What is median at SLS? Forum

[sebvettel3]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

[Anonymous User]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

4 Hs in 1L is median (not accounting for differences in credits etc); I'd ballpark that jumps somewhat after--maybe like 14 Hs for median at graduation? The math gets much fuzzier after 1L so YMMV.

Shocked at some of these though (OMM? Grade sensitive? Even DPW and S&C were hiring down to sub-4 Hs). Cov/Wilmer/Gibson wanted 5+ Hs at 1L, but I can't imagine they're that sensitive after.

[Anonymous User]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

4 Hs in 1L is median (not accounting for differences in credits etc); I'd ballpark that jumps somewhat after--maybe like 14 Hs for median at graduation? The math gets much fuzzier after 1L so YMMV.

Shocked at some of these though (OMM? Grade sensitive? Even DPW and S&C were hiring down to sub-4 Hs). Cov/Wilmer/Gibson wanted 5+ Hs at 1L, but I can't imagine they're that sensitive after.

When looking at lateral applicants, is your sense that they primarily stick to 1L grades or generally look to the whole of the transcript and ballpark? Say what would a 0H 1L, but 9H transcript spread over black letters/seminars convey? Apologies for the clear anxiety this post is giving lol...

[Anonymous User]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

4 Hs in 1L is median (not accounting for differences in credits etc); I'd ballpark that jumps somewhat after--maybe like 14 Hs for median at graduation? The math gets much fuzzier after 1L so YMMV.

Shocked at some of these though (OMM? Grade sensitive? Even DPW and S&C were hiring down to sub-4 Hs). Cov/Wilmer/Gibson wanted 5+ Hs at 1L, but I can't imagine they're that sensitive after.

When looking at lateral applicants, is your sense that they primarily stick to 1L grades or generally look to the whole of the transcript and ballpark? Say what would a 0H 1L, but 9H transcript spread over black letters/seminars convey? Apologies for the clear anxiety this post is giving lol...

Depends whether those 9Hs were 8 seminar/1 black letter or whether it was more balanced. Would regard the first one much more suspiciously

[Anonymous User]

After all three years, median is likely around ~30% H's.

[Anonymous User]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

4 Hs in 1L is median (not accounting for differences in credits etc); I'd ballpark that jumps somewhat after--maybe like 14 Hs for median at graduation? The math gets much fuzzier after 1L so YMMV.

Shocked at some of these though (OMM? Grade sensitive? Even DPW and S&C were hiring down to sub-4 Hs). Cov/Wilmer/Gibson wanted 5+ Hs at 1L, but I can't imagine they're that sensitive after.

When looking at lateral applicants, is your sense that they primarily stick to 1L grades or generally look to the whole of the transcript and ballpark? Say what would a 0H 1L, but 9H transcript spread over black letters/seminars convey? Apologies for the clear anxiety this post is giving lol...

9H should generally be fine for gibson, wilmer. Appellate lit in DC would be the main thing I would think is dicey.

I'd put it more like 25% H being median credit-wise, and I'd take out any pass fail classes like negotiation or moot court from the denominator. Classes give 30% H, but H's are generally concentrated among the top students. Thus, the median student is getting less than 30% H's in doctrinals. Even seminars and clinics have to stick with the ~30%.

[Anonymous User]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

4 Hs in 1L is median (not accounting for differences in credits etc); I'd ballpark that jumps somewhat after--maybe like 14 Hs for median at graduation? The math gets much fuzzier after 1L so YMMV.

Shocked at some of these though (OMM? Grade sensitive? Even DPW and S&C were hiring down to sub-4 Hs). Cov/Wilmer/Gibson wanted 5+ Hs at 1L, but I can't imagine they're that sensitive after.

When looking at lateral applicants, is your sense that they primarily stick to 1L grades or generally look to the whole of the transcript and ballpark? Say what would a 0H 1L, but 9H transcript spread over black letters/seminars convey? Apologies for the clear anxiety this post is giving lol...

9H should generally be fine for gibson, wilmer. Appellate lit in DC would be the main thing I would think is dicey.

I'd put it more like 25% H being median credit-wise, and I'd take out any pass fail classes like negotiation or moot court from the denominator. Classes give 30% H, but H's are generally concentrated among the top students. Thus, the median student is getting less than 30% H's in doctrinals. Even seminars and clinics have to stick with the ~30%.

I don’t think this is quite correct. Sems/clinics go to 50% Hs right?

That said I high key hope this is true because that makes my 45% Hs after 2L much more competitive.

[Anonymous User]

Graduated a few years back. Hoping to lateral when market picks up but firms I'm looking at all seem to be grade conscious even for SLS laterals according to this forum and recruiters (davis polk, latham, gibson, covington, wilmer, O'Melveny). I have no idea what these thresholds are, but I'm assuming it is around median grades? I would not have gotten hired based on my 1L grades at any of these, but grades improved a bit later on. Would appreciate any insight. Not lit and so no clerkship if relevant.

4 Hs in 1L is median (not accounting for differences in credits etc); I'd ballpark that jumps somewhat after--maybe like 14 Hs for median at graduation? The math gets much fuzzier after 1L so YMMV.

Shocked at some of these though (OMM? Grade sensitive? Even DPW and S&C were hiring down to sub-4 Hs). Cov/Wilmer/Gibson wanted 5+ Hs at 1L, but I can't imagine they're that sensitive after.

When looking at lateral applicants, is your sense that they primarily stick to 1L grades or generally look to the whole of the transcript and ballpark? Say what would a 0H 1L, but 9H transcript spread over black letters/seminars convey? Apologies for the clear anxiety this post is giving lol...

9H should generally be fine for gibson, wilmer. Appellate lit in DC would be the main thing I would think is dicey.

I'd put it more like 25% H being median credit-wise, and I'd take out any pass fail classes like negotiation or moot court from the denominator. Classes give 30% H, but H's are generally concentrated among the top students. Thus, the median student is getting less than 30% H's in doctrinals. Even seminars and clinics have to stick with the ~30%.

I don’t think this is quite correct. Sems/clinics go to 50% Hs right?

That said I high key hope this is true because that makes my 45% Hs after 2L much more competitive.

as long as they have more than 2 people, they are ~30% H. Believe me, I've had plenty of conversations with the registrar about this lol. I would put 45% H in the top 1/3 for sure, probably top 30% most years

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have insight on where the cutoff is for top 10%? I always assumed it was somewhere around 3/4 Hs (excluding MP classes).