Which elite US law firms explicitly wait for grades or transcripts?
In the current governed subset, Sullivan & Cromwell, Wachtell, Gibson Dunn, Susman Godfrey and Quinn Emanuel each publish an explicit grade or transcript timing condition. The stage differs by firm.
What the official sources say
Sullivan & Cromwell: New York summer candidates applying before OCI are told to apply after receiving 1L spring grades. Official source · SIG-205.
Wachtell: final review of 2L summer applications may wait until a completed first-semester transcript is submitted. Official source · SIG-209.
Gibson Dunn New York: the firm says it reviews 2027 2L applications primarily after first-semester grades are released. Applicants may apply earlier, but the firm also says it does not plan to extend offers until complete first-semester transcripts are added. Official source · SIG-225 and SIG-226.
Susman Godfrey: the 2L summer application is treated as complete only once the first full-year transcript is received. Official source · SIG-249.
Quinn Emanuel: the firm says it will not begin interviewing the relevant 2027 Summer Program cohort until first-semester grades are released. Official source · SIG-260.
What this does not prove
This does not establish that grades carry the same weight at all five firms, or that these practices are representative of US BigLaw. It records explicit programme-level timing gates in the reviewed official sources.
Denominator: five named law-firm programme routes with canonical evidence reviewed on 14 September 2026.
6 dated facts (signals), observed 14 September 2026
Every signal this page cites, with the observation as coded, the passage recorded against the official page, the observation date and the source. Follow a signal ID for its full record; follow the source for the live page.
Where early interviewing is permitted, Sullivan & Cromwell tells New York summer candidates to apply after receiving 1L spring grades.
Evidence passage recorded against the sourceApply as soon as you receive your 1L spring grades.
United States / New York · Summer Associate · Grade-timed application · Observed 14 September 2026 · Verified 14 Sep 2026 · Source SRC-129 (sullcrom.com) · source record
Wachtell says final review of 2L summer applications may wait until completed first-semester transcripts are submitted.
Evidence passage recorded against the sourceFinal review ... may not be provided until completed first semester transcripts have been submitted.
United States / New York · 2L Summer Associate · Transcript dependency · Observed 14 September 2026 · Verified 14 Sep 2026 · Source SRC-131 (wlrk.com) · source record
Gibson Dunn New York says it reviews 2027 2L Summer Program applications primarily after first-semester grades are released.
Evidence passage recorded against the sourcereview applications ... primarily after the release of first-semester grades
United States / New York · 2027 2L Summer Program · Grade-timed review · Observed 14 September 2026 · Verified 14 Sep 2026 · Source SRC-138 (gibsondunn.com) · source record
Gibson Dunn New York says offers are not planned until applicants update with complete first-semester transcripts.
Evidence passage recorded against the sourceWe do not plan to extend offers until after students have updated their applications with this information.
United States / New York · 2027 2L Summer Program · Transcript offer gate · Observed 14 September 2026 · Verified 14 Sep 2026 · Source SRC-138 (gibsondunn.com) · source record
Quinn Emanuel says it will not begin interviewing Class of 2028 students for its 2027 Summer Program until first-semester grades are released.
Evidence passage recorded against the sourceWe will not begin interviewing Class of 2028 students ... until first semester grades are released.
United States / New York · 2027 Summer Program · Grade-timed interview gate · Observed 14 September 2026 · Verified 14 Sep 2026 · Source SRC-156 (quinnemanuel.com) · source record
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