Careers Counsel

Share this

Written by Nitin Potdar Thursday, 12 November 2009 13:03

A first year student at a National Law School asks: Why do recruiting law firms feel that cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is the "be-all-and-end-all"?

Question: What strikes me is why should so much importance be given to grades, knowing the fact that they are not the best indicator of a person's ability. Most of us know how exactly students manage to get high grades - they resort to cramming up all the stuff and it helps them manage good grades.

I feel that if gaining knowledge and refining your skill sets to survive in the competitive world is the goal, then aspiring for good grades would not help a student much. Things like mooting, focussing on quality reading and good article writing will be of much more help.

Still recruiters look out for CGPA which is something I dont understand. This is not to say that no importance is given to these co-curricular activities by recruiters. What disapponts me is that more often than not, law firms and corporate houses perceive CGPA to be the ultimate indicator.

Answer: I don’t think all Law Firms consider CGPA as seriously as it is being made out. 

You must appreciate that for the person taking the interview he has no choice but to look at the written CV in front of him and to ask a few questions. 

I agree that knowledge, skills-sets and attitude are much more important then the mark-sheet/ grades obtained. 

But how does one find out in maybe 30 to 45 minutes of the interview that he/she posses all these qualities? Therefore, the first impression is created by your academic achievements which include CGPA and I guess rightly so! 

But I also agree that CGPA cannot be the ultimate indicator. Hence it is important for the students to write a simple but yet detailed CV to demonstrate their abilities without any adjectives.

You have to be professional in all respects during your interview.

You should deserve not demand! 

I find students coming out of law schools these days are much more focused and hardworking but the moot question is whether they all are really geared to commence their career seriously?  

Hence considering the quality of legal education that is available today in our country, I think it is important for law firms to have a set process for considering applications, and give meaningful hearing to at least select candidates so that at the end of the day they are not demoralised.

Even while rejecting a candidate he/she must get some guidance of how he/she should be pursuing his/her career in future.
Nitin Potdar (pictured) is a partner at J Sagar Associates (JSA) in Mumbai

Please send us your career-related queries () and we will try to find the right Careers Counsel panellistto answer them.

Photo by Scarleth White

Comments (12)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

#1...
written by nonono, 12 November 2009 05:46

maybe the title should have been 'why is CGPA NOT all that important'

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#2...
written by anonymous, 12 November 2009 06:09

All said and done, CGPA is the most important criteria. You can only compensate your CV if you don't have a good CGPA with lots of publications, editorial positions, moots, debates, conferences and such other extra curricular activities. But its quite tough to compensate if your CGPA is really low. An average CGPA can be compensated.

But all said and done I would once again state that CGPA is the most important criteria.

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#3...
written by neocog, 12 November 2009 09:23

For an employer the resume is the first thing they see. Guess how many resumes they get. And which is why they separate the resumes with good CGPA from the ones average CGPA. Note this is just one step.

Time is money; nobody wants to read till page X of your resume when the first page tell an employer or an HR person that chances are if the CGPA is average, the person is average too.

It is the law of averages.

Suggestion: Be focussed. Know your target, know it well and prepare a covering letter that gets you a foot in the door.
Prepare your resume highlighting your achievements.

Good luck.

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#4...
written by Gyan Prakash, 13 November 2009 00:16

Dear Friends,

What shall be done if the person is already passed but not with a good marks. Just pass but not eligible for exams in master or some govt jobs

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#5...
written by a guest, 13 November 2009 00:19

I think I am right in believing that CGPAs are not given on a uniform basis across universities As a result, many employers don't pay a great deal of attention to them. There is no way of knowing whether 4.3 on a scale of 7 is better than 3.1 on a scale of 4. In other words, what is unclear from the GPA scores is where the person is relative to the others in their graduating class, which is the more important criterion. Also, places like Delhi University and the UK Universities don't follow the same system at all. A well written and presented CV and covering letter, good internships and some interesting "extras" (travel, experience of living overseas etc.) to set the candidate apart is what most good firms are are looking for. In many cases, those will be the ones with better marks as well.

The killer is an application that has an excess of the words "humbly", "respectfully", "beg to state" etc. Not to speak of the CVs that are ccd to every firm in the land with the statement saying what "that" firm is great. The employer knows that you will apply to various firms, don't shove it in their faces!

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#6...
written by a guest, 13 November 2009 08:19

Moots, articles etc.. are not of importance unless you cgpa is at least decent - u could be the greatest mooter in the country but if your cgpa is amongst the last few, you will usually find the going tough. However, if you hold a top position in class and have done almost nothing else, even then you'll find the going easy as long as you are capable of taking interviews well.

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#7...
written by Rahul, 14 November 2009 07:39

Can someone tell me where I can find sample CV's for law students? Can anyone post any samples?

[In careers counsel next week we'll be discussing exactly that. Stay tuned! -Ed]

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#8...
written by not impressed, 14 November 2009 11:29

Lets face it. CGPA shouldn't be given importance especially when a majority of colleges end up giving marks so liberally. When a majority of your class has an above 65%, it doesn't mean that you are smart and that the world is your oyster, it just shows that you are passing out of an institution which doesn't really have standards to speak of.
It is a pity if law firms choose to give cgpa importance. especially in deciding the better candidate between colleges.

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#9...
written by a guest, 15 November 2009 08:58

noooo! law firms never select candidates on cgpa basis 'between' different colleges...its a criteria only to select students among the 'batch of the same college'.

they obviously know that every college has a different grading system.

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#10...
written by Aninda J Chowdhury, 15 November 2009 13:27

Securing high grades by attempting hypothetical and analytical questions are definitely appreciated .... but there are law colleges who set traditional mug-up type question papers where no application of law is tested , in that case relying on cgpa is not sensible provided the candidate has moots and publications and also quality internships under his belt .

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#11...
written by Moot Maniac, 25 November 2009 03:39

While I do agree, that CGPA is given undue importance at times, but it should be appreciated that CGPA or grades show how individual can work against his will. There is no individual in the world, who will "relish" studying for "exams". Obviously there are other reasons, he will slog. Now there are two ways the way you can get excellent grades. Either you have a gifted brain and you can undertsand,learn and reproduce the concepts and application in the exams, notwithstanding the pressure it creates, and get a 7 on 7. Alternatively, you slog your ass, right from day one, revise the stuff umpteen no. of times and secure a rank in the batch.

In both the cases, law firms desire you more, cos the first case proves that you can solve the problem in a very short time and competent enough to meet deadlines. The second case shows that you will give your best inputs and come out with best results, be it research or drafting.

The third reason is, most of the times, grades show that you have grasped the basics of the subject well, and thats wat law firms are looking for, the newbies who know the basics well.

As a disclaimer let me clarify, I am not a topper, rather my grades have been average and I am more into mooting, but still the scenario in the firms is very pro "cgpa".

On the flip side, grades do not necessarily make a good lawyer. In the long run, what matters is your devotion to profession, the kind of deals you work on and last but not the least " CONTACTS" :)

• 
• +0
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion? 

#12rocky
written by Anonymous guest, 06 March 2010 20:04

hi friends,
I dont think cgpa matters?
i am one of the top engineering college student.
my friend don't even know how to code in cpp eventhough he is IT student.but then he was sitting for internship for microsoft .he dint get selected. that is different issue. but then one of my other friend who really code well, dint even allowed to attend the interview process.
IS IT FAIR??

• 
• -1
• 
• 
• Does this comment add to discussion?