Attention First Year Law Students: It’s Okay If You’re Disappointed In Your Grades

I was solidly in the fat part of the curve after getting in off the wait list, and my first legal job at 24 was not successful. This is nearly universal, and grades are not destiny. Grades don’t even attempt to assess destiny.

—Jeff Baker, associate dean at Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law, tweeted out encouragement to law school students who may not be thrilled with their grades. Sarah Burstein, professor at Suffolk University Law School, started the online conversation asking to hear from folks that “(1) were unhappy with your first-semester 1L grades; AND (2) have a legal career you enjoy.”