THIS FALL THE CLASSES OF 2010 AND 2011 WILL BE THE FIRST TO USE THE LAW SCHOOL’S NEW GRADING SYSTEM, which eliminates the complex numerical scheme in favor of a system of honors, pass, restricted credit, and no credit (H/P/R/F). Approved by a faculty vote this past May, the shift aims to motivate students to choose classes regardless of the grading reputation of the professor and to encourage faculty to experiment more with the kinds of assignments they require.

“Our grading system was unnecessarily complicated, plus there was a sense that it created a degree and kind of grade pressure that was unwarranted and unhelpful,” says Larry Kramer, Richard E. Lang Professor of Law and Dean, who notes the change comes after a year of faculty, student, and alumni study and debate around the issue.

Previously, all students received one of 21 numerical grades ranging from 2.1 to 4.3. Each grade had a letter equivalent ranging from A+ to F. Many on the faculty found dividing, for example, 30 final exams into 20 different grades, too arbitrary. And the difference between exam courses, graded on the mandatory mean, and off-mean courses seemed to affect course selection in odd ways.

While some details of the transition to the new system have yet to be worked out—such as what to do about honors at graduation, including the Order of the Coif—here are the basics: This year’s 2Ls, the incoming 1Ls, and all future classes will be graded under the new H/P/R/F regime. 3Ls will finish their Stanford careers on the traditional numeric system. To read more about the new grading system, see “From the Dean” on the inside front cover.