Grading System
Grading Scale
The Law School grading scale is as follows:
Grade
|
GPA
|
|---|---|
|
A+ |
4.3 |
|
A |
4.0 |
|
A- |
3.7 |
|
B+ |
3.3 |
|
B |
3.0 |
|
B- |
2.7 |
|
C+ |
2.3 |
|
C |
2.0 |
|
C- |
1.7 |
|
D+ |
1.3 |
|
D |
1.0 |
|
D- |
0.7 |
|
F |
0 |
Academic Standing (Cumulative GPA Requirements)
Students are expected to maintain a minimum 2.0 (C) cumulative grade point average throughout their academic career. Applicants for Diploma Privilege must also maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average in both the Mandatory Subject Matter courses and those courses counting toward the 60-credit rule.
Note: Coursework transferred in from other law schools or completed through a study abroad program, an approved non-law course, or as part of a dual degree program do not count in a student’s Law School grade point average.
Use this tool for calculating grade point average.
In compliance with Law School Rule 2.07, the mean grade for each course must fall between a 3.2 and 3.4 on the 4.3 scale.
Grade Posting
After the exam period is over, approved grades will be reported for posting twice a day, around noon and 4:00 p.m. The Grades Reported page found on the Law School website will be updated accordingly.
To view grades, students will log in to MyUW and follow these instructions.
Unofficial transcripts accessed through the Law School My Student Info page will display both grades and grade point average. The transcripts available through MyUW will display grades only; campus is unable to accommodate the Law School's grading system at this time.
Pass/Fail
There are two pass/fail scenarios students may encounter:
- Mandatory Pass/Fail: courses that are graded on a pass/fail basis only are designated as “PF Only” in the online Course Schedule. Some mandatory pass/fail courses only count toward the 90 credits needed to earn the JD (e.g. journals, Directed Research & Reading). Consult the online Course Schedule to confirm the credit rules as they apply to specific courses. Transcripts will reflect the grade reported as “S” for satisfactory (in some cases, grades of S+ and S- may also be received) or “U” for unsatisfactory. These grades do not impact a student’s grade point average.
- Selecting Pass/Fail Option (Rule 2.03): after students have earned 25 credits, they may select the pass/fail option for two eligible courses. These courses are designated as “PF Option” in the online Course Schedule. Students may take both courses in the same semester and have until the final day of class to select the pass/fail option. An email with instructions is sent each semester. Deadlines are firm.
If the pass/fail option is elected, students earning a grade of B, B-, C, or C+ will be given an “S” for satisfactory. All other grades will be recorded as follows:
Law School letter grade reported by instructor |
Grade recorded on transcript if use Pass/Fail Option |
Factored into your GPA? |
Counts as one of your two Pass-Fail Options? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+, A, A-, B+ | A+, A, A-, B+ | Yes | Yes |
| B, B-, C, C+ | S | No | Yes |
| C-, D+, D, D-, F | C-, D+, D, D-, F | Yes | Yes |
Taking mandatory pass/fail courses or using a pass/fail option may impact a student’s eligibility for Order of the Coif and certain other honors because eligibility requires taking a minimum number of graded credit hours. Mandatory pass/fail credit hours are not considered graded credit hours for purposes of these requirements. Also, if a student uses the pass/fail option and receives a grade that converts to an S, those credit hours are not graded credit hours for purposes of these requirements.
Incompletes
If a student has not completed required coursework by the end of the term, faculty may report a grade of “I” for incomplete and grant the student additional time to complete missing work (Rule 6.01(4)(a)).