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I'm entering my 3L year at a TT and have been considering changing my last name to something more "lawyer like." My current last name is difficult to pronounce for most and I just wanted to hear the opinions of TLS'ers on how much this could make a difference for employment prospects and, more importantly, client prospects. Also, those of you who think changing my last name would be a good idea, could I hold off on it or should I change it ASAP since I will be networking like crazy this year to secure an associate gig by the time I graduate next summer. Thanks in advance for your input.

I wouldn't bother.
Many lawyers use their first name (I will)

It won't make any difference. Unless you plan on starting your own firm, your last name will never matter. At the firm I SA at, I called everybody Mr./Ms. when I was introduced to them, and they all insisted on being called by their first name. But if you're dead set on it, change it ASAP so you network with the same name from the get-go.

Now that that's over--seriously? Out of all the things you could do to make yourself more appealing to employers, you land on change your last name?

not the op

but i've been thinking about changing both my first name and last name to something more domestic sounding

.

Changing your name is weird. People will think you're weird when they find out. Nobody likes weirdos.

My dad changed his name because he was being discriminated against in the navy. He later became an attorney where a name like cohenbaumensteinberg might be advantageous oy,

Yup, I think this is trying too hard. I would personally find it off-putting if I found out you were literally willing to change your identity for like 0.01% better odds of getting a job.

morally0bese wrote:My dad changed his name because he was being discriminated against in the navy. He later became an attorney where a name like cohenbaumensteinberg might be advantageous oy,

QFP

What names are you flirting with, OP?

Please share.

dingbat wrote:http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/10- ... ames-evar/

I have filled up at Dick Assmans gas station, we drove way out of our way to do it.

Unfortunately the assman was not there

dingbat wrote:I wouldn't bother.
Many lawyers use their first name (I will)

We put clients first here at Tony, Gretchen, and Bob LLC.

I think it is always appropriate to change your name to match one of the partners names of the firm. Something like Michael Watkins, or Michelle Piper.

prezidentv8 wrote:

dingbat wrote:I wouldn't bother.
Many lawyers use their first name (I will)

We put clients first here at Tony, Gretchen, and Bob LLC.

Lol






OP, what region of the country are you in? That could be relevant to what last name would be advantageous.

Initial the first name and go with your middle and surname

Am I the only one who thinks this is completely ridiculous???

If your name is actually embarrassing (e.g. if you're Billy Idiot or Jane Whorehouse), by all means go ahead and change your name. If it's just a foreign name, I'm afraid that your question alone suggests that you're either immature or insecure, or both.

Think of it this way: If you become a successful lawyer and people are talking about you and recommend you, you're better off as Eleftherios Karapanagioti than as John D. Smith, who is indistinguishable from all other lawyers sharing his name, and virtually unGoogleable.

LOLyer wrote:Am I the only one who thinks this is completely ridiculous???

Yes. On TLS, we either tell people who ask stupid questions how stupid they are or we play along.

NewHere wrote:Think of it this way: If you become a successful lawyer and people are talking about you and recommend you, you're better off as Eleftherios Karapanagioti than as John D. Smith, who is indistinguishable from all other lawyers sharing his name, and virtually unGoogleable.

This advice actually isn't that bad.

I don't think this is ridiculous or weird. If you haven't had an impossible to pronounce or spell last name, then you don't get it. Really, people would just look at it and stutter, or just pause and were awkward like Ms. ......?!?!

Anyway, I cut the last 7 letters off my last name to make it simpler on myself and the rest of the world. And it's been just fine. Maybe that's a compromise that would work with your name?

If I end up practicing in New York I'm changing my last name to something that ends with a "stein" or "Berg".

This isn't ridiculous at all.

Change your name if it is going to give you more confidence. If your name is ethnic (and I assume it is), we're probably butchering the pronunciation of it to the point that its isnt your real name any way.

Mr. Pancakes wrote:If I end up practicing in New York I'm changing my last name to something that ends with a "stein" or "berg".

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_ur ... WqeI&gl=US

bernaldiaz wrote:

Mr. Pancakes wrote:If I end up practicing in New York I'm changing my last name to something that ends with a "stein" or "berg".

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_ur ... WqeI&gl=US

Yep, just watched that recently.

CURB YAR!