The top-ranked law schools in the country, just like other institutions of higher learning, value the importance of grades in evaluating student performance. Recently, the number of students getting high GPAs have been increasing – a phenomenon called grade inflation. In response to this phenomenon, many colleges and universities have raised their grade percentiles to gather just a few chosen students who make it to the top. Since most prestigious law firms take into account the grades and ranking of a potential applicant, raised percentiles ultimately limit some individuals who may have had potential if they only made the cut.
Grade-based law schools
Attending grade-based law schools can be stressful, as the grading system is very harsh, awarding the top ranks only to a number of people. Some grade-based law schools try to combat grade inflation by raising the grade percentile of the class. These law schools instill limits to which certain grades can only be given to a specific percentage of the class.
Fierce competition then ensues among the students, as being in the top percentile, especially during the first year, can make one a viable target of prestigious law firms. This harsh grading system can certainly bring out the best in some, but can be quite stressful to others.
Non-grade based law schools
Non-grade based law schools on the other hand are not much affected by grade inflation. Instead of using the conventional percentage-based system, a non-grading law school such as the Boalt Hall of Berkeley Law ranks students into High Honors (HH), Honors (H), Pass (P), Substandard Pass (PC), and No Credit (NC) based not only on academics but on other factors as well.
Non-grade law schools have more relaxed limits that gives credit to students who may not be doing well in some aspects but are still given credit for other accomplishments in the class. Though these law schools also employ limitations in giving HH and H rankings, students are more at ease as having mostly Pass grades, and getting only a number of Honors will not discount them from landing positions in the top firms.
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