Top Law Schools

For those who are 2L's and 3L's who are "freaking out" about doing less than exemplary this past semester, thought it may be worthwhile to get a poll of which firms actually even take a look so they can get a better sense of whether there is even a point in worrying.

FWIW, the main principle behind many of the older "do grades matter" threads have been "just rock your summer job and turn in awesome experience" but thought this may be useful for those who want to know if their firm even cares at all

If people would like to specify their firm (I understand if they'd want to maintain their anonymity however) I'd be happy to make a table over the findings if this thread actually takes off.

Happy rest-of-break!

FIRMS RESULTS (Updated Regularly)

ASKS FOR GRADES
Baker Botts (will no-offer for drop)
Hogan DC

DOES NOT ASK FOR GRADES
Covington DC

dividing this poll into v-whatever is kinda dumb. people can just post the firms via anon without jeopardizing anonymity (although this topic has been discussed ad nauseum in other threads)

V5 (not sure if it matters) and firm made us sign a waiver allowing the firm to ask our law school from our grades whenever they want.

I don't know if they actually do it tho- I'm only a 2L but thought that might help

Curious about this myself--at V20 and would like to know how common this practice is...

Yep, they did ask halfway through the summer. But my grades were amazeballs (Top 10 in the class for the year), so they could only help me after my semi-pitiful 1L performance.

Neither my V5 nor my V30 firms ever asked me for 2L grades, or 3L grades for that matter.

My 1L SA did require my 1L spring grades before offering a touchback.

They wanted an official transcript after we graduated to pay out the bar advance. But this was obviously intended solely as a way to prove we graduated at all and were actually qualified to take the bar and eventually work as an attorney--not something where they would revoke an offer if you got a C in Evidence.

2L: They ask and if you bomb as a summer this will be an add-on reason (or perhaps the excuse) for no-offering. It won't be the sole reason but it's quantifiable and hard to argue with.

3L with offer in hand: They ask for a final transcript before joining the firm but just to see that you graduated.

I have no dog in this hunt but I really don't see how giving vault ranges instead of naming firms helps anyone.

I thought they would ask, but they did not. I was a bit disappointed.

Hogan DC: who can tell me if they ask for grades?

There was no mention in the offer letter, from what I remember.

Baker Botts will no offer you for a grade drop, and is very open about this fact

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I have no dog in this hunt but I really don't see how giving vault ranges instead of naming firms helps anyone.

I'd be happy to structure this another way, but I feel like going firm by firm isn't very helpful (def open to suggestions). But I'd be happy to update the original post as people name the firms!

Anonymous User wrote:Neither my V5 nor my V30 firms ever asked me for 2L grades, or 3L grades for that matter.

My 1L SA did require my 1L spring grades before offering a touchback.

Would you mind mentioning the firms so we can include them in the list?

Anonymous User wrote:Hogan DC: who can tell me if they ask for grades?

There was no mention in the offer letter, from what I remember.

Hogan DC summer from last year. They asked for an updated transcript before the summer for 2L fall grades, and before we left at the end, we signed transcript release forms, presumably so they can get our spring 2L grades. Dunno if anyone gets no-offered for grade drops, though.

Does anyone know if WSGR SV asks for grades?

Anonymous User wrote:Baker Botts will no offer you for a grade drop, and is very open about this fact

What kind of grade drop?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Baker Botts will no offer you for a grade drop, and is very open about this fact

What kind of grade drop?

Ya... My question also. Are we talking dropping .3, .1, or just getting one B-/C, etc.?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Hogan DC: who can tell me if they ask for grades?

There was no mention in the offer letter, from what I remember.

Hogan DC summer from last year. They asked for an updated transcript before the summer for 2L fall grades, and before we left at the end, we signed transcript release forms, presumably so they can get our spring 2L grades. Dunno if anyone gets no-offered for grade drops, though.

Updated to include above

They're all going to ask because it would be incredibly reckless for them to give job offers without knowing if you failed out/dropped out. I'm pretty sure that equity partners would be able to sue the firm in this situation, because not verifying the summer is still in school comes out badly under the business judgment rule. The question is whether the main people making decisions give any weight to the grades or even look at them.

does anybody know if kirkland Chi will no offer based on grade drop? and if so, how big of a drop?

jrass wrote:They're all going to ask because it would be incredibly reckless for them to give job offers without knowing if you failed out/dropped out. I'm pretty sure that equity partners would be able to sue the firm in this situation, because not verifying the summer is still in school comes out badly under the business judgment rule. The question is whether the main people making decisions give any weight to the grades or even look at them.

Lol. I can't tell if you're being serious. This isn't a corporations issue spotter.

Anonymous User wrote:does anybody know if kirkland Chi will no offer based on grade drop? and if so, how big of a drop?

Even if somebody said yes, you have to keep in mind that no offering for a grade drop is like your significant other telling you, "It's not you, it's me." It's the least awkward and least risky excuse, and to the extent that the people making these decisions are motivated by benignity, the least damaging to your self-esteem.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Hogan DC: who can tell me if they ask for grades?

There was no mention in the offer letter, from what I remember.

Hogan DC summer from last year. They asked for an updated transcript before the summer for 2L fall grades, and before we left at the end, we signed transcript release forms, presumably so they can get our spring 2L grades. Dunno if anyone gets no-offered for grade drops, though.

(Different anon) - anyone know about their NY office?

jrass wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:does anybody know if kirkland Chi will no offer based on grade drop? and if so, how big of a drop?

Even if somebody said yes, you have to keep in mind that no offering for a grade drop is like your significant other telling you, "It's not you, it's me." It's the least awkward and least risky excuse, and to the extent that the people making these decisions are motivated by benignity, the least damaging to your self-esteem.

Maybe in some firms, but there have been people (like the poster who pointed out Baker Botts) who said that some firms will use your grades as a basis for a no-offer (ostensibly even if work product wasn't an issue). There are also rumors on TLS that GDC does the same thing, but I don't think its substantiated until a summer from the firm admits it