Bad Grades, no chance of 1L SA? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Did super bad on my first semester at a t14, any chance I can land a SA now? No ties or connections really.

[BigZuck]

Maybe? But probably not?

What exactly are you looking for here? Condolences? If so, condolences. Still a whole semester to salvage your 1L GPA.

[Easterbork]

Obviously it is a factor that will hurt. Not sure what t14 you are at, but most people do not get a 1L SA. You should focus on figuring out what you did wrong and correcting that. Try to go over exams with your profs and see if you need to change your exam taking strategy. The money from a 1L SA is great and it is looked upon favorably, but not working at a big law firm your first summer is the norm, and as long as you get law-related employment of some kind you'll be fine.

In short, the issue isn't your chances of getting a 1L SA, it's that it will hurt you chances of getting a 2L SA and your focus should be on improving your grades in the second semester so that you can put yourself in the best position possible to be able to do that.

[dabigchina]

HYS? URM? What kind of URM?

But super bad 1L grades usually put you out of the running.

[mjb447]

Your post doesn't contain very much information, but if you don't have grades, ties, or connections, what do you have?

[Anonymous User]

URM out of school for a few years with WE.

No GPA or Rankings at my school.

Lost on where to begin with improving. Met with a professor but she was really not any help.

[pancakes3]

you were never going to land a 1L SA anyway. still in the running for OCI and that's all that matters.

[1styearlateral]

Go intern with a judge for free.

[Pneumonia]

People have grades already?

[nunumaster]

most people don't get 1L SA despite grades. Suck it up and try to find something else paid, you're still good for 2L OCI.

[zhenders]

If by super bad you actually and without exaggeration mean super bad -- as opposed to being a gunner upset about median -- then yes, you're probably out for 1L SAs. But if you're at median, you're not necessarily out.

[Anonymous User]

What is "super bad" in the legal profession?

[BasilHallward]

edit: Grammar

[BasilHallward]

Isn't the whole point of posting anon to supply more than a modicum of information, so we can actually give you feedback. You're not getting a 1L SA. Suck it up and nail the upcoming semester.

[skers]

Depending on how bad your grades are, you could still get a diversity scholarship position, but those aren't really always promises of a future slot and are more token efforts for partners to show on pamphlets and websites how diverse they apparently are.

Jobs aren't really guaranteed, URM or not with bad grades, and I know several URM strikeouts at various t14 schools (Native American w/ 1L SA for instance). Grades are way more of a crapshoot than anyone wants to admit, but meet with every professor to figure out what to fix.

[Anonymous User]

I went on multiple 1L SA screeners, but was not taken seriously with my 3.0 gpa. That being said, went into 2L OCI with a 3.1 overall 1L gpa and had like 10 call backs and multiple offers.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks guys, especially the last anon.

It just sucks b/c I studied so much and though I killed those tests. I'm just going to try and do better next semester.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Try meeting with at least one other professor to see if they're more helpful. Frankly, I think sometimes the curve is tight enough in classes that it's hard for a prof to explain the grade you got without all the other exams to reference, or some profs just aren't good at explaining that stuff. You may have better luck with others.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks Nony, I will do that as well!

[jingosaur]

Since you are URM, you should apply to diversity programs anyay. You might land something. Worst case is you get some experience before OCI.

[jbagelboy]

without any other information, yes, you have no chance at a 1L SA. Start applying for other jobs.