Love the work, but too dumb. Drop out? Forum

[lawschoolwoohoo]

I just finished my first year at a top 20 school. I am below median despite going to every single class this semester, completing and briefing each reading assignment, and outlining for every class. I also used hornbooks and went to multiple office hours. I love law school, and I love going to class. I think the readings are interesting. I want to go into state-level prosecution or defense and I am currently in my 4th week at a well-paid internship in that field. Until I got my grades, I had never been so sure I was headed in the right position because I love working at my internship more than I've loved any other job I've ever done.

But my grades are terrible. I was disappointed with first semester grades, so I worked my tail off to improve second semester. Didn't happen, and in fact, my grades tanked. First semester, despite studying way less, I got straight B+s. Second semester, a B was my highest grade. What should I do?

[KD35]

I just finished my first year at a top 20 school. I am below median despite going to every single class this semester, completing and briefing each reading assignment, and outlining for every class. I also used hornbooks and went to multiple office hours. I love law school, and I love going to class. I think the readings are interesting. I want to go into state-level prosecution or defense and I am currently in my 4th week at a well-paid internship in that field. Until I got my grades, I had never been so sure I was headed in the right position because I love working at my internship more than I've loved any other job I've ever done.

But my grades are terrible. I was disappointed with first semester grades, so I worked my tail off to improve second semester. Didn't happen, and in fact, my grades tanked. First semester, despite studying way less, I got straight B+s. Second semester, a B was my highest grade. What should I do?

Class rank?
Cost of Attendance for the next two years?

[Cellar-door]

I just finished my first year at a top 20 school. I am below median despite going to every single class this semester, completing and briefing each reading assignment, and outlining for every class. I also used hornbooks and went to multiple office hours. I love law school, and I love going to class. I think the readings are interesting. I want to go into state-level prosecution or defense and I am currently in my 4th week at a well-paid internship in that field. Until I got my grades, I had never been so sure I was headed in the right position because I love working at my internship more than I've loved any other job I've ever done.

But my grades are terrible. I was disappointed with first semester grades, so I worked my tail off to improve second semester. Didn't happen, and in fact, my grades tanked. First semester, despite studying way less, I got straight B+s. Second semester, a B was my highest grade. What should I do?

Cost of attendance and ties is going to be the key here.
Top 20 (so basically, UT, UCLA, VANDY, WUSTL, EMORY, GW, MN, USC), below median at those schools can vary (especially depending how far below).
If the COA is high and you have no ties then dropping out is probably TCR.
If you have ties to a market and aren't way below median, you could possibly find something, it won't pay well, but if you love it and don't have to take out crippling debt that's ok.

[lawschoolwoohoo]

Thanks for the advice. I have a good scholarship (I was good at school in college??) and no debt. COA with COL ends up being around 15k or 20k per year.

I'm from the area and I have already been doing a lot of networking. Everyone I know/am related to is a lawyer in this state or the next one over. I grew up down here and intend to stay whether or not I pursue law. I want to go into crim prosecution probably. No idea what else to do. I'm not too far below median I guess. I don't want to completely out myself, but my GPA is about a 3.1. Don't know if it makes any difference but the only class I did well in is Legal Writing. Got an A both semesters.

[RedGiant]

Take this with a grain of salt, bc I am a private-sector focused student, but I go to a T-30, and my understanding from a bunch of 3Ls is that you can do public defending without a stellar GPA. And I would argue that legal writing is pretty darn important for what you want to do. I think if you hustle, all is not lost, and you should have a realistic sit-down with your career office ASAP so they can HONESTLY tell you what your life goals vs. GPA mean. We had a lot of alums come and tell us that they had craptastic grades, but they clerked at less-prestigious places and then worked their way up to where they wanted to be within four or five years. Not a bad plan if you're young, can avail yourself of LRAP, and are committed to what you think is your passion.

Good luck. A 3.1 is not that bad. It's not great, but it's not throw-in-the-towel at all. You have time to get it up.

[Flanker1067]

Are you ***king crazy. Do not drop out.

First, you aren't doing that bad for your goals. Non-firm jobs hire later, so take the classes with the easiest curves and get that GPA up heading into 3L and graduation.

Second, few people love law school, work, and the law itself. If you actually enjoy it, then doing what other people consider to be suffering in order to advance your career will be enjoyable and easy for you. You can absolutely excel in a career that no one likes simply by being the person excited and motivated to do it.

The important caveat is that you know yourself well and are not exaggerating.

[thegrayman]

FWIW I found 2nd and 3rd year to be much more enjoyable (relatively, not enjoyable, but less unenjoyable)

If your COA is low, I would just stick it out.

[NotMyRealName09]

Eh, median at a T20 is like top of the class at a T50-100. You're not performing well compared to peers at your T20, but you like class and your job. You have a good attitude, and if you hustle you should be able to find a legal job. If you come to terms with the realistic prospect that your first job might pay $50k, stick it out.

[MinEMorris]

Given your goal of state level prosecution, I think you're in a fine position. My impression (though I admit a big lack of first-hand knowledge in the area), is that median at a T20 is perfectly competitive for state-level prosecution, especially if your school is local and there aren't that many schools in the state that outrank it. If you're geographically flexible within your preferred state, that should also help.

By the way, your two strong grades in legal writing are impressive and should help you find a job. I've heard from multiple legal employers that they weigh legal writing a little more heavily than other classes. Legal writing is the closest class to practice that you have in 1L, so you should also take your performance as an indication that, contrary to the title of this thread, you are not dumb. Don't hold any insecurity about your substantive law grades because it sounds like you have talent where it matters.

In sum, given your low COA, your apparent passion for the practice of law, and your relatively humble legal career goals, I don't see why you'd drop out. Best of luck to you.

[lawschoolwoohoo]

Much appreciated y'all. I needed that. I'll dust myself and try again next year--refine my study techniques, try a study group, and I'm mostly focusing on Crim Pro type classes, so that might help too.

[NorCalLaw]

Thanks for the advice. I have a good scholarship (I was good at school in college??) and no debt. COA with COL ends up being around 15k or 20k per year.

I'm from the area and I have already been doing a lot of networking. Everyone I know/am related to is a lawyer in this state or the next one over. I grew up down here and intend to stay whether or not I pursue law. I want to go into crim prosecution probably. No idea what else to do. I'm not too far below median I guess. I don't want to completely out myself, but my GPA is about a 3.1. Don't know if it makes any difference but the only class I did well in is Legal Writing. Got an A both semesters.

An A in legal writing is big. It demonstrates that you understand how to put together a work product and that you are willing to put in at least the minimal amount of work required to do so. That said, it won't magically get rid of that mediocre GPA on the top of the front page of anything you'll ever hand to an employer.

Anecdotal point: You can definitely burn out if you overstudy/overwork. I've definitely done my best in classes when I've been most relaxed and least invested (but still up to speed on the material).

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Eh, median at a T20 is like top of the class at a T50-100. You're not performing well compared to peers at your T20, but you like class and your job. You have a good attitude, and if you hustle you should be able to find a legal job. If you come to terms with the realistic prospect that your first job might pay $50k, stick it out.

Above is totally false.

So people who are at schools ranked 18-20 like to say T20. If the OP went to a T14 school he would have said so. If OP was at a T14, median would be like top 10% at the schools you mentioned.

Median at schools ranked 18-20 is like, median at 55th ranked school. Regional school is regional. Also, the top few students even at a TTT can get fed clerkships and big law. Median students, or in OP's case, students well below median, cannot even get an interview for these positions.

Just sayin.

[brotherdarkness]

.

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Eh, median at a T20 is like top of the class at a T50-100. You're not performing well compared to peers at your T20, but you like class and your job. You have a good attitude, and if you hustle you should be able to find a legal job. If you come to terms with the realistic prospect that your first job might pay $50k, stick it out.

Above is totally false.

So people who are at schools ranked 18-20 like to say T20. If the OP went to a T14 school he would have said so. If OP was at a T14, median would be like top 10% at the schools you mentioned.

Median at schools ranked 18-20 is like, median at 55th ranked school. Regional school is regional. Also, the top few students even at a TTT can get fed clerkships and big law. Median students, or in OP's case, students well below median, cannot even get an interview for these positions.

Just sayin.

This seems like an over-exaggeration.

Who knows. But dude basically said median at U of Minn equals "top of class" at U of Houston. Would you say that was right on the money or an over-exaggeration?

[Nebby]

Median at T20 (15-20) is not top of the class at T2. Median at T20 is probably not even top of the class at T4.

OP, you can get a PD/Prosecutor position without being top 1/3 of your class. Those jobs care more about a commitment to public service. You should not drop out. Work hard and raise your GPA in 2L. You'll be fine.

[emciosn]

You can make some pretty big jumps in class rank your 2L and 3L years. Invariably there are people between the top 10% and median that will just not try as had after 1L year. If you keep going at it hard and perhaps change up your test taking strategy a little bit you could end up in the top 20% (or higher) before it is all said and done. You won't get a biglaw SA since your 1L grades were stellar but it doesn't look like that is your interest. Also, if you do really well 2L year a clerkship at some level may be in play (perhaps a state court given your interests). Since your COA is low I would say just stick it out and keep working hard and perhaps you will see better results the next couple years.