Do 2L grades matter after getting a SA offer?

[lawsuperstar]

My question is how important are 2L grades in determining if the firm you work at as a summer associate gives you an offer at the end of the summer?  Any stories of anyone not getting an offer after getting horrible 2L grades?

[Krisace]

My impression from people that I've talked to is that even if grades aren't great your second year, as long as you can explain why, you'll be okay.  One person I talked to said that she had a few friends called into a partner's office but they all got subsequent offers for post 3L, having a somewhat decent explanation for their grade drop.

[lawsuperstar]

What qualifies as a "decent" explanation?

[Krisace]

Getting involved with OCI; student groups etc.

[Coregram]

2L grades might be important if you don't get an offer from your 2L job, if you aren't sure you want to accept the  offer from your 2L job, if you want to apply for a clerkship after graduation, or if you think your overall grades and class rank might be important in changing jobs early in your career.

Good 2L grades won't hurt and will give you more options.  I wouldn't blow them off.

[ruskiegirl]

My question is how important are 2L grades in determining if the firm you work at as a summer associate gives you an offer at the end of the summer?  Any stories of anyone not getting an offer after getting horrible 2L grades?

I had a senior associate at a top Atlanta firm bring this up during my callback. 

She laughed and said it was so funny, because the firm had never seen any of her grades beyond first year.  She said all they had on her in her file was the first year transcript and they never asked for anything else.