How to overcome bad grades? Forum

[desperate4lawschool]

I went to a T20 undergrad school (BS in Electrical Engineering) and a T25 law school. I unfortunately did not graduate with very good GPAs (2.5 undergrad, 2.9 law). I have been prosecuting patents for the past 10 years (starting from the bottom and working my way to the top) and would like venture to a law firm. My reservation is that all postings I see from law firms require submission of your academic transcripts. I am afraid that I would not even get an interview. How do I overcome this issue or are my dreams of working for a law firm pretty much shot?

[totesTheGoat]

I have been prosecuting patents for the past 10 years

Are you doing this in-house?

I would think that you're going to be very interesting to small and mid-sized patent boutiques. 10 years of pros experience should overshadow poor GPA, I would think. The biglaw GP firms may overlook you, but I know more than one below-median law students who got jobs at smaller boutique firms.

[zot1]

Law firms are more forgiving of the GPAs of engineers who want to do patent work because of supply and demand.

Just apply.

[84651846190]

The alternative is unemployment or switching fields. If you want to stay in law, you obviously need to just apply and hope for the best.

[ballouttacontrol]

You're fine for patent work. Probably not gonna get anything else that pays similarly

[misterjames]

With 10 years of experience I'd be surprised if your grades are given any weight in evaluating your application.