Necessities for Law School Forum

[taytay]

Haha... thats the spirit (pardon the pun)!

For some serious advice - make sure your laptop is in reliable working order, and that it's a laptop you will like. I knew people with laptop problems, and it was VERY frustrating because at most law school you must take your final exams on your own laptop.

solid advice. my girlfriend's dell crashed the day of her final and she ended up having to rent a laptop to take her exam.

This has probably already been mentioned, but the single most important suggestion I could give is to buy a reliable, easy, automatic (if possible) backup system for your computer files. Most everyone can afford to drop $20 on a thumb drive and copy and paste your folders onto it. There is nothing worse than your computer crashing the week before finals and losing your notes/outlines/that damn memo that's due. Small percentage chance this might happen, but it sucks if your number gets called.

DO NOT rely on a flash drive for storing your information. so many things can go wrong with the stored information (not to mention losing those tiny things) from not ejecting them properly to just general glitches. definitely don't work on a file you have open only through your flash drive either, drag it to your desktop, work on it, and then drag it back onto the drive if you need to. they are ok I guess if you are just using them for a backup because you don't have an external harddrive but if you have information you can't live without you should definitely invest in a quality external harddrive. they aren't that much money anymore ($80-$200) can get you a high quality drive with a ton of space. I currently have a lacie hard drive and it has been very good.

[DoctorNick189]

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[Georgiana]

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.

[samiseaborn]

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.

And for geographic location.

[PhillyLawGirl]

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.

And for geographic location.

Agreed. If you're on the east coast, I think black is fine for women. I wore a black skirt suit, with a cream colored silk blouse, black pumps, and black pantyhose!!! I know that tan hose are the standard/conservative choice, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

[Renzo]

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.

[Renzo]

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.

I'm not giving in that easy, sorry. I know there are enough of your kind that it would be foolish for me to wear one to a job interview, but after that you just try and stop me.

It's like my personal crusade to singularize the word "their." Sure, some curmudgeons are against it, but the language needs it and lots of people already use it that way, so I'm not going to let the traditionalists ruin it for me.

[Pearalegal]

Was in court today with attys from the doj and my biglaw firm in dc. Almost everyone was in a black suit. I was in a black suit. I got my job after interviewing in a black suit. Black suits are fine.

[LuvTheWNBA]

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.

Ummm... I think this is just wrong. That or 70% of my classmates are wrong...

[09042014]

Was in court today with attys from the doj and my biglaw firm in dc. Almost everyone was in a black suit. I was in a black suit. I got my job after interviewing in a black suit. Black suits are fine.

Can you differentiate between navy, dark charcoal and black? Because I find it hard to believe that most men in your big law DC firm wear black suits.

[Pearalegal]

Was in court today with attys from the doj and my biglaw firm in dc. Almost everyone was in a black suit. I was in a black suit. I got my job after interviewing in a black suit. Black suits are fine.

Can you differentiate between navy, dark charcoal and black? Because I find it hard to believe that most men in your big law DC firm wear black suits.

Did you actually just ask me if I can differentiate between colors?

This is the fourth day of trial. Both partners, one female, one male were in back suits, though the male partners was pin stripped. The mid level associate was a female in black, the junior level associates were both male, one in black the other in navy.

I, the paralegal, was in black.

Doj lead atty was female and in black, can't remember what the men wore (there were two, both in dark suits, though I didn't pay attn to their clothes as much).

The judge wore a black robe, which I felt was a daring choice.

[Pearalegal]

I'm really referring to what is currently relevant. Dressing to get a job.

I suppose we both only have our experiences to speak from, but black suits are very common on both males and women in my firm. I actually went suit shopping with an associate I'm close to, and she got a black suit. We didn't discuss her color choice.

This entire discussion is honestly baffling me. I'll admit to really only being able to speak from a female perspective, and while I've seen men in black suits, I'd swear on life on how common black suits are on women.

[Pearalegal]

Black is under a different standard for women.

Fine. But weren't you the one that said it was a rule for everyone? Maybe not.

[09042014]

Was in court today with attys from the doj and my biglaw firm in dc. Almost everyone was in a black suit. I was in a black suit. I got my job after interviewing in a black suit. Black suits are fine.

Can you differentiate between navy, dark charcoal and black? Because I find it hard to believe that most men in your big law DC firm wear black suits.

Did you actually just ask me if I can differentiate between colors?

This is the fourth day of trial. Both partners, one female, one male were in back suits, though the male partners was pin stripped. The mid level associate was a female in black, the junior level associates were both male, one in black the other in navy.

I, the paralegal, was in black.

Doj lead atty was female and in black, can't remember what the men wore (there were two, both in dark suits, though I didn't pay attn to their clothes as much).

The judge wore a black robe, which I felt was a daring choice.

Many people have a hell of a time telling a dark charcoal suit from a black suit depending on the lighting which is why I asked.

The rule doesn't exist for women.

DC must don't follow tradition as much as Chicago, because businessmen here don't wear black.

[Pearalegal]

know very, very little about women's fashion.

Haha, ok.

DC must don't follow tradition as much as Chicago, because businessmen here don't wear black.

Weird.

[tintin]

are women expected to wear hose all the time????


god, i hope not.

[leobowski]

Highlighters
A good pen (cross etc)
A leather portfolio thingie
Legal pads
Two suits, one navy and one charcoal, non-pinstriped
A leather satchel (backpacks ruin suits & are unprofessional)
J&M Melton Oxfords
A sense of humor
A serious tolerance for alcohol
Chocolate (boosts morale)
Lots of tea and/or coffee
E&Es
Headphones, preferably noise-canceling
A dog
Trojan Ultra-Thins
Decent Laptop
A laptop case
Microsoft OneNote
Some sort of file backup system

[Renzo]

I'm not giving in that easy, sorry. I know there are enough of your kind that it would be foolish for me to wear one to a job interview, but after that you just try and stop me.

It's like my personal crusade to singularize the word "their." Sure, some curmudgeons are against it, but the language needs it and lots of people already use it that way, so I'm not going to let the traditionalists ruin it for me.

First, it's not just traditionalists. It's everyone but style extremists. And "my kind?" You mean people that don't want the office to turn into a hipster hole of black suits and skinny ties? Cash was a musician dude, not an attorney. After your job interview, that's fine if you want and are OK with the possibility of partners judging you. I'm really referring to what is currently relevant. Dressing to get a job.

I am as anti-hipster hole as anyone. But a black suit with subtle texture and maybe pinstripes paired with the right patterned shirt isn't the same as dressing like a stand-in from Reservoir Dogs.

[gymboree]

I plan on getting a weighted bookmark --

http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Weighte ... item-added

[eth3n]

Glasses - get your eyes checked

+1

Thought I had perfect vision turns out I was farsighted like mad (but I did so much reading in UG?!!) And hey, only have to wear them while reading!

[frix0803]

Highlighters
A good pen (cross etc)
A leather portfolio thingie
Legal pads
Two suits, one navy and one charcoal, non-pinstriped
A leather satchel (backpacks ruin suits & are unprofessional)
J&M Melton Oxfords
A sense of humor
A serious tolerance for alcohol
Chocolate (boosts morale)
Lots of tea and/or coffee
E&Es
Headphones, preferably noise-canceling
A dog
Trojan Ultra-Thins
Decent Laptop
A laptop case
Microsoft OneNote
Some sort of file backup system

Just out of curiosity, why not pinstriped?

[pandacot]

This:

or if you're not a coffee snob then this:


I drink lots of coffee, and I don't like super-hot coffee. Saved tons of money and time by using the cheap Nescafe coffee packets. Nothing better than just-add-water coffee packets.

[kumba84]

This:

or if you're not a coffee snob then this:


I drink lots of coffee, and I don't like super-hot coffee. Saved tons of money and time by using the cheap Nescafe coffee packets. Nothing better than just-add-water coffee packets.

Via Ready Brew is pretty decent. I'm a coffee snob, received them as a gift, and was pleasantly surprised after initially turning up my nose.

[parker09]

I saw that this thread grew two pages since I last tuned in and got really excited about all the tips&tricks I was going to get for my next trip to office depot (not to be a gunner... just really love school supplies...)

Why the double standard for black suits? (No feminism intended-- just curiosity)

[jmk261]

I work at a US Attorney's Office on the east coast and can say that the men here wear black suits often.