How not to sound like a prick when mentioning my firm? Forum

[EvilClinton]

I have the opposite problem.

When I talk to non-law students they always ask where I am working. I tell them the name of my firm (a V100) and since they have not heard of it they assume it sucks. They say things like "oh well you can always transfer" or "well at least you aren't one of those ambulance chasers". In reality my firm is one of the top in this market but non-lawyers never hear about it.

You're either 1) a douche bag prestige whore or 2) you've surrounded yourself with douche bag prestige whores. I think your problem is harder to fix than OP's.

Why?

[r6_philly]

That works too. I was just trying to provide "The Idiot's Guide to Basic Human Interaction Skills." Your example might get too complicated for some apparently (like OP) if they are overly nonchalant (when saying the city) and appear to be elusive about saying the firm's name.

Well, I agree if you are saying it the wrong way, no words can save you! But then it's hard to coach a natural not to be one...

[Richie Tenenbaum]

I have the opposite problem.

When I talk to non-law students they always ask where I am working. I tell them the name of my firm (a V100) and since they have not heard of it they assume it sucks. They say things like "oh well you can always transfer" or "well at least you aren't one of those ambulance chasers". In reality my firm is one of the top in this market but non-lawyers never hear about it.

You're either 1) a douche bag prestige whore or 2) you've surrounded yourself with douche bag prestige whores. I think your problem is harder to fix than OP's.

Why?

Because you give a shit about what people think about the prestige level of your firm.

An idea: You could always print out the chambers rankings for your area and hand them a copy when you tell them your firm. That way they know how awesome your firm is (and, thus, you are). Bonus points if your firm is the #1 firm in the vault regional rankings.

ETA:
-Bonus points if you hand out salary info. But keep in mind you lose points if 1) your firm doesn't pay at least market and 2) your firm doesn't pay competitive bonuses.

[EvilClinton]

Why is this a problem? If I go to the University of Chicago and some people think it's a crappy state school, who cares? My self-confidence is not built upon what other people think.

It isn't a big problem. I was just trying to show the contrast to the OP's situation. I don't sound like a "prick" to my friends because they have no idea what biglaw firms are.

[EvilClinton]

Because you give a shit about what people think about the prestige level of your firm.

An idea: You could always print out the chambers rankings for your area and hand them a copy when you tell them your firm. That way they know how awesome your firm is (and, thus, you are). Bonus points if your firm is the #1 firm in the vault regional rankings.

That isn't what I said at all. I was just trying to say that no one knows what I am talking about when I mention my firm. In fact, most of my friends assume it is crappy because they have not heard of it. It takes too much effort to explain how biglaw works so I just usually agree with whatever comments they make.

Also, most of them are medical students or medical residents so they think they are better than me no matter what I am doing.

[IAFG]

Because you give a shit about what people think about the prestige level of your firm.

An idea: You could always print out the chambers rankings for your area and hand them a copy when you tell them your firm. That way they know how awesome your firm is (and, thus, you are). Bonus points if your firm is the #1 firm in the vault regional rankings.

That isn't what I said at all. I was just trying to say that no one knows what I am talking about when I mention my firm. In fact, most of my friends assume it is crappy because they have not heard of it. It takes too much effort to explain how biglaw works so I just usually agree with whatever comments they make.

Also, most of them are medical students or medical residents so they think they are better than me no matter what I am doing.

Leave your paystub out on your coffee table. Or tape it to your fridge.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Because you give a shit about what people think about the prestige level of your firm.

An idea: You could always print out the chambers rankings for your area and hand them a copy when you tell them your firm. That way they know how awesome your firm is (and, thus, you are). Bonus points if your firm is the #1 firm in the vault regional rankings.

That isn't what I said at all. I was just trying to say that no one knows what I am talking about when I mention my firm. In fact, most of my friends assume it is crappy because they have not heard of it. It takes too much effort to explain how biglaw works so I just usually agree with whatever comments they make.

Also, most of them are medical students or medical residents so they think they are better than me no matter what I am doing.

Well I allowed for the option that you've surrounded yourself with douche bag people in my first reply to you. My apologies for thinking your problem was entirely the first option.

You're either 1) a douche bag prestige whore or 2) you've surrounded yourself with douche bag prestige whores. I think your problem is harder to fix than OP's.

[nonprofit-prophet]

Because you give a shit about what people think about the prestige level of your firm.

An idea: You could always print out the chambers rankings for your area and hand them a copy when you tell them your firm. That way they know how awesome your firm is (and, thus, you are). Bonus points if your firm is the #1 firm in the vault regional rankings.

That isn't what I said at all. I was just trying to say that no one knows what I am talking about when I mention my firm. In fact, most of my friends assume it is crappy because they have not heard of it. It takes too much effort to explain how biglaw works so I just usually agree with whatever comments they make.

Also, most of them are medical students or medical residents so they think they are better than me no matter what I am doing.

Well I allowed for the option that you've surrounded yourself with douche bag people in my first reply to you. My apologies for thinking your problem was entirely the first option.

You're either 1) a douche bag prestige whore or 2) you've surrounded yourself with douche bag prestige whores. I think your problem is harder to fix than OP's.

I've enjoyed this conversation. that is all.

[EvilClinton]

Because you give a shit about what people think about the prestige level of your firm.

An idea: You could always print out the chambers rankings for your area and hand them a copy when you tell them your firm. That way they know how awesome your firm is (and, thus, you are). Bonus points if your firm is the #1 firm in the vault regional rankings.

That isn't what I said at all. I was just trying to say that no one knows what I am talking about when I mention my firm. In fact, most of my friends assume it is crappy because they have not heard of it. It takes too much effort to explain how biglaw works so I just usually agree with whatever comments they make.

Also, most of them are medical students or medical residents so they think they are better than me no matter what I am doing.

Well I allowed for the option that you've surrounded yourself with douche bag people in my first reply to you. My apologies for thinking your problem was entirely the first option.

You're either 1) a douche bag prestige whore or 2) you've surrounded yourself with douche bag prestige whores. I think your problem is harder to fix than OP's.

I don't think they are D-bags but there is something about going into the medical field that gives you a God complex.

They all seem to think they are doing the most important thing in the world. In their eyes anything that makes more money is not as noble and anything more noble does not make enough money.

Okay they do sound like D-bags...

[Byakuya769]

I have the opposite problem.

When I talk to non-law students they always ask where I am working. I tell them the name of my firm (a V100) and since they have not heard of it they assume it sucks. They say things like "oh well you can always transfer" or "well at least you aren't one of those ambulance chasers". In reality my firm is one of the top in this market but non-lawyers never hear about it.

Similar annoyance with many of my friends and my T14 school. Might as well went to the local private school because it wasn't Harvard or "Princeton Law."

[KidStuddi]

I have the opposite problem.

When I talk to non-law students they always ask where I am working. I tell them the name of my firm (a V100) and since they have not heard of it they assume it sucks. They say things like "oh well you can always transfer" or "well at least you aren't one of those ambulance chasers". In reality my firm is one of the top in this market but non-lawyers never hear about it.

Similar annoyance with many of my friends and my T14 school. Might as well went to the local private school because it wasn't Harvard or "Princeton Law."

... Lol. Why does the opinion of anyone, let alone those who clearly know so little about the legal profession, actually annoy you? Your life must be hard; so many people to impress.

[ben4847]

Also, it is easier if you happen not to be a prick.

HTH

[Stanford4Me]

Tell 'em you work for Bender & Bender.

[fraught]

Tell 'em you work for Bender & Bender.

the cochran firm FTW.

[presh]

.

[Byakuya769]

I have the opposite problem.

When I talk to non-law students they always ask where I am working. I tell them the name of my firm (a V100) and since they have not heard of it they assume it sucks. They say things like "oh well you can always transfer" or "well at least you aren't one of those ambulance chasers". In reality my firm is one of the top in this market but non-lawyers never hear about it.

Similar annoyance with many of my friends and my T14 school. Might as well went to the local private school because it wasn't Harvard or "Princeton Law."

... Lol. Why does the opinion of anyone, let alone those who clearly know so little about the legal profession, actually annoy you? Your life must be hard; so many people to impress.

Who hurt you? You're asking me why friends not knowing about my goals is a minor annoyance, while seemingly being annoyed by a post from a random stranger? Ok. You must be a joy to be around.

[Anonymous User]

This thread is also funny, because before I even started researching firms this summer, they were all just one big blur to me. Cravath? Bender & Bender? I would have said, "Awesome!" to them all.

[Stanford4Me]

This thread is also funny, because before I even started researching firms this summer, they were all just one big blur to me. Cravath? Bender & Bender? I would have said, "Awesome!" to them all.

Anyone who would turn down Bender & Bender is a fool.

[ben4847]

Speaking of which, I went to see a play tonight (The Kite Runner), and we got to shmoozing with the old people behind us during intermission and after the play. So's she asks me if I'm in school here, and I say yes, in HLS.

So she tells me that when her daughter went there you would just say "a local school" and it was considered more humble.

Moral of the story: you can't win, when you're winning.

[Stanford4Me]

Speaking of which, I went to see a play tonight (The Kite Runner), and we got to shmoozing with the old people behind us during intermission and after the play. So's she asks me if I'm in school here, and I say yes, in HLS.

So she tells me that when her daughter went there you would just say "a local school" and it was considered more humble.

Moral of the story: you can't win, when you're winning.

LOL seriously? There was a thread about this also. DF was annoyed by people who say "a school in Boston" instead of Harvard.

[Anonymous User]

I think trying to hide where you are working makes you sound like more of a prick. Kinda like when you ask somewhere where they went to school and they say "Boston." You should be proud of where you are working.

[shredderrrrrr]

Speaking of which, I went to see a play tonight (The Kite Runner), and we got to shmoozing with the old people behind us during intermission and after the play. So's she asks me if I'm in school here, and I say yes, in HLS.

So she tells me that when her daughter went there you would just say "a local school" and it was considered more humble.

Moral of the story: you can't win, when you're winning.

Lol that's dumb. By "being humble" and not naming your school you are assuming that people will be jealous of your school and that you need to not offend these people--which is consequently not humble at all.

[shredderrrrrr]

I have the opposite problem.

When I talk to non-law students they always ask where I am working. I tell them the name of my firm (a V100) and since they have not heard of it they assume it sucks. They say things like "oh well you can always transfer" or "well at least you aren't one of those ambulance chasers". In reality my firm is one of the top in this market but non-lawyers never hear about it.

Similar annoyance with many of my friends and my T14 school. Might as well went to the local private school because it wasn't Harvard or "Princeton Law."

... Lol. Why does the opinion of anyone, let alone those who clearly know so little about the legal profession, actually annoy you? Your life must be hard; so many people to impress.

Who hurt you? You're asking me why friends not knowing about my goals is a minor annoyance, while seemingly being annoyed by a post from a random stranger? Ok. You must be a joy to be around.

You seem to have a really good grasp of how TLS operates.

[fraught]

Speaking of which, I went to see a play tonight (The Kite Runner), and we got to shmoozing with the old people behind us during intermission and after the play. So's she asks me if I'm in school here, and I say yes, in HLS.

So she tells me that when her daughter went there you would just say "a local school" and it was considered more humble.

Moral of the story: you can't win, when you're winning.

Lol that's dumb. By "being humble" and not naming your school you are assuming that people will be jealous of your school and that you need to not offend these people--which is consequently not humble at all.

THIS. The idea that you can't say "Harvard" or whatever because you don't want to alienate people makes you a bigger d-bag than if you just walked around yakking about going to Harvard.

[Anonymous User]

You should just say something like this:

1: where are you working?
2: oh just at a law firm in new York.
1: which firm?
2: it's just a firm in manhattan
1: which firm in manhattan?
2: it's in midtown
1: which firm in midtown?
2: just across the street from the moma
1: orrick?
2: no, wachtell.

Works like a fuckin charm for those harvard kids

As someone who went to college "in Boston," this made me lol.