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If law review decisions are made this summer, and 2L job decisions are made post-OCI, then what is the point of 2L grades, and 3L grades? Is graduation honors the only thing left?

In my school (NW), the only graduation honors are identical from the 3.65-3.95 mark, and I'm right in the middle of that zone somewhere, so the only way to get a higher honor is to get a 3.95+, coif is 3.90+, so if you're at a 3.8, the only way to pull this off is to get a 4.0 throughout your 2L year WHILE working on journal, which seems a little whack, (not worth the gains?)

Is there another OCI next year, for incoming 3Ls? I don't think so?

Second & third year grades can be very important for your second law job after finishing law school. Not sure if this is still accurate, but several federal legal positions--such as AUSA-- required two years of post law school work experience.

tbo123123 wrote:If law review decisions are made this summer, and 2L job decisions are made post-OCI, then what is the point of 2L grades, and 3L grades? Is graduation honors the only thing left?

In case the bolding decesion happens to be a no offer.

At the very least, I would think there's an incentive if you're shooting for a COA clerkship, particularly if it was a SCOTUS feeder judge.

if you didn't land something from OCI you need to get good grades 2L and 3L year so that you can get some kind of legal work after graduation

oops

Clerkships, jobs if the 2L SA doesn't pan out (or you want to upgrade in 3L OCI or post-clerkship,) partnership (yes, grades--and honors obtained--actually matter in this process, though not nearly as much as a lot of other things).

tbo123123 wrote:If law review decisions are made this summer, and 2L job decisions are made post-OCI, then what is the point of 2L grades, and 3L grades? Is graduation honors the only thing left?

In my school (NW), the only graduation honors are identical from the 3.65-3.95 mark, and I'm right in the middle of that zone somewhere, so the only way to get a higher honor is to get a 3.95+, coif is 3.90+, so if you're at a 3.8, the only way to pull this off is to get a 4.0 throughout your 2L year WHILE working on journal, which seems a little whack, (not worth the gains?)

Is there another OCI next year, for incoming 3Ls? I don't think so?

At my school Dean's List is 3.0. Cum Laude is 3.25, Magna is 3.5 and Summa is 3.75. I'm not sure about the last one. The point is that our curve sucks and so far there is no one who even has a 3.8. Yayyy... for grade deflation.

rbgrocio wrote:

tbo123123 wrote:If law review decisions are made this summer, and 2L job decisions are made post-OCI, then what is the point of 2L grades, and 3L grades? Is graduation honors the only thing left?

In my school (NW), the only graduation honors are identical from the 3.65-3.95 mark, and I'm right in the middle of that zone somewhere, so the only way to get a higher honor is to get a 3.95+, coif is 3.90+, so if you're at a 3.8, the only way to pull this off is to get a 4.0 throughout your 2L year WHILE working on journal, which seems a little whack, (not worth the gains?)

Is there another OCI next year, for incoming 3Ls? I don't think so?

At my school Dean's List is 3.0. Cum Laude is 3.25, Magna is 3.5 and Summa is 3.75. I'm not sure about the last one. The point is that our curve sucks and so far there is no one who even has a 3.8. Yayyy... for grade deflation.

At UChicago, you need a 182 for Highest Honors (summa cum laude equivalent).

One person every few years gets a 182.

No whining.

In fact, only ~5% of the class even manages the 180.5 needed for high honors (magna cum laude).

tbo123123 wrote:If law review decisions are made this summer, and 2L job decisions are made post-OCI, then what is the point of 2L grades, and 3L grades? Is graduation honors the only thing left?

In my school (NW), the only graduation honors are identical from the 3.65-3.95 mark, and I'm right in the middle of that zone somewhere, so the only way to get a higher honor is to get a 3.95+, coif is 3.90+, so if you're at a 3.8, the only way to pull this off is to get a 4.0 throughout your 2L year WHILE working on journal, which seems a little whack, (not worth the gains?)

Is there another OCI next year, for incoming 3Ls? I don't think so?

Fail a few classes and report back.

Most public interest hiring happens a lot later. 2L/3L grades can matter a lot more for that.

While probably not relevant to the OP, this thread would be seen as ironically painful to members of the classes of 2009, 2010 & 2011.

worldtraveler wrote:Most public interest hiring happens a lot later. 2L/3L grades can matter a lot more for that.

Small firm hiring as well.

,

Thanks TTT-LS, glad you're not upset anymore.

I got the 3.9 figure from a conversation with an upperclassmen, so - its just a guesstimate. Where'd you get the 3.85 from? I am DEFINITELY curious because that motivates me to actually study real hard and take easy classes, lol.