Necessities for Law School Forum

[Cardboardbox]

Just to jump into the suit debate, I'm not sure how it is in other cities (since I saw Chicago and a few others mentioned) but definitely in NY black is completely and totally acceptable for work and invterviews. I can't imagine it being different at major law firms (though I could be wrong?) but having worked/working at a couple of major investment banks and networking with countless financial professionals black is def. the norm here, followed by navy blue and charcoal grey (though this seems to normally be reserved for men 50+).

[mac.empress]

God, start a new thread. I was really interested in the necessities for law school, not the fashion advice of people I've never seen.

Moving on to necessities now...

[NayBoer]

I'm hoping I finish above median so I can get a [strike]public defender[/strike] doc review job, so I don't have to sell [strike]BMW's[/strike] used VWs.

ftfNU

[livitup11]

It's a little boxy for me... but in all seriousness I have heard that charcoal is better than black. My friend who attends a T5 said that black suits are for funerals. I'm probably going to buy a navy suit sometime soon. It's a mattter of afforability...

I would get a cat, too, except that most Graduate housing doesn't allow pets, and I'm pretty sure that's how I want to go i my first year no matter where I decide to attend.

Well obviously anyone at a T5 knows fashion.

For anyone interested in a free, automatic backup system, get SugarSync:
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=d8xnfbrmx42ix

Maybe not fashion per se, but I would hope she's getting some darn good career advice.

[livitup11]

A smart option might be to find a reputable tailor in your area, open up a swatch book, and tell him what you want.

Picking a shirt is just as important: --LinkRemoved--

Well, mostly I think that would be remedied by purchasing a suit for women, since I am one.

[livitup11]

Laptop - If you get a netbook, you might want to hang out to your old laptop for exams. I am glad I did this.
Good backpack, preferably with a laptop pouch
Supplements - but wait till you get there and see what your prof/2Ls recommend
Highlighters - loads
Pencil case - this is convenient for highlighters and other writing implements. The asian style ones are good because they are small.
Glasses - get your eyes checked
Printer - I would really recommend just buying one if you can afford it, and get a laser printer to print job stuff. It was ~$100 and saved me a lot of headaches.

Job Stuff (more female oriented)
Leather resume folder
A presentable looking pen
At least one, and preferably 2 nice, well-tailored suits. I highly prefer skirt suits, and i think this is the general consensus among employers.
Well-tailored button down shirts
Pantyhose
Simple black dress shoes
A briefcase like bag - this is great, looks better than a purse, and can hold my computer and resume folder
Resume paper

Oh yeah- I just got glasses a month ago, and thank god I did because I got awful headaches while reading without them!

...and thanks for all the female-oriented suggestions! Any tips on how to dress fashionably, while balancing your femininity with professionalism? I'm pretty sure I do an OK job with this already, but I don't want to commit any faux pas.

[livitup11]

At the risk of taking this thread in yet another off-topic direction, a lot of you have been listing food/alcohol as necessities. How important does, say, a gym membership, treadmill, etc. become? Or are we all destined to need spanx to fit in our suits from 1L?

[jlnoa0915]

At the risk of taking this thread in yet another off-topic direction, a lot of you have been listing food/alcohol as necessities. How important does, say, a gym membership, treadmill, etc. become? Or are we all destined to need spanx to fit in our suits from 1L?

I was under the impression that enrolling in the law school gave you access to the university's gym in most cases.

[Philo38]

At the risk of taking this thread in yet another off-topic direction, a lot of you have been listing food/alcohol as necessities. How important does, say, a gym membership, treadmill, etc. become? Or are we all destined to need spanx to fit in our suits from 1L?

I was under the impression that enrolling in the law school gave you access to the university's gym in most cases.

I would hope so, given the amount of money you pay to attend. If I get there and they ask for extra to use the gym I may just lose it entirely.

[livitup11]

At the risk of taking this thread in yet another off-topic direction, a lot of you have been listing food/alcohol as necessities. How important does, say, a gym membership, treadmill, etc. become? Or are we all destined to need spanx to fit in our suits from 1L?

I was under the impression that enrolling in the law school gave you access to the university's gym in most cases.

This is true- I was just trying to make the question fit the topic, half-a*sed attempt as it was.

[gochrisgo]

_

[livitup11]

How do people feel about MS OneNote?

[Oban]

It's gewd

[emoticons777]

How do people feel about MS OneNote?

Godsend

[PitchO20]

Anyone else want to touch on the subject of backpacks/carrying bags? I plan to carry my laptop with me to every class and was thinking of just bringing it in a backpack. Any suggestions?

[gochrisgo]

_

[roadkilllaw]

Anyone else want to touch on the subject of backpacks/carrying bags? I plan to carry my laptop with me to every class and was thinking of just bringing it in a backpack. Any suggestions?

Just don't try to get through airport security with a laptop in a backpack. They'll make you check it... no kidding. Backpacks are no longer considered carryon material, at least in SFO/SJC/LAX.

Really?? Wow. How is a backpack more unsafe than a normal bag?

[gochrisgo]

_

[dextermorgan]

God, start a new thread. I was really interested in the necessities for law school, not the fashion advice of people I've never seen.

Moving on to necessities now...

Ahem...http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =2&t=63606

[kazu]

Dude, I have no idea. All I know is that a backpack with just a laptop inside got me (and others) pulled out of line. Carried the laptop and checked the empty bag.

People with laptop bags stuffed with ALL SORTS of crazy crap were fine. One strap = ok, 2 straps = kiss of death.

Airport security logic... never fails to amaze.

[ak362]

Anyone else want to touch on the subject of backpacks/carrying bags? I plan to carry my laptop with me to every class and was thinking of just bringing it in a backpack. Any suggestions?

Just don't try to get through airport security with a laptop in a backpack. They'll make you check it... no kidding. Backpacks are no longer considered carryon material, at least in SFO/SJC/LAX.

Really?? Wow. How is a backpack more unsafe than a normal bag?

Dude, I have no idea. All I know is that a backpack with just a laptop inside got me (and others) pulled out of line. Carried the laptop and checked the empty bag.

People with laptop bags stuffed with ALL SORTS of crazy crap were fine. One strap = ok, 2 straps = kiss of death.

That's strange. I carried on with my backpack two weeks ago at LAX - they pulled it aside for a quick bag inspection because of the CD/DVD storage book I carry around with me - but other than that, there have been no problems so far. Pulled the laptop out for the standard "put it in a separate bin" requirement and had no problems at all with the backpack (other than the CD/DVD case, which they inspected separately - didn't know that CD/DVDs had to be scanned separately??). Took no more than 10 minutes.

[apper123]

How do people feel about MS OneNote?

One time someone posted here talking about how great it was. I made fun of this person. People derided me for being wrong. I decided to try it.

I was an absolute MORON for making fun of the person talking about how great it is. It's an amazing piece of note taking software. If you aren't using it, you're wrong!

[ram jam]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008IS18/ref ... B00008IS18

Pretty much a standard at all serious law firms... says: I mean business in a colorful and vibrant sort of way. Face it, its intimidating when a student walks in with a book cover to cover with post it flags...

[thesealocust]

nm

[tiesto82]

betasteve wrote:
Renzo wrote:
Georgiana wrote:
thorntll wrote:
Whoa whoa WHOA... How did I not know this about black suits?! I am a pretty fashion-conscious woman. I mean, really, fashion is a bit of a passion of mine. The fact that everyone on this board had such a consensus about black suits is freaking me out. Black is white, up is down!

Seriously though, I did NOT know this. My only suit is black. I chose it because black is so much easier to match with shirts than charcoal, and especially more than navy. God I feel like a loser now.

Does this anti-black sentiment apply equally to women's suits?

Different rule for women.

Yeah, doesn't apply to women, and I call BS on the 'no black for business' rule for men, too. No black suits with white shirts and plain ties is a good rule, but I can make a black suit look plenty good and not at all like a tuxedo with the right shirt and tie.

No black for business IS a rule in legal or other conservative professions. DOesn't matter how well you can wear it.

Funny. I wore a black suit to every one of the my callbacks and I have a V20 SA gig and am not at a T14. So I call bullshit as well