Many, or perhaps most, law schools in the United States grade on a curve. The process generally works within each class, where the instructor grades the work, and then ranks the initial grades, adding to and subtracting from the initial grades so that the overall pattern of grades matches the school's specified curve (usually a bell curve).

Grading on a curve contributes to the notoriously competitive atmosphere within law schools. "The main source of this competition is the mandatory curve you will likely encounter once you enter law school. The curve affects the class rank, affects the chances of making law review, affects the chances of scoring that big job/externship."[1] Some law schools set their curve lower to retain scholarship funding.

The following list shows where law schools set the 50% mark.


Is this an accurate list-or are there major discrepancies?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_la ... GPA_curves

Patently false.

I don't know about the rest, but I know that UVA has a mean of 3.3, not the median.

There seem to be a lot of questionable stats in that page, wondering if anyone knows of a more credible source for that type of info?

It's Wikipedia, what do you expect. It looks like most of the info is linked to the law school websites, but most of it is probably outdated. You might want to move this thread to the forum for current law students who might have a better idea than a lot of the 0Ls browsing these boards.

I have ignored the wikipedia link, because my teachers have said it is not a bell curve. They just have the required average (which they claim they are not required to meet, but whatever).

For instance, one of my classes had an extra A, and three less A-, with the same number of students as the last curve.

And my belief is exams fit more into piles. Like you said, the average's are around a 3.3-3.4, or whatever, so basically a B+. For just about every class, there will only be 5 grades: A, A-, B+, B, and B-. And A and B- should be only a handful out of the class. So everyone is an A-, B+, or B, unless they are exceptionally better or worse.