Grading System

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

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 does not count in a student’s Law School grade point average.

A tool for calculating grade point

Grades

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.

Throughout the examination period at the conclusion of a semester, 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 our grading system at this time.

Pass/Fail

There are two pass/fail scenarios students may encounter:

1.      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.
   
   
2.  Selecting Pass/Fail (Rule 2.03): after students have earned 25 credits, they are eligible to take two normally graded courses as pass/fail. 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.

Note that 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)).  

Class Standing

Standing tables relate grade point averages to approximate position in the class. The tables are based on the number of credits earned and broken down by percentage. They are re-calculated after each Fall and Spring semester and found here.

Class Rank

Each semester, the top ten students in each class will be determined by the Registrar and notified by the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD).

At the conclusion of an academic year, final grade point averages for students who graduated in December and May will be combined and calculated to determine final class rank for each graduate. Students may request their rank from the Registrar. Note that August graduates are not included but instead should utilize the standing tables. 

Transcripts

• Official transcripts are provided by the campus Registrar's Office following instructions found here. There is no charge for first-class U.S. Postal Service delivery, nor for PDF delivery. FedEx service with tracking numbers is available for an extra fee. Official transcripts:
  • are securely delivered using Parchment; 
  • list all courses taken and grades earned;
  • list degree earned, conferral date, and any Dean's List or Latin honors earned; 
  • do NOT include a Law School grade point average.

• Unofficial transcripts generated by the Law  School are available through My Student Info to anyone who has signed the transcript release form. Unofficial Law School transcripts:
  • may require an accompanying letter from the Law School Registrar to guarantee authenticity and security; 
  • list all courses taken and grades earned;
  • list both the semester and cumulative grade point averages;
  • do NOT list degree earned, conferral date, and any Dean's List or Latin honors earned.

Any questions about transcripts should be directed to the Law School Registrar at: registrar@law.wisc.edu

Honors and Awards

Dean’s Honor List

Pursuant to Rule 8.05, a student is eligible for the Dean’s Honor List (typically referred to as “Dean’s List”) if the following three requirements are satisfied:

1. Completion of at least 12 new credits in a semester; at least 8 of these credits must be graded on the 4.3 scale

2. Earn at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average for the semester

3. Completion of the credits by the final grading deadline

Students with disabilities that preclude a credit load of at least 12 credits should consult with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs about appropriate accommodations. Students who have retaken a course should review Law School Rule 6.09 for the impact on eligibility for honors.

For any semester in which it is earned, this honor will be listed on the campus transcript. 

Dean's Academic Achievement Awards

Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of their penultimate semester receive the Dean's Academic Achievement Award and qualify to wear an honors stole at the commencement ceremony. Incomplete ("I") grades must be cleared in order to be eligible for the Award. Students who have retaken a course should review Law School Rule 6.09 for the impact on eligibility for honors.

Qualified candidates will be notified at the end of the relevant semester and directed to the University Bookstore to purchase the stole.

Latin Honors: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude

Students who have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at the completion of the JD will qualify for Latin honors. However, students who matriculated in Fall 2023 and after must earn a minimum of 45 graded credits and transfer students must earn a minimum of 30 graded credits to qualify.

The honors and corresponding grade point averages are as follows:

Cum laude - 3.5 to 3.74
Magna cum laude - 3.75 to 3.94
Summa cum laude - 3.95 to 4.3

Students who have retaken a course should review Law School Rule 6.09 for the impact on eligibility for honors.

Latin honors are listed on the campus transcript and the diploma.

Order of the Coif

The Order of the Coif is a national honorary scholastic society that recognizes law students who attain a high grade of scholarship. The Wisconsin Chapter of The Order of the Coif is selected from those graduating law students who:

• have earned a minimum of 68 graded credits
• are in the top 10% of the class 

 For a full explanation of the eligibility for Order of the Coif, see Appendix D of the Law School Rules. (Note: grades earned in any semester following the semester in which the degree requirements are met are not counted for Order of the Coif eligibility purposes). Students who have retaken a course should review Law School Rule 6.09 for the impact on eligibility for honors.