Help! My First Semester Law School Grades are Really Bad.

Okay, you’re getting your first semester law school grades back and they’re — shall we say — not exactly what you’d hoped for. What now?

• First, don’t panic. Things are probably better than you think. Unless your grades are consistently at the very bottom of the curve, you’re probably somewhere in the vast middle of the class. It’s not an entirely comfortable place to end up, given that you’re used to getting excellent grades or you wouldn’t have been in law school to begin with, but it’s not a disaster. (And you have lots of company.)
• Next, figure out what happened. Some professors won’t let you see your answers and/or won’t discuss them with you (this, in my opinion, is a complete abdication of professorial responsibility and you can tell them I said so), but most teachers are willing to help you. The secret is that no one ever asks! At a minimum, ask for a copy of your answer. Go over it carefully, and critically, paying special attention to any remarks that your professor made. Can you figure out where you lost points? Once you’ve done this (and only once you’ve done this), ask your professor to talk with you about how you could have done better. If you make it clear you’re not going to argue about your grade, and really want their help to improve your performance going forward, you’ll probably get some advice. (Frankly, the advice you get may be bad — like “Well, you just seemed to have missed the point of the question” — but it’s better than nothing. If you don’t feel like you got anything useful from your professor, try talking to a TA, or even a 2L or 3L who’s doing well and is willing to look at your answer.)
• Finally, change your approach. After a dispiriting set of grades, lots of people resolve to “work harder.” I’d argue you need to work more strategically, not harder. Doing more of the same thing you already tried is unlikely to result in better grades next time around. It’s time to change your approach. Instead of focusing on class preparation, focus — from the first day of class — on how you’ll apply what you’re learning on the final exam. Don’t just read the assigned cases and passively take notes. For every single case, ask yourself “Why was this assigned? What principle of law was it selected to illustrate? How does it fit into the bigger picture?” To learn to think like a lawyer (which is what you’re really being tested on), you have to spend a lot of time thinking about the law! It’s this thinking piece that tends to get lost, in between the daily grind of reading for class and the sheer terror and chaos of preparing for exams. Think early, think often, and you’ll be better situated when it comes time to cram for exams. For more details, check out my new website: Law School Toolbox.

How Can You Improve Your Situation, Right Now?

If you stay calm, analyze the situation, and make the necessary course corrections, your second semester grades are likely to be better. But what if they’re not? Or what if your first semester grades are so truly terrible that they’ll be remarked upon for the rest of your career, even if you see massive improvement?

What can you do right now to improve things, irrespective of your grades?

Glad you asked. Welcome to the hustle.

If you can’t rely on your law school grades to propel you into the career you want, you’re going to have to get out there and create your own opportunities. (Eventually, everyone else in your class will realize the same thing — you’ve just got a head start.)

It’s time to get strategic.

How can you position yourself to meet someone who might eventually be able to help you?

It’s cliché to say that most people get jobs through personal connections, but it’s also true.

You need to start making these connections, in a non-annoying and obnoxious way, today. Right now. Immediately. Without further ado.

How can you do this? Here are a few ideas:

1. Start working on a pro bono project. Yes, pro bono can be time-consuming and draining, but it’s a fantastic way to gain experience and meet mentors. If you select your project wisely (as you should), you’ll be assigned an official mentor, who’s already a lawyer and works in the area. Do not be shy about asking this person to assist you — that’s what they signed up for. Play your cards right, and you’ll have a new ally who’s willing and able to help you out. (It goes without saying you will be very nice to this person, and will always be sure to express your genuine gratitude for their time and assistance.)
2. Get involved in your local bar association. It doesn’t matter how large a place you live in, the local legal community is going to be insular. One of the fastest, easiest ways to get involved is to join the local bar association and start attending events. By the time you graduate, you’ll probably be planning the events, but start small. Get on the relevant mailing lists and commit to attending an event every month or so. It will pay dividends.
3. Make yourself useful on campus. Have you joined any law school clubs or organizations? If not, get on it, and start taking a leadership role. You don’t need to kill yourself here, but offer to set up a lunchtime speaker or two, or man an information booth. With a minimal time commitment, you’ll start raising your profile and getting to know students outside of your own class. These people will have good on-the-ground information for you, and might eventually be in a position to return the favors you so graciously provided to them.
4. Use social media to make connections with people outside of your immediate sphere. I’m already on the record arguing that every law student should be on Twitter. But other types of social media can be useful, too. Interested in a particular topic area? Start a blog about it. You’ll improve your writing skills, gain valuable insights into technology and marketing, and have a platform for reaching out to people you find interesting. “I’d love to interview you on my blog.” is a lot more compelling introduction than “Will you talk to me? I’m a random law student.” Finally, join some LinkedIn groups for law students and young lawyers, and start participating. Lots of people are out there waiting to help you, if you let them.

These are just a few ideas — I’m sure you can think of many other potential options.

The key takeaway is to DO SOMETHING.

If you start taking action now to expand your professional network and gain experience in the area you want to work in, you’re going to be better off than someone who aced first semester exams and spent the next two years holed up in the library!

Read On:

Stay tuned for more posts on dealing with your grades (good, bad, and ugly). In the meantime, you might like:

• The First Truth of Law School: You Don’t Control Your Grades
• The Second Truth of Law School: You Are Not Your Grades
• Think Everything’s Great Because Your Law School Grades are Good? Wrong.

Or check out my new project: Law School Toolbox. All the tools you need for law school success!

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