Counsel’s Counsel is the world’s preeminent advice column for law students. Written by recent UVA Law graduate, Jane Doe, J.D.
Question:
Dear Jane: After weeks of checking SIS five times per day over Winter Break, I logged in on January 14 and saw my grades from my first semester of law school had finally been posted. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I felt pretty good about my performance on my exams and thought there was a good chance that I beat the curve in at least one of my classes. I had also checked the grade data spreadsheet floating around the law school and knew some of my professors had wide curves. I anxiously clicked the “Academics” tab to find that I had, in fact, beat the curve. In fact, I beat the curve in all but one of my 1L fall doctrinal classes (Torts).
As thrilled as I am to have gotten so many A minuses, I am now feeling intense pressure. I know my performance can’t slip this semester if I want to get on VLR, be offered a job at a V10 firm during OGI, and interview for a federal appellate clerkship.
I want to tell my friends about how I’m doing, but I know we aren’t technically supposed to share our grades. I tried to let on how I did by telling them how much I loved all of my professors from last semester, except for my Torts professor. I even told them that I think he is a reverse sexist who only gives As to women. Do you think they got the hint?
Last week, I decided to set up a meeting with my Peer Advisor to talk about how I’m feeling. My PA suggested we meet in ScoCo during lunch. It was crowded that day, so I’m sure other people overheard me tell my PA what my grades are and about the intense pressure I’ve been feeling. The meeting ended up being a total waste of time. My PA didn’t have any good advice for me. I wouldn’t have set up the meeting if I had known this PA got straight B pluses in all of their 1L classes. Do you have any advice for me, Jane?
- Beat the Curve.
Answer:
Curve: The best way to make sure your classmates know you were successful last semester is by raising your hand and participating in class early and often. You’ll really be showing off if you start off your question by telling your new professor how much you already know about the subject matter. Your 2L and 3L classmates in your electives will especially appreciate and respect you for showing how much you know about the law. I can guarantee that nobody will be rolling their eyes at you or texting about you during class.
If that isn’t enough for your friends to see you beat the curve, they probably did get the hint that your worst grade was in Torts. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that someone only complains about a professor when they aren’t happy with their grade. It really is remarkable how a good grade can turn someone who spent all semester complaining about a class or professor into their biggest defender. I’m sure your female friends in your section really appreciate hearing that the only reason they beat the curve in Torts is because they are women. It certainly couldn’t be that they studied hard or wrote a better exam answer than you.
Finally, let's talk about pressure. You may think you have it bad and are under intense pressure. It’s true that you’ll need to continue to get good grades to meet your lofty goals. But consider your classmates who didn’t beat the curve. While you are out announcing your grades in ScoCo, they are having weekly academic support meetings with Dean Davies. Don’t you think they might have it a bit worse than you?
Here’s my last piece of advice for you: If you want to have a private conversation, you may want to stay out of ScoCo during the lunch hour. Otherwise, your next “private” chat with your PA could end up the topic of a Bar Czar email or a Reddit post. Everyone knows ScoCo is the place to see and be seen, not the place for hushed conversations and sharing personal information.
- Jane Doe, J.D.
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