Character strengths and academic performance in law students

Abstract

We examined law student character and academic performance. Incoming students from Emory University (N=132) and American University (N=164) completed the Values in Action Character Strengths Inventory. Strengths were compared to a sample of U.S. lawyers (N=6,219) and six other samples (N=135,814). Law students demonstrated a normal range of characteristics, similar to other highly educated groups. Top strengths included judgment, curiosity, love of learning, and fairness. Strengths were positively related to undergraduate grades, but negatively related to LSAT scores and law school grades. Findings suggest a selection effect, such that character matters more for entry into law school, at lea..