Dropped from top third to....? Forum

[AtlantaDawg]

I just finished my second year at a school in the mid 20s-30s.
I was a transfer student. After my first year, I was in the top third. After my first semester at my new school, I was outside of the top third by like ten people. Now, I'll be lucky to even be in the top half.

I bombed three finals. I had a virus and had to keep getting up during the exam. I wasn't even close to finishing each one. I managed to put out a B- on each one. However, I really wanted to practice employment law but two of the finals I bombed were employment law and employment discrimination. I have an externship lined up with the labor and employment counsel of a Fortune 500 company in the fall and I've done lots of interesting employment law work so far this summer and I've gained good experience.

Do I have any shot at getting interviews at firms like Ford Harrison, Jackson Lewis, etc? I will have good experience to talk about from this Summer and I'll get an offer at the end to have in my pocket. I applied to Ford Harrison through SEMJF but I feel like after I submit my Spring grades I'll get trashed. Should I note on my transcript that I was sick and didn't even come close to finishing the exams?

[smallfirmassociate]

Don't put any excuses on your transcript. Make the most of your externship and sell yourself in a positive way at OCI.

[Anonymous User]

I just finished my second year at a school in the mid 20s-30s.
I was a transfer student. After my first year, I was in the top third. After my first semester at my new school, I was outside of the top third by like ten people. Now, I'll be lucky to even be in the top half.

I bombed three finals. I had a virus and had to keep getting up during the exam. I wasn't even close to finishing each one. I managed to put out a B- on each one. However, I really wanted to practice employment law but two of the finals I bombed were employment law and employment discrimination. I have an externship lined up with the labor and employment counsel of a Fortune 500 company in the fall and I've done lots of interesting employment law work so far this summer and I've gained good experience.

Do I have any shot at getting interviews at firms like Ford Harrison, Jackson Lewis, etc? I will have good experience to talk about from this Summer and I'll get an offer at the end to have in my pocket. I applied to Ford Harrison through SEMJF but I feel like after I submit my Spring grades I'll get trashed. Should I note on my transcript that I was sick and didn't even come close to finishing the exams?

If you ever made these excuses during an interview (and I have heard excuses like this), I would tell you the story of a friend of mine who was diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoma the week prior to his 1L spring exams. A, A, A-, HP. Hopefully that would get the point across.

[mushybrain]

In the future, talk to student services. My school would have let me reschedule my finals for illness like this and then problem solved.

[AtlantaDawg]

I asked to reschedule. I was told no and that only in very rare emergencies (family death or hospitalization) is a request to reschedule a final actually granted.