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I'm a 3L who was an omnivore during my summer associate position, but I have since become a vegan for ethical reasons. I will be starting this fall at the same firm I summered at, and I was wondering if anyone who has been in a similar situation has any advice for how to deal diplomatically with any potentially awkward social situations. For example, I'm sure I'll get invited to lunch or dinner by whatever partner I'm working for. What's a good way of being like "no, sorry, not going to eat at 90+% of the places you want to go," especially if they've already made a reservation.

What's more important: your ethics or free food? I know what I'd choose.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L who was an omnivore during my summer associate position, but I have since become a vegan for ethical reasons. I will be starting this fall at the same firm I summered at, and I was wondering if anyone who has been in a similar situation has any advice for how to deal diplomatically with any potentially awkward social situations. For example, I'm sure I'll get invited to lunch or dinner by whatever partner I'm working for. What's a good way of being like "no, sorry, not going to eat at 90+% of the places you want to go," especially if they've already made a reservation.

Probably should have thought of this before you became a vegan.

In reality, nobody cares. Lots of people in law have dietary restrictions and most people don't inquire beyond, oh when did you start that?

Just check menus at places before you go so it isn't weird.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L who was an omnivore during my summer associate position, but I have since become a vegan for ethical reasons. I will be starting this fall at the same firm I summered at, and I was wondering if anyone who has been in a similar situation has any advice for how to deal diplomatically with any potentially awkward social situations. For example, I'm sure I'll get invited to lunch or dinner by whatever partner I'm working for. What's a good way of being like "no, sorry, not going to eat at 90+% of the places you want to go," especially if they've already made a reservation.

I wouldn't be all that sure about that. The summer program is a huge fucking flame. I went to lunch with my partner infinitely more during the SA than after.

Plus if it's really that awkward can't you just eat some cheese just once.

They killed a cow to make that chair you'll be sitting in for 12 hours a day

Lol at going to dinner with a Partner. I would simply bail just because that sounds like a shitty way to spend an evening.


You will have zero issue being vegan in big law unless you cause your own problems.

OP here. I only really care to receive responses from:

Anonymous User wrote:anyone who has been in a similar situation

Heading into a 2L SA and definitely worried about the same.

You became a vegan for ethical reasons? What did you score on the MPRE?

I got no offered for being a vegan

..

just don't be a dick or super uptight about your veganism and you should be fine.

jbagelboy wrote:just don't be a dick or super uptight about your veganism and you should be fine.

This. Yes, your menu options will be more limited but nobody will care or think negatively of you, unless you go around ranting at people that honey is bee slavery or whatever when they're eating that greek yogurt stuff. Then, yes, people will be like "what's with this guy" but the reason won't be because you're vegan . . .

You can probably find something to eat at most places if you're flexible, anyway. There are plenty of vegetarians, vegans somewhat less so, but no one is going to be scandalized by it. (NYC at least. Maybe Texas is different. If you're in California they'll probably give you a raise.)

1. Check the menu if you know where you are going.
2. Get the vegetarian entree and tweak (in a non-obnoxious way) things that aren't vegan (no cheese, etc.)
3. Don't tell everyone you are a vegan. No one needs to know. [If you're an SA reading this, sometimes incoming SA questionnaires ask for dietary preferences (Kosher, vegan, etc.), just fill that out and also follow the points above.]
4. Seamless has vegan options --> because that's really what you'll be eating.

I'll add just one thing. (I'm a vegan with vegan friends in biglaw.) Check the menu in advance. But also don't hesitate to call in advance. You can ask what's in dressings/sauces/etc. You can find out what substitutions are possible. You might even discover (at nicer places) that the chef will make a vegan plate if asked. The real benefit, of course, is that you don't have to do it all while everyone stares at you.

Lol at telling a partner no because you limited your eating options. Every restaurant has a vegan option, can you not just order that and not make a scene about being in a restaurant that also serves non vegan food???

Also since you are only looking for people in your position I will disclose that I am in the position of the job you will be starting and have not been asked to eat with a partner a single time. I'm "sure [you] will be invited" though.

Thanks to (almost) everyone for your insight.

in NY, it can totally work so long as you are tactful and don't make a big deal of it. Tons of people in NY have every kind of diet fad or variation, whether for health reasons, religious reasons, ethical, reasons, etc. So its not uncommon, especially in a biglaw environment. And in my experience, they usually accounted for this by having some vegan option available for most events.

Just get a salad. Also, partners do not want to eat lunch with you.

I've been doing it in a secondary market. Its sometime difficult because I actually do tend to ask people to lunch including partners. The above advice is TCR. I usually try to call ahead and see what I can modify without alerting who I'm eating with that I'm vegan. I usually will tell people that I'm vegetarian, and not vegan because people get kind of weirded out by vegan for whatever reason. It hasn't been a huge deal, but definitely makes things a little harder.

Lacepiece23 wrote:I've been doing it in a secondary market. Its sometime difficult because I actually do tend to ask people to lunch including partners. The above advice is TCR. I usually try to call ahead and see what I can modify without alerting who I'm eating with that I'm vegan. I usually will tell people that I'm vegetarian, and not vegan because people get kind of weirded out by vegan for whatever reason. It hasn't been a huge deal, but definitely makes things a little harder.

I used to be vegetarian for awhile, and I noticed this. People would be like "you aren't vegan, right?" in this skeptical and offputting way. I guess veganism has the aura of a cult-like mentality, whereas vegetarian is a bit more "ehh, whatever"

The people commenting in here that every restaurant has a vegan option have definitely never tried a vegan diet and/or live in Portland.

kaiser wrote:

Lacepiece23 wrote:I've been doing it in a secondary market. Its sometime difficult because I actually do tend to ask people to lunch including partners. The above advice is TCR. I usually try to call ahead and see what I can modify without alerting who I'm eating with that I'm vegan. I usually will tell people that I'm vegetarian, and not vegan because people get kind of weirded out by vegan for whatever reason. It hasn't been a huge deal, but definitely makes things a little harder.

I used to be vegetarian for awhile, and I noticed this. People would be like "you aren't vegan, right?" in this skeptical and offputting way. I guess veganism has the aura of a cult-like mentality, whereas vegetarian is a bit more "ehh, whatever"

Yeah but people can go fuck themselves.

Worked with an SA who was a vegan and attorneys either did not care literally at all or were impressed (and this was in TX no less)