1L SA at V10, GPA dropped Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’m a 1L SA at a V10 firm in NY. My school (T50) just released our grades and I dropped from a 3.5 to a 3.3. I was banking on a return offer from this firm so I could avoid OCI but now I’m unsure given the situation. Should I be worried about being no-offered for my 2L year? Is there anything I should do to counteract this GPA drop? I really like this firm and want to stay.

[ExpOriental]

Fake a rare disease to engender sympathy (nothing commonplace like cancer; too easily factchecked)

[Anonymous User]

Try to do as good of a job as possible and make as good of an impression to as many people as possible, including partners if you can manage it. The rest is out of your control really.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a 1L SA at a V10 firm in NY. My school (T50) just released our grades and I dropped from a 3.5 to a 3.3. I was banking on a return offer from this firm so I could avoid OCI but now I’m unsure given the situation. Should I be worried about being no-offered for my 2L year? Is there anything I should do to counteract this GPA drop? I really like this firm and want to stay.

Which firm is this?

[Anonymous User]

How did you land a 1L SA at a V10 with 3.5 from a T50 to begin with

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

If they gave you a 1L SA, they will be happy to have you back as a 2L. Hiring Standards for 2L SAs are substantially lower. This is irrelevant w.r.t. the firm and just affects other options (e.g. clerkships, big fed, academia)

[Sackboy]

How did you land a 1L SA at a V10 with 3.5 from a T50 to begin with

Kirkland brought on 565 summers. That's the entire class of like Cornell + Northwestern. Add in the fact that there are 9 other V10s, a lot of top students don't want to go to a V10, and some good ol' luck, and there you have it. The current legal market is very kind to grads with OK grades @ T50s right now. It could also be like Fordham or something, which is a good bit better than your average T50.

[Anonymous User]

How did you land a 1L SA at a V10 with 3.5 from a T50 to begin with

Kirkland brought on 565 summers. That's the entire class of like Cornell + Northwestern. Add in the fact that there are 9 other V10s, a lot of top students don't want to go to a V10, and some good ol' luck, and there you have it. The current legal market is very kind to grads with OK grades @ T50s right now. It could also be like Fordham or something, which is a good bit better than your average T50.

That doesn't explain 1L SA. Diversity is more likely (in which case OP has nothing to worry about).

Or maybe this specific T50 has a really tough curve and 3.5 is top 10%?

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

How did you land a 1L SA at a V10 with 3.5 from a T50 to begin with

Kirkland brought on 565 summers. That's the entire class of like Cornell + Northwestern. Add in the fact that there are 9 other V10s, a lot of top students don't want to go to a V10, and some good ol' luck, and there you have it. The current legal market is very kind to grads with OK grades @ T50s right now. It could also be like Fordham or something, which is a good bit better than your average T50.

That doesn't explain 1L SA. Diversity is more likely (in which case OP has nothing to worry about).

Or maybe this specific T50 has a really tough curve and 3.5 is top 10%?

Yes it’s clearly a diversity SA — vast majority of 1L SAs at top firms are — but why press the obvious

[Buglaw]

How did you land a 1L SA at a V10 with 3.5 from a T50 to begin with

Kirkland brought on 565 summers. That's the entire class of like Cornell + Northwestern. Add in the fact that there are 9 other V10s, a lot of top students don't want to go to a V10, and some good ol' luck, and there you have it. The current legal market is very kind to grads with OK grades @ T50s right now. It could also be like Fordham or something, which is a good bit better than your average T50.

That doesn't explain 1L SA. Diversity is more likely (in which case OP has nothing to worry about).

Or maybe this specific T50 has a really tough curve and 3.5 is top 10%?

Yes it’s clearly a diversity SA — vast majority of 1L SAs at top firms are — but why press the obvious

Yeah, just do good work. If your a diverse candidate with a 1L SA and not horrific grades, you should be fine at OCI even if this doesn’t work out. I’d really not sweat it.