class by accident, they're not looking for false or technical reasons to cut candidates and ruin their 100% offer rates. Historically, Latham aside, the V10 has been pretty good about not over hiring. If you prove yourself competent and likable during your summer, you're going to get an offer regardless of what your GPA is.

[Anonymous User]

OP here: exact language is:

XXX offer is contingent upon completion of following items: must maintain academic record that is comparable to transcript you gave us; you must clear a background check by an outside agency; a background questionnaire; and you will be asked for clients for a conflict analysis.

Should i be worried?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah and in fact a conditional offer like that is grounds to keep looking for other firms IMO. Though if your school is a 3.3 curve then it seems pretty safe.

School is to a 3.35 curve

[philepistemer]

Not a former Kirkland sa, but as far as I know the only v10 that includes this language in offer letters in Kirkland, and like most conditions or firms policies it's probably an excuse to get rid of people who end up sucking, being obnoxious, or getting on the wrong side of someone important.

[Anonymous User]

OP here: exact language is:

XXX offer is contingent upon completion of following items: must maintain academic record that is comparable to transcript you gave us; you must clear a background check by an outside agency; a background questionnaire; and you will be asked for clients for a conflict analysis.

Should i be worried?

Also curious, not to hijack the thread, but my language is fairly similar - offer is contingent on receipt of an updated transcript

[Anonymous User]

OP here: exact language is:

XXX offer is contingent upon completion of following items: must maintain academic record that is comparable to transcript you gave us; you must clear a background check by an outside agency; a background questionnaire; and you will be asked for clients for a conflict analysis.

Should i be worried?

This is perfectly normal. Nothing to worry about at all. Same thing they sent me at my V10. Everyone got offers.

[Anonymous User]

Also curious, pretty sure the poster and I got the same letter and I assumed it waa just v10 boilerplate. I don't plan on not studying completely and dropping below median, but I got lucky grade-wise during 1L and don't want to have to bust my hump all of 2/3L.

[Anonymous User]

This is the same debate every single 2L with an offer has in their mind every single year. It's going to be fine.

[First Offense]

I know some firms (I think Gibson does? Maybe Williams and Connolly?) ask for transcripts during the summer. Most seem not to care though. My firm didn't ask at all.

[Anonymous User]

Covington uses similar language.

[Anonymous User]

I have a friend at a V10 who went from like a 3.6 1L year to a 3.0 2L year. Her grade drop was brought up at her midsummer review and she was told that if she was given an offer it might be contingent on her raising her grades her 3L year. Ultimately she got a full time offer that wasn't contingent on raising her grades just like the rest of her summer class.

FWIW

[jbagelboy]

#2LOL it

[thesealocust]

This is the same debate every single 2L with an offer has in their mind every single year. It's going to be fine.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah and in fact a conditional offer like that is grounds to keep looking for other firms IMO. Though if your school is a 3.3 curve then it seems pretty safe.

Yeah, I don't know what makes you think that this isn't standard boilerplate language in all of the firm's offers. My firm said something along the lines of this offer is conditioned on X, Y, Z, and "continuing to maintain my strong grades". I didn't even think twice about it and assumed it was just standard language used to scare students from completely mailing it in. Was I wrong to think this?

[Anonymous User]

.

[thesealocust]

Yeah and in fact a conditional offer like that is grounds to keep looking for other firms IMO. Though if your school is a 3.3 curve then it seems pretty safe.

Yeah, I don't know what makes you think that this isn't standard boilerplate language in all of the firm's offers. My firm said something along the lines of this offer is conditioned on X, Y, Z, and "continuing to maintain my strong grades". I didn't even think twice about it and assumed it was just standard language used to scare students from completely mailing it in. Was I wrong to think this?

You weren't wrong. Law students are just genetically crippled by neuroticism.

Of course so is the firm, and so they have every incentive to include language like that in the offer letter. It's free for them to do so and will buy them some measure of optionality if a candidate turns out to be a problem - the risk on the firm offering full time jobs more than a year in advance is real.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden has very similar language, but my cumulative was .2 lower after 2L and it was never brought up. I agree with TSL that its just boilerplate to give them a backdoor if they need it, but its very common and not at all a form of cold offer like others seem to be implying.