So, you graduated from law school and you’ve been working in your chosen practice for a few years. But it’s time to move on from your current firm to something bigger and better (or smaller and tamer). You sent out your resume, crafted an ingenious short but sweet cover letter, and now you get the call from Dream Firm. You schedule the interview (early in the morning, so people won’t notice your absence from the office) and just as you’re about to hang up with Dream Firm’s human resources director, you hear the words many of us dread:

“Oh, and please be sure to bring a copy of your law school transcripts.”

What? Did you hear that correctly? Aren’t grades a little irrelevant at this point? Well, before you freak out, take a minute to remind yourself of why Dream Firm wants to see those grades. In my opinion, there are two big reasons:

• Scholarship: Naturally, law firms want solid evidence that you know your stuff and that you have the course background to understand the specifics of your practice and the basics of other practices that may overlap (yes, everyone should be familiar with tort, contract and civil procedure basics). Your transcript is one of the few palpable indicators upon which Dream Law can rely.

• Consistency: A quick look at someone’s transcripts can tell Dream Law whether that person maintained a consistent level of commitment to his or her education. Hopefully, this translates into a consistent work ethic on your part. If they see that you suddenly slacked off in your third year, you may have some explaining to do. Alternatively, if Dream Law sees plenty of extracurricular activities on your resume and consistent grades, they can be confident that you are capable of handling the juggling that so many law firms demand these days.

So next time you have to cough up your transcript – fear not. Take a look at your grades in conjunction with your resume and find your own strengths and weaknesses so that you can come to the interview prepared to talk about them. Certainly, a well prepared candidate is far better than one caught off guard.