Dress code at NYC firms Forum

[$$$$$$]

It's good to have a bag. I usually just use mine to bring a book, my nice headphones, and any other stuff I may print and bring home. No one will make fun of you, and if the do, just remember, they are probably losers.

[Internetdan]

I'm not sure about briefcases v. messenger bags, and don't really know the difference but I'd be surprised if it was douchey to bring a bag with you. Even if not for a laptop, which you probably wouldn't use because you'll have a pc at your desk and shouldn't use your personal laptop for really anything, people like to carry things.

For instance I carry eye drops, phone charger, gum, hand sanitizer, headphones, tissues, glasses case, spray deodorant, notepad, pens, tums, cigarettes and lighter (one of the few left), electric shaver, and bourbon flask in a messenger bag. I'll even put gym clothes in it.

No one should judge you for bringing a bag as SA. Of course you could keep all those things in your desk, but like most things on this forum it doesn't matter.

[Internetdan]

I'm not sure about briefcases v. messenger bags, and don't really know the difference but I'd be surprised if it was douchey to bring a bag with you. Even if not for a laptop, which you probably wouldn't use because you'll have a pc at your desk and shouldn't use your personal laptop for really anything, people like to carry things.

For instance I carry eye drops, phone charger, gum, hand sanitizer, headphones, tissues, glasses case, spray deodorant, notepad, pens, tums, cigarettes and lighter (one of the few left), electric shaver, and bourbon flask in a messenger bag. I'll even put gym clothes in it.

No one should judge you for bringing a bag as SA. Of course you could keep all those things in your desk, but like most things on this forum it doesn't matter.

[chuckbass]

Ok definitely packing bourbon in the future tyvm for the idea.

[Other25BeforeYou]

I'm not sure about briefcases v. messenger bags, and don't really know the difference but I'd be surprised if it was douchey to bring a bag with you. Even if not for a laptop, which you probably wouldn't use because you'll have a pc at your desk and shouldn't use your personal laptop for really anything, people like to carry things.

For instance I carry eye drops, phone charger, gum, hand sanitizer, headphones, tissues, glasses case, spray deodorant, notepad, pens, tums, cigarettes and lighter (one of the few left), electric shaver, and bourbon flask in a messenger bag. I'll even put gym clothes in it.

No one should judge you for bringing a bag as SA. Of course you could keep all those things in your desk, but like most things on this forum it doesn't matter.

It's odd, because the teasing isn't about having a bag, it's very specific to briefcases. Some associates have messenger bags or carry backpacks, and SAs have used canvas or distressed leather messenger bags and gotten no flack. Lots of junior partners carry canvas or leather messenger bags or backpacks even to court. But the only people who ever use actual briefcases are senior partners, so when an SA shows up with a briefcase they will usually get teased. It's not nice, but then, lots of lawyers aren't nice, and I figured that if someone is sensitive to teasing they should know in advance that they're opening themselves up to it by doing something they can easily avoid.

But anyway, it looks like I lovely briefcase, and I wouldn't personally tease the poster for bringing it.

[chuckbass]

It's just as much a messenger bag as a briefcase, i.e. the flap

[zombie mcavoy]

Link plz

http://www.ebags.com/product/kenneth-co ... 0596012338

If you did want to bring a bag to work, this is fine and completely inoffensive. I'd personally go for a more muted color though so you're never clashing with your shoes.

Awesome. Thank you!

but definitely don't get the black version of this bag. the stitching is pretty atrocious

[Other25BeforeYou]

It's just as much a messenger bag as a briefcase, i.e. the flap

It's a flapover briefcase. They're very common. They will be mocked (at least at my firm). You might be publicly mocked by a partner at a department meeting and asked what important court case you have going on that requires you to bring a briefcase to work as a summer associate or whether you're having to work late nights and take lots of things home in your briefcase as a summer associate. If you don't care, good, you shouldn't. But I've seen multiple summer associate classes come and go and have seen a few summer associates looking embarrassed and blushing when this gets brought up. It's not kind. The firm attorneys see it as all in good fun. But some SAs take it poorly, so I figured I should give them a heads up, that's all.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry if this is retarded of me to ask, but I assumed I wouldn't need any sort of bag as a SA. I assumed that SA's probably don't get laptops because they don't really have to take any work home. Should I be getting a messenger bag? Am I gonna look like an idiot showing up the first day without a bag of some sort?

I'll be at a V20 satellite that's biz cas, if that matters at all.

[Other25BeforeYou]

Sorry if this is retarded of me to ask, but I assumed I wouldn't need any sort of bag as a SA. I assumed that SA's probably don't get laptops because they don't really have to take any work home. Should I be getting a messenger bag? Am I gonna look like an idiot showing up the first day without a bag of some sort?

I'll be at a V20 satellite that's biz cas, if that matters at all.

No, you should be good, that is generally a correct assumption. I think I brought work home on one occasion when I was an SA and I just carried it in a Redweld (which is what a lot of associates do anyway). The SAs I've known who've brought messenger bags/backpacks usually did so because they were going to the gym after work.

[jrf12886]

You really don't need a bag/briefcase unless you are dragging in your laptop for some reason. I have a laptop case for that purpose when its needed.

That being said, no one really cares what kind of bag you have. If its large or overly fancy, people will probably tease you about the extravagence.

[FlightoftheEarls]

It's just as much a messenger bag as a briefcase, i.e. the flap

It's a flapover briefcase. They're very common. They will be mocked (at least at my firm). You might be publicly mocked by a partner at a department meeting and asked what important court case you have going on that requires you to bring a briefcase to work as a summer associate or whether you're having to work late nights and take lots of things home in your briefcase as a summer associate. If you don't care, good, you shouldn't. But I've seen multiple summer associate classes come and go and have seen a few summer associates looking embarrassed and blushing when this gets brought up. It's not kind. The firm attorneys see it as all in good fun. But some SAs take it poorly, so I figured I should give them a heads up, that's all.

I really think this may be some sort of weird quirk specific to your firm. Nobody at mine knows or cares in the slightest what kind of bag anybody has, SA or otherwise.

[dixiecupdrinking]

It's just as much a messenger bag as a briefcase, i.e. the flap

It's a flapover briefcase. They're very common. They will be mocked (at least at my firm). You might be publicly mocked by a partner at a department meeting and asked what important court case you have going on that requires you to bring a briefcase to work as a summer associate or whether you're having to work late nights and take lots of things home in your briefcase as a summer associate. If you don't care, good, you shouldn't. But I've seen multiple summer associate classes come and go and have seen a few summer associates looking embarrassed and blushing when this gets brought up. It's not kind. The firm attorneys see it as all in good fun. But some SAs take it poorly, so I figured I should give them a heads up, that's all.

I really think this may be some sort of weird quirk specific to your firm. Nobody at mine knows or cares in the slightest what kind of bag anybody has, SA or otherwise.

Seriously, this.

[Other25BeforeYou]

It's just as much a messenger bag as a briefcase, i.e. the flap

It's a flapover briefcase. They're very common. They will be mocked (at least at my firm). You might be publicly mocked by a partner at a department meeting and asked what important court case you have going on that requires you to bring a briefcase to work as a summer associate or whether you're having to work late nights and take lots of things home in your briefcase as a summer associate. If you don't care, good, you shouldn't. But I've seen multiple summer associate classes come and go and have seen a few summer associates looking embarrassed and blushing when this gets brought up. It's not kind. The firm attorneys see it as all in good fun. But some SAs take it poorly, so I figured I should give them a heads up, that's all.

I really think this may be some sort of weird quirk specific to your firm. Nobody at mine knows or cares in the slightest what kind of bag anybody has, SA or otherwise.

Seriously, this.

I've heard from folks at other firms in prior threads on this topic that this happens elsewhere too. I'm sure it's not anywhere near universal (and hopefully not even common), but it happens. Regardless, for all I know the folks asking about it in this thread are going to my firm, so a warning about the possibility of ribbing seemed appropriate.

[dixiecupdrinking]

I think the issue is taking yourself too seriously as a SA, which I guess carrying a briefcase could be a symptom of, but I don't think it's common for anyone to give a shit about what bag a SA brings to work in and of itself.

[exitoptions]

I don't really understand when this ribbing would happen? As long as you don't bring the bag on the first day, you're just going to be walking straight to your office. In most cases you won't be interacting with people until afterward.

On the other hand, as an summer, you won't really need a bag. You won't be taking home any work generally and you will have your lunch provided for you every day (if you're smart).

As far as OP's question, wear a suit the first day and gauge what other people are wearing. My impression is that most biglaw firms in NYC are biz casual. Most people generally keep a suit and a clean shirt/tie (or the equivalent for women) in the office just in case something comes up.

[Other25BeforeYou]

I think the issue is taking yourself too seriously as a SA, which I guess carrying a briefcase could be a symptom of, but I don't think it's common for anyone to give a shit about what bag a SA brings to work in and of itself.

I think that's probably right, but you don't usually get chill SAs carrying briefcases around, so I think it's taken as indicative of being overeager. To clarify, I don't mean that if you find yourself frequently having to take work/stuff home a lot and you happen to have a briefcase already, that you should carry the stuff and not use the bag in order to appear chill. I just meant that if you show up on your first day with a shiny new brief case despite having no indication that you'll need to use it, you might get teased.

[Anonymous User]

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

[JAYINSD]

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

observe and blend in, don't do this the first day you are in the office.

[StylinNProfilin]

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

This is NY step up your game...classy leather gym bag.

[JasonSehorn]

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

This is NY step up your game...classy leather gym bag.

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

Why not use the gym bag the firm gave you?

[cookiejar1]

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

This is NY step up your game...classy leather gym bag.

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

Why not use the gym bag the firm gave you?

Because then people on TLS will make fun of you for walking about with a gym bag with the repeating words "CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE" stitched on to the bag.

[JasonSehorn]

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

This is NY step up your game...classy leather gym bag.

school backpack for gym clothes + bizz casual; can I?

Why not use the gym bag the firm gave you?

Because then people on TLS will make fun of you for walking about with a gym bag with the repeating words "CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE" stitched on to the bag.

Sorry I forgot. They will be the ones corresponding with your firm about whether to give out offers or not. My apologies, please do not use that gym bag.

[Anonymous User]

On a tangent, when buying BB Non-Iron shirts for a business casual firm, I'm guessing I should stick with solid/striped/checkered patterns with soft colors (blues, greens, yellows, etc.)?

[shouldershoulders]

Would an SA be mocked for bringing a Filson briefcase to work? I'd like to have a bag to carry headphones, gum, book for the subway, etc.

For reference, it'd be one of these: http://www.filson.com/products/original ... 70256.html