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...but I'm going to ask it anyway. What exactly do you do in law school for grades? I get that exams are huge, but do you have to write any papers? Are there any other types of assignments? Does participation count?

Love,
An Ignorant 0L

I was under the impression that exams are graded anonymously. Is that only the case at some schools?

Depends on the class and the professor.

Grades for my substantive law classes have all been based on an exam. Participation could count for 1/3 of a grade at the discretion of the professor (e.g. if you got a B on the exam, the prof could leave it, bump you down to a B-, or bump you up to a B+).

Grades for legal research and writing were based on papers such as legal memos and trial briefs. Participation again can be worth 1/3 of a grade point.

Grades for jurisprudence and its ilk ("Law and ______" classes) have been based on mostly papers, but also significantly on participation (like 70% of grade based on paper, 30% based in participation.) These classes included presentations.

Grades for practical courses other than LRW can include writing assignments and performances such as oral arguments, negotiations, and mock trials.

In small seminar classes the grading might vary more. I have a class with 3 papers and a participation grade. I also had a 1L class with 3 small papers. For the most part, it's just a final though.

Excellent, thank you everyone. I now feel a tad bit less ignorant.

Are there any threads on this by school?

If not, maybe we should get some started. I think it'd be really informative. Maybe an entire forum dedicated to different schools/professors and grading schemes?

If I had this information available, it would definitely influence where I would attend.

mctj wrote:Are there any threads on this by school?

If not, maybe we should get some started. I think it'd be really informative. Maybe an entire forum dedicated to different schools/professors and grading schemes?

If I had this information available, it would definitely influence where I would attend.

Well, first year, every school in the country teaches the roughly same classes and assigns grades based on a single, multiple hour exam consisting largely of 'issue spotter' questions. It wouldn't be a very interesting thread

I am going to research 2L classes and avoid any with paper requirements or presentations like the plague, unless it's a clinic or something. I'll take my timed, 100% of the grade final, thank you.

A'nold wrote:I am going to research 2L classes and avoid any with paper requirements or presentations like the plague, unless it's a clinic or something. I'll take my timed, 100% of the grade final, thank you.

Really? I'd rather have a paper than an exam. It allows for more thoughtfulness, and the chance to really flesh out your arguments.

macattaq wrote:

A'nold wrote:I am going to research 2L classes and avoid any with paper requirements or presentations like the plague, unless it's a clinic or something. I'll take my timed, 100% of the grade final, thank you.

Really? I'd rather have a paper than an exam. It allows for more thoughtfulness, and the chance to really flesh out your arguments.

Which = a more level playing field and hundreds more hours of painstaking research, drafting, and citations. No thanks.

A'nold wrote:

macattaq wrote:

A'nold wrote:I am going to research 2L classes and avoid any with paper requirements or presentations like the plague, unless it's a clinic or something. I'll take my timed, 100% of the grade final, thank you.

Really? I'd rather have a paper than an exam. It allows for more thoughtfulness, and the chance to really flesh out your arguments.

Which = a more level playing field and hundreds more hours of painstaking research, drafting, and citations. No thanks.

???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????

You mean just hours, right?

Ragged wrote:

A'nold wrote:

macattaq wrote:

A'nold wrote:I am going to research 2L classes and avoid any with paper requirements or presentations like the plague, unless it's a clinic or something. I'll take my timed, 100% of the grade final, thank you.

Really? I'd rather have a paper than an exam. It allows for more thoughtfulness, and the chance to really flesh out your arguments.

Which = a more level playing field and hundreds more hours of painstaking research, drafting, and citations. No thanks.

???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????

You mean just hours, right?

Wait, what was your question? I have spent well over 200 hours on legal writing this year. Probably much more.

bball999 wrote:...but I'm going to ask it anyway. What exactly do you do in law school for grades? I get that exams are huge, but do you have to write any papers? Are there any other types of assignments? Does participation count?

Love,
An Ignorant 0L

You run as fast as you can. LS is like running from a grizzly bear. You don't have to outrun the bear (you can't); you just have to run faster than your friends.