3 Geeks and a Law Blog

According to the New York Times, Loyola Law School in Los Angeles is "tacking on 0.333 to every grade recorded in the last few years" with the goal of making "its students look more attractive in a competitive job market." Apparently, the new grade inflation for law students is becoming all the rage across the country, and if your school isn't doing it, the students get upset. I've seen a number of tweets and blog posts talking about this "phenomenon" over the past few days, and every time I see one flash by, my only thoughts are "Big-Whoopty-Freakin'-Deal!!" Last time I checked, if you raise everyone's grades, everyone's class ranking stays the same.

Hint to law students... if you have a B+ average and you're in the bottom 1/3rd of your class ranking... employers know there is grade inflation. All that grade inflation doesn't really help you, or make you look that impressive to potential employers. Everyone knows it is going on, that's why we look at class rankings and the reputation of the school your attending. So, complain to the Dean of your school all you want to raise everyones grades from a B- to a B or a C+ to a B-, it won't help.

Now instead of faking your way from a B+ to an A-... be proud of your grades. We here at 3 Geeks think that recruiters should hire the "C" students. Like Toby said back in February:

Harry S. Truman said “The ‘C’ students run the world.” The gist of that statement in our context is that C students are the ones with the relationship skills. For them school wasn’t about getting the best grade. Beyond learning, it was about enjoying the people you met. These C students are the ones that make business happen It’s their relationship skills that get and keep clients and make the business a success.

So quit focusing on the red herring of inflating your grades and start working on improving your overall class ranking. If you can't improve that, then work on those skills and relationships that will make you better prepared for the transition from the academic world into the real world of the business of being a lawyer.