For better or worse, grades and class rankings are here. With fall recruiting and our Early OCI Program upon us, you’ll need to consider whether and how to make adjustments to your resume and other application materials to reflect your class rank and GPA. There are no hard and fast rules that fit every situation, so you may need to make some judgment calls. We’ve included some guidelines below, but if you have doubts, you can always talk with one of the Career Services Office career advisors to determine the best course of action.

Happy and you know it?

Good job and a pat on the back for you. If you are in the top third of your class or higher, you will definitely want to include your class rank on your resume.

Somewhere in the middle?

If your class rank falls between the top third and the top half, you’ll probably want to designate your class rank on your resume. It really depends on where you are applying. For example, some firms may assume you are in the bottom half of the class if you do not make a designation. For other employers, it may not be advisable to include a class rank unless you are above the top third. The key is to assess each job application individually and make the move that will both show you in the best light and be responsive to the job posting.

I didn’t make the top half. What now?

Fifty percent of all law students are in the bottom half of their class. You are in good company. If this describes your position, you will probably not want to include your class rank on your resume (unless an employer specifically requests it). Your job in this case is to focus your application materials on your strengths and show employers other ways in which you shine. In this difficult job market, employers are valuing experience more than ever and many do not put heavy emphasis on grades and class rank.

If you need to bolster your experience, consider doing one or more of the following:

• Participate in clinics and externships
• Tailor your resume to focus on prior work experience (including pre-law school work) and transferable skills you possess
• Join student organizations and/or look for other leadership roles on campus
• Be active in outside organizations, such as a bar section, trade group, or sports club

How should I designate my class rank on my resume?

When designating your class rank on your resume:
• Always round up. If your class rank is 20.8%, for the purposes of your resume designation, you are in the top 21%, not the top 20%.
• Designate your rank in increments of 5%. Typically, you would not state on your resume that you are in the top 21% of your class, but rather that you are in the top 25%.
• Unless it makes sense to not use 5% increments. For example, if a particular job application asks for top 15% only and you have a ranking of top 17%, it may make sense to list 17% instead of 20% for that application as it shows you are “this close” to meeting their requirements.

Should I include my GPA on my resume?

GPAs vary greatly from school to school so they are not as objective a measure for employers. Generally you do not need to include a GPA designation on your resume, and employers who are interested typically request transcripts instead. The unofficial rule is that you should include your GPA when it makes you look better than leaving it off. You will have to make a judgment call. Here are a few examples of when you might include your GPA:

• If your GPA is better than your class rank reflects
• For consistency, if you included your undergraduate GPA
• If an employer specifically requests your GPA

How can I use summer school or fall semester grades to my advantage?

Summer school and fall semester grades do not factor into your class rank until the end of the following year. If you received improved grades in either of these terms, there are ways to share this with an employer. For example, you can send the employer an updated transcript with a cover letter explaining your subsequent course success. Or you can designate on your resume (separately from your class rank) that you received improved grades during a specific semester (especially if it is in coursework that relates to the employer’s practice).

For more tips, visit the CSO and speak to one of our Career Advisors.

 

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Leah is a 2007 graduate of McGeorge School of Law. Before joining the Career Development Office at McGeorge, Leah managed her own practice as a criminal defense attorney and family law litigator in the Bay Area. Prior to that, she worked for a…

Leah is a 2007 graduate of McGeorge School of Law. Before joining the Career Development Office at McGeorge, Leah managed her own practice as a criminal defense attorney and family law litigator in the Bay Area. Prior to that, she worked for a litigation boutique law firm in San Jose and as an attorney with the Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley. Leah also has experience working for public agencies including an Arizona public defender and the State of California, and taught high-school students evidence and the nuances of trial advocacy skills for several years.

As the Director of CDO Communications, Programming, & JD Employment, Leah provides one-on-one career counseling to full-time and part-time JD, LLM, MSL, MPA, and MPP students and alumni and is our go-to networking expert and is available to work with students and alumni to develop their individual career search and networking plans.

Leah is also responsible for managing Career Development Office programing, designing and managing CDO communications both internally (to faculty, staff, and students) and externally (to alumni and the public), as well as presenting interactive programs and workshops for students and alumni. Among other things, Leah has presented on rural public interest jobs, the ethical pitfalls of social media in a legal context, how to work with difficult clients and opposing counsel, and how to build a successful solo practice.

Leah teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Global Lawyering Skills, focusing on teaching legal writing, legal research, oral advocacy, and other core lawyering skills. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from Hendrix College and a BA in Social Science with a focus on History from the University of North Texas. She is an active member of the California Bar.

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