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April 25, 2007
If You Are Worried About Your Grades...
Many students (no, you are not the only one!) worry that their grades will be a barrier to securing the type of employment they are hoping for. Of course some employers have strict grade requirements -- but the vast majority of legal employers out there do not. And it should go without saying that the majority of practicing lawyers did not graduate in the top of their law school class.
If your grades have not been what you had hoped, please stop by the CSO to speak with a counselor so that we can assure you that grades are just one of many considerations of employers and discuss how handle questions about your grades if they should come up (and they don't always come up).
Here are a few wonderful points on grades from Kimm Walton's Guerrilla Tactics For Getting The Legal Job Of Your Dreams, pp. 429-441:
1. Don't let your grades influence your feelings of self-worth. You are not your grades.
2. Remember that most interviewers were not on law review either.
3. Focus on strengths like extracurricular experiences.
4. Come up with a way to explain why your grades aren't what you'd hoped.
5. Focus on employers that aren't focused on those students in the top 10%. You'll be left with the vast majority of legal employers out there.
6. If your grades are keeping you from getting a job that you realy want (for example, if you truly do want to work for a large law firm that is selective about grades), keep in mind that you can get there eventually - it might just take a bit more time.
If you want to discuss your job search and grades concerns, come and see us!
Posted by smp20 at April 25, 2007 04:51 PM