Anyone have advice as to how to work around low UG grades for Fed. Cir. applications? Didn't really focus on grades in UG but it's been a long time.
The rest of my application should be decently strong. Nice looking but inflation-aided GPA from T14, engineering degree, significant patent experience, moot court but skipped journal, strong patent related writing sample. Can't control recommendations, but profs claim they're good.
Fed. Cir. Top 10% T14, Poor UG Grades Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about clerkship applications and clerkship hiring. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about clerkship applications and clerkship hiring. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432495
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432495
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Fed. Cir. Top 10% T14, Poor UG Grades
Fed. Cir. clerk here. There's no special way of working around low UG grades, just like there's no working around poor law school grades or other deficiencies in your application. The most you can hope for is that your strengths can overcome this weakness and that you successfully downplay your weak undergrad career. Are you top 5-10% at your T14? The fact that you skipped journal may be a bit problematic, as clerks need to be excellent writers. Where did your patent related writing sample come from? Is it published in a law journal? That would help. Did your UG have a tough curve and was your major the toughest at the school? Were you working at the same time? These factors could mitigate a bit.
Overall, you need to show in your application that you are smart, motivated, have good judgment, are a strong writer, and are comfortable with learning about new technologies in a short amount of time. Frankly, these are exactly the skills you'll need to do well at the clerkship and help shape the law with your work, so the judge will consider all of these factors very seriously. Best of luck!
Overall, you need to show in your application that you are smart, motivated, have good judgment, are a strong writer, and are comfortable with learning about new technologies in a short amount of time. Frankly, these are exactly the skills you'll need to do well at the clerkship and help shape the law with your work, so the judge will consider all of these factors very seriously. Best of luck!
