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What to do if you’re disappointed with first-semester law school grades

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First-semester law school grades can sometimes be a rude awakening. After all, many law students are accustomed to getting mostly As — it’s one of the reasons they were accepted to law school in the first place.

However, getting those top grades in law school is especially challenging because you’re competing against the best of the best. If you’re disappointed with your first-semester law school grades, you’re not alone and there’s no need to panic. Follow these steps to get back on track!

Maintain Perspective

When you’re in law school, it can be easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Your first-semester law school grades are merely a few trees but there’s so much more to the forest. You should feel proud of completing a first semester unlike any other. Now that you have some experience taking law school exams, you can apply those tools to your next semester. Many students who didn’t do as well as they hoped during the semester are able to improve their grades going forward with hard work and better strategies.

Avoid the Echo Chamber

One of the things that can make law school especially stressful is the echo chamber effect: law students often can’t help comparing themselves with other students. When grades become a topic of discussion, the loudest voices are often the ones who did well. We recommend keeping two things in mind. First, you don’t need to share your grades with anyone. Second, more students than not are feeling the same way you are. Checking in with friends and family outside of law school is a great way to take a break from the competition and refocus.

Talk to Your Professors

It may feel overwhelming at first but remember that you have everything you need to move forward. To get started, reach out to your professors and ask them to review your exams one-on-one. Approach this as an opportunity to receive constructive feedback that you can apply to future exams, not an attempt to argue about your grade. Writing good law school exam responses is another skill you can develop and professors are a great starting point. They can help you identify where you did well and where you need to improve in the future.

Focus on What You Can Control

Once you’ve gotten some feedback from your professors, it’s time to create a strategy for implementing that feedback into your study plan. Keep in mind that optimal study habits have as much to do with quality as quantity — simply shutting yourself in the library won’t get you an A if you’re not using your time and resources effectively. Creating a good strategy requires reflecting on your past study habits and identifying room for improvement. Consider outlining earlier in the semester, spending more time on practice exams or using supplements to deepen your understanding.

Remember that Grades Aren’t Everything

There’s no sugarcoating it: law school grades matter. However, they aren’t everything. When it comes to the job search, moot courts, student organizations, clinics and other extracurriculars can help your resume stand out. Similarly, building strong relationships with professors and other mentors can create great opportunities. Making a plan to develop your resume beyond your GPA is a great way to alleviate some stress about your first-semester grades.

Ashley Heidemann

Ashley Heidemann

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