Duke Law School uses a slightly modified form of the traditional 4.0 scale. The modification permits faculty to recognize especially distinguished performance with grades above a 4.0.

There is an enforced maximum median grade and limit on grades above 4.0 in all first year courses and in all upper class courses with more than forty students. In addition, in these courses, no more than five percent of the grades in any class may be higher than a 4.0. A grade higher than 4.0 would be comparable to an “A+” under letter grading systems. A grade of 1.5 or lower is failing.

The transcripts of students who enrolled at Duke in 2003-2004 or earlier reflect two slightly different grading scales. Through the academic year 2003-2004, the first year for most of the Class of 2006, the enforced maximum median grade was a 3.1 and faculty were permitted to give a limited number of grades of up to 4.5. The scale in effect as of 2004-2005 has an enforced maximum median of 3.3 and the highest possible grade has been lowered to 4.3.

The Law School does not release class rank.