Pass-Fail Grading Proposed For First Year Law Students

In a report that will be sent to all Law School faculty today, the Michelman Committee, a student-faculty group reviewing education at the Law School, recommends that first year students receive only pass-fail grades for their first semester courses.

Albert M. Sacks, dean of the Law School, said yesterday that the report will be considered at a faculty meeting at the end of April or the beginning of May.

In calling for pass-fail grading, the report states that letter grades are not necessary as "motivators," or as standards of achievement in the first semester.

"The information conveyed by a mere grade as to what a student has done well or poorly, and how he or she might go about improving future performance is small and obscure," the report says.

A student on the Student Advisory Committee to the Michelman Committee who asked not to be identified said yesterday. "Pass-fail grading has been done successfully at Yale law school and it probably enhances the educational process."

The committee rejected narrowly a proposal that would make grading for the whole first year pass-fail, the report says, despite student support for that option.

"The various considerations weighing in favor of a pass-fail system in the beginning stages of law school are strongest as applied to the first semester, while the counter considerations gain in strength as applied to the first year," the report says.

A committee member who asked not to be identified, said yesterday. "If you go to pass-fail grading for the full year, you would increase pressure because people do not know how they're doing."

Sacks said, "If there is a case for pass-fail it is a good deal greater for the first semester than for the second semester."

Sacks refused to comment on the report, but said he was in favor of additional feedback to students and reduced pressure in the first year. "I will join in any effort to pursue these purposes," he added.

Frank I. Michelman, professor of Law and chairman of the committee, yesterday declined to comment on the report.

In addition to its suggestions on grading, the report recommends that first year law grades be given to the Harvard Law Review only "at the affirmative request of the student concerned."

Mark B. Helm '78, president of the Law Review, said yesterday that the Law Review is currently given the grades of the top 20 students in each class automatically.

"From the point of view of the first year class, this won't reduce pressure, but will only inconvenience students," Helm added.

The report also calls for increased communication between faculty and students, particularly about a student's grades.

The report is the first in a series of reports that the Michelman Committee, which was formed last year, will submit to the faculty. Future recommendations will center on curriculum planning and admissions criteria.