Firm Swag? Forum

[Anonymous User]

How do you get your hands on firm swag? Like aside from the free offer gifts, if I wanted to buy like a zip-up or something? Can't seem to find anything online, and I wouldn't want to be one of those people who ordered it custom. Is this stuff usually done through the firm?

[soft blue]

1.) I literally can't imagine the sort of person who would rather wear a firm-branded jacket or whatever rather than a regular one.
2.) Reputable swag shops have minimum order sizes that will probably be prohibitive and do at least cursory trademark diligence, so you probably couldn't make a custom thing even if you wanted to.
3.) Recruiting usually has a ton of extra stuff. Be nice and helpful to them, they'll hook you up in my experience. [I have a ton of firm umbrellas because you can never have too many umbrellas, seriously.]

[RecruiterMan]

amazing

[legalpotato]

amazing

The OP's decision to be anon is the cherry on top.

[Definitely Not North]

S&C duffel logo facing OUT itt

[Definitely Not North]

How do you get your hands on firm swag? Like aside from the free offer gifts, if I wanted to buy like a zip-up or something? Can't seem to find anything online, and I wouldn't want to be one of those people who ordered it custom. Is this stuff usually done through the firm?

congrats - it's been a while but

Based on your reaction to getting the offer, this is probably the best thing that could have ever happened to you. I encourage you to enjoy the summer and take accept their offer as nothing in the world will cure you of your prestige obsession quicker than some time at S&C.

During orientation, they'll give you an S&C shoulderbag and you'll wear it with the S&C logo facing outward so any other commuters in the know can see it and you'll just know that they're either impressed or envious. And that will make you happy and proud. And then you'll try to figure out the best way to ensure that you're sworn in as soon as possible after receiving your bar results because then you'll get the box full of business cards that say "Sullivan & Cromwell LLP" with your actual name underneath. You'll be giddy at the thought of casually passing one (mid-conversation) to some acquaintance from undergrad you've lost touch with.

You'll start working and you'll notice that there are an awful lot of "Farewell" emails and someone will tell you that the farewell emails can only contain 4 names at a time per firm policy because the partners decided sometime in 2004 that emails indicating 6 or 7 people were leaving the firm in a two week period might cause some unhelpful whispering. You'll talk to a midlevel associate who is super-psyched to work at S&C and you'll find out that he (not a lot of shes) lateralled from some firm that frankly you would never have considered working for (too TTT for you). When you get back to your office, this will trouble you a bit, you'll wonder if your own escutcheon is being blemished by the presence of this type of person (i.e., non-elite) at your S&C. But that feeling will pass as you'll find plenty of other like-minded first years who equally relish the prestige as you you head for a drink at Ulysses (shoulderbag logo facing outward).

Then you'll get staffed on your first big deal and you'll work late night after late night and then on the weekend and on to the next weekend and then on to the weekend when you had planned to go to a friend's wedding. And you won't go because the work has to get done and you have dues to pay (or so you'll be told). You'll get a little bit upset about this turn of events, but the arrival of those business cards will soften the blow.

You'll meet more and more laterals from firms that you would never work for (some you've never even heard of). You'll note in the farewell emails that some of the junior and midlevel associates leaving S&C are going to those very same firms. Survival of the fittest you'll say. But late at night, when the air conditioning clicks down from a barely perceptible hissing sound to complete silence, these things will bother you. But you'll tell yourself you're just tired and frustrated and anyway you have work to do.

You'll have lunch with Rodge and he'll tell you that business is good and that he's listening to associates' concerns about quality of life issues. You'll notice that some of the senior associates visibly roll their eyes at each other when this comes up, but you won't mind that much because, really, what other firm's managing partner regulalry has lunch with associates to hear their concerns (and takes notes!)

A few months will pass, a few marathon deals will happen, you'll have to re-schedule a vacation but you'll tell yourself that that is to be expected.

About a year in, a couple of your classmates will crack and start talking about how much the job sucks. They'll very likely have gone to Yale Law School. You'll joke that they couldn't hack it when they leave the firm for a clerkship, or an academic position or to go to a firm in another city.

Things will go on in this pattern and you'll notice the fact that you're working a lot harder than your friends who went to "peer" firms. At first you'll be proud of this and brag about it, but after a while you'll find yourself downplaying it. At least when you have the time to get out and socialize with your law school friends.

Something will happen: a partner will scream at you, a senior associate gunning for partner will blame you for her mistake, the partner will tell you that the trip to Europe your spouse meticulously planned just won't be able to happen (he'll be really sorry and will tell you a funny story about the exotic vacation he missed or cut short). Doesn't matter what, but you'll get really pissed and you'll start to take some of the 4 or 5 calls from headhunters that you'll receive every day at that point (vultures spell blood). They'll give you the names of firms that you laughed on in the days when you posted on the TLS board, but you'll find yourself looking into them. The headhunter will encourage to just listen to their offer and you'll consider doing so. But you won't leave because then you'd have to give up your business cards. And stop wearing the shoulder bag. And the bonus is only x months away so you'll start thinking about it then.

Until one day you won't be able to take it any more and you'll find yourself arranging to meet with people from a lightly regarded firm for a position in their New York office. And you'll worry that the TLS crowd will see you.

And you don't believe any of this will happen, but I suggest you print this out and keep it in the top desk of your drawer so late at night when you're feeling sorry for yourself, you can add to the list of reasons to be miserable this fact: someone told you this was going to happen and you thought that person was crazy.

[papermateflair]

If for some reason this is serious and you actually want to wear firm swag (you do you), then your marketing or recruiting folks probably have a room full of stuff they will happily offload to you. We have a bunch of branded stuff, you just need to ask the right person. Now, they may not give you the Patagonia zip up or whatever if they're saving that for client gifts and they're expensive, but shoot your shot. Some random business manager isn't going to hold it against you for asking. If you don't want to ask, then just stick around long enough and sign up for enough firm 5ks and you'll have a closet full of swag.

[soft blue]

Thread begs the question: is there any good swag? A friend of mine at a boutique in a cold midwestern city got a firm-branded arcteryx winter jacket for free. But my large NYC firm seems to just have patagonias, water bottles, coffee mugs, and pens.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Couple facts. Not NYC, CHI, or SF (not a major market). Not a V30 firm. So idk what ya'll on about.

Am a bit curious though! Did you all strike out at OCI and you don't think that people aren't allowed to be happy or excited about things they achieve? Or is it just because you didn't manage the same feat?

OR, are you all big law lawyers who assumed I had received an offer from S&C or some other "prestigious" law firm that makes you feel insecure about your current firm? Or maybe you're all tired old men who want young attorneys who are just getting started to dread their work and life ahead, and don't want to let a young person feel an ounce of joy or pride in their achievement?

Just a few guesses, would be very interested to know why ya'll are so SALTY! Cheers ya can't bring me down

[tlsguy2020]

OP here.

Couple facts. Not NYC, CHI, or SF (not a major market). Not a V30 firm. So idk what ya'll on about.

Am a bit curious though! Did you all strike out at OCI and you don't think that people aren't allowed to be happy or excited about things they achieve? Or is it just because you didn't manage the same feat?

OR, are you all big law lawyers who assumed I had received an offer from S&C or some other "prestigious" law firm that makes you feel insecure about your current firm? Or maybe you're all tired old men who want young attorneys who are just getting started to dread their work and life ahead, and don't want to let a young person feel an ounce of joy or pride in their achievement?

Just a few guesses, would be very interested to know why ya'll are so SALTY! Cheers ya can't bring me down

wow. reed smith bag facing OUT

[Anonymous User]

I hope that one day you find meaning in life outside of your career "achievements."

[Anonymous User]

I hope that one day you find meaning in life outside of your career "achievements."

I posted asking a question about how firm swag is distributed and that means I put the entire meaning of my life into my career? LOL. People really can't be just excited? Also you put "achievements" in quotes... yeah buddy this is generational money for someone like me? Sorry pal not everyone grows up in a palace and regards landing a big law job an "achievement" with air quotes. But why are you salty though?

[Anonymous User]

I hope that one day you find meaning in life outside of your career "achievements."

I posted asking a question about how firm swag is distributed and that means I put the entire meaning of my life into my career? LOL. People really can't be just excited? Also you put "achievements" in quotes... yeah buddy this is generational money for someone like me? Sorry pal not everyone grows up in a palace and regards landing a big law job an "achievement" with air quotes. But why are you salty though?

Not salty, saddened. But good luck in your career and good luck getting your swag.

[Anonymous User]

I'm laughing so hard at how much the toxic responses died down after OP said they're not at a V30 in a major market.

Kid if you've been following TLS or Reddit for awhile, these kinds of posts that ask a pointless (to many) question while also letting everyone know that you landed a BigLaw SA always get hate. It might be because some people struck out, but these posts generally aren't received well. Congratulations though and good luck getting your swag.

[legalpotato]

I hope that one day you find meaning in life outside of your career "achievements."

I posted asking a question about how firm swag is distributed and that means I put the entire meaning of my life into my career? LOL. People really can't be just excited? Also you put "achievements" in quotes... yeah buddy this is generational money for someone like me? Sorry pal not everyone grows up in a palace and regards landing a big law job an "achievement" with air quotes. But why are you salty though?

Lol. OP, no hate, it is just cute, that is all. We all remember when we were so excited about our job and then how it turned to sh*t and anxiety and how the sound of an email going off on our phone is literally now our greatest fear. We are all just looking into a mirror at our younger, dumber, happier healthier, less cynical selves (albiet a TTT version, apparently -- no hate) and having a laugh.

[Anonymous User]

How do you get your hands on firm swag? Like aside from the free offer gifts, if I wanted to buy like a zip-up or something? Can't seem to find anything online, and I wouldn't want to be one of those people who ordered it custom. Is this stuff usually done through the firm?

HR/recruiting dept buys a bunch of cheap branded shit from alibaba and then hands it out at events...

[Definitely Not North]

OP here.

Couple facts. Not NYC, CHI, or SF (not a major market). Not a V30 firm. So idk what ya'll on about.

Am a bit curious though! Did you all strike out at OCI and you don't think that people aren't allowed to be happy or excited about things they achieve? Or is it just because you didn't manage the same feat?

OR, are you all big law lawyers who assumed I had received an offer from S&C or some other "prestigious" law firm that makes you feel insecure about your current firm? Or maybe you're all tired old men who want young attorneys who are just getting started to dread their work and life ahead, and don't want to let a young person feel an ounce of joy or pride in their achievement?

Just a few guesses, would be very interested to know why ya'll are so SALTY! Cheers ya can't bring me down

*chefs kiss*

[soft blue]

1.) Congrats on your offer.
2.) The hostility from people (including me) comes from the fact that the sort of person who treats their law firm like a core part of their identity almost always sucks. (They can suck in a lot of different ways, don't get me wrong.) It's one thing to use the firm coffee mug or whatever, who cares? But to drop real money to get a vest / polo / ??? with the firm logo on it strongly suggests you are that kind of person.

[Anonymous User]

I work at a V5 and that S&C post hits too close to home.

Accurate (except I will make partner). Congrats on your offer, OP. I also valued swag from my firm, especially because of its rank. But I advise against buying firm swag or custom making any (that's asking for trouble).