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This article is from the King Hall Law School FAQ, by David F. Prenatt, Jr. NetEsq@dcn.davis.ca.us with numerous contributions by others.

4.1.2.8) How important are first year grades in law school? (King Hall Law School)

First year grades in law school are *very* important, both to law
students and employers. Because of this, a dark cloud settles in over
King Hall during when first semester grades become available to One
Ls. Few students are spared an insult to their self-esteem. Even
those who eventually finish at the top of their class are confronted
with at least one mediocre grade at the semester break in a subject
that they thought they knew very well.
As important as grades are in the real world, grades are not a
reliable indicator of a law student's knowledge or ability. Grades
are simply an arbitrary (albeit consistent) method of ranking law
students for the job market. Those who finish in the top 10% of their
class at King Hall are courted by many employers, and virtually
everyone else must struggle long and hard to find a good job.
I have heard many proposals for remedying the suffering and
hardship caused by the forced grade curve at King Hall. Some people
have proposed changing the format and/or grading of exams or
abolishing grades altogether. Other people have proposed limiting the
number of resumes students may submit to firms who conduct On Campus
Interviews (OCI). These solutions, however well-intentioned, do not
address the crux of the issue: Our society feels compelled to rank
people's abilities by some reified "objective standard." Since King
Hall does not have the reputation and ranking of a Harvard or Yale,
grades are the only way to conform with society's expectations.
If letter grades were eliminated at King Hall, many qualified
students would be at a distinct disadvantage when looking for work.
And as many law firms will not consider applicants who are not in the
top 10% of their class, many of these firms would not participate in
OCI at King Hall. My personal solution was to play the hand that was
dealt to me and play it close to my chest, applying for the jobs that
interested me and giving equivocal and misleading information to all
who asked about my grades and class ranking (not even my mother knows
anything more than that I graduated from law school). No matter what
your own class ranking is, you will save yourself and others a lot of
grief if you use this strategy.

4.1.2.8.1) When will I find out what my grades are? (King Hall Law School)

Your grades are supposed to be available about a month after final
exams are over, but some of the instructors are very slow to issue
grades. This may cause you a hardship if you want to defer one of
your first year courses based on your first semester grades or if you
are trying to transfer to another law school at the end of your second
semester. Otherwise, your grades are not that urgent, so just be
patient.

4.1.2.8.2) How can I find out what my grades are? (King Hall Law School)

When your grades become available, you can find out what they are by
calling RSVP at (916)752-RSVP.

4.1.2.8.3) What if I think there has been a mistake in the grades that were issued to me? (King Hall Law School)

If you think that there has been a mistake in the grade you received
for one of your final exams (which can and does happen), you can
review your final exams. They are kept on file for one year. Contact
Nicole Waterman (<mailto:ngwaterman@ucdavis.edu >) or Dian Francis
(<mailto:dpfrancis@ucdavis.edu >) in the King Hall Registrar's Office
in person or at (916)752-4299 for an appointment.
If your grades are lower than what you expected, this is quite
normal. A 3.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) will probably put you in the
top 5-10% of your class at King Hall, if not at the very top of your
class because there of the forced curved imposed on first year courses
by the King Hall administration. No more than 11.7% of the grades can
be an A- or above, and your colleagues, against whom you are competing
for these grades, are highly motivated and highly qualified students.
Many of them have never received a grade lower than a B in their
entire lives. Thus, an A+ effort may only earn you a C+ at King Hall.

4.1.2.8.4) What is the American Jurisprudence Award?

The American Jurisprudence Award (AmJur award) is given to those law
students who receive the highest grade in each class section for the
various courses offered during the first year of law school at King
Hall (except Introduction to Law, Legal Research, and Legal Writing).
Many second and third year courses also include an AmJur award.
Winners of the AmJur award receive a certificate suitable for framing,
and a notation of the award is made on their transcripts.

 

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