How Much Do 1L Grades Really Matter?

You'll hear a lot of conflicting advice about 1L grades. Some people say they define your career. Others say they're just one factor. Here's the truth.

They Matter More Than Anything Else in Recruiting

When BigLaw firms make callback decisions during OCI (On-Campus Interviews), they're looking at two things: your school and your 1L grades. That's basically it. You haven't done enough legal work yet for experience to matter much. Extracurriculars help at the margins. But grades are the primary filter.

This pressure has intensified now that OCI happens in January or February of 1L year at most top schools. Firms are screening you on a single semester of grades, sometimes only a few weeks after your transcripts post. There is no second chance to "make up" 1L performance before recruiting.

Why 1L Specifically

Your 1L curriculum is standardized. Every student takes roughly the same classes: Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Property, and Legal Writing. This makes 1L grades the one apples-to-apples comparison firms can make across candidates.

By 2L, everyone takes different electives, making GPA comparisons less meaningful.

The Realistic Impact

Strong 1L grades (top 20-30% at a T14, top 10-15% at other schools) make BigLaw recruiting straightforward. You apply, you interview, you get offers.

Average 1L grades mean you'll work harder during recruiting but still have real opportunities, especially at a T14.

Below-average 1L grades make the traditional OCI path tough, but there are alternative routes: write-on to law review, excel in 2L, target firms outside the OCI system, or network your way in.

They Don't Define Your Career

Here's the part people forget: 1L grades matter intensely for about 18 months. They drive your OCI outcomes. After that, their importance drops fast. Once you're at a firm, nobody asks about your law school GPA. They care about the quality of your work.

So yes, 1L grades matter. Take them seriously. But if they don't go your way, you're not finished. You just have to take a different path. Check out our firm directory to see which firms recruit beyond just the top of the class.