Biglaw Professional Image? Forum

[scifiguy]

Do you guys find a "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality prevalent in biglaw at all?

Is there pressure to lead or look like you lead a certain lifestyle? Does one have to drive a nice car, live in a nice home/apt, etc.? Are there extravagent parties and events you feel pressured to attend with others? In short, is there a kind of image game that's played at all?

Can a person who is just very humble/modest in his or her lifestyle fit in well?

Appreciate the perspective and thanks for your time!

[Bronte]

This is a very remote concern for you. The short answer is no, you don't have to be a fancy person to work in big law.

[stillwater]

.

[redbullvodka]

This is a very remote concern for you. The short answer is no, you don't have to be a fancy person to work in big law.

+1. No personal experience, but Rodgin Cohen provides a good anecdote for you. Multiple WSJ/NYT articles have painted him as a very humble, same-routine-for-years kind of guy, and he's literally a living biglaw legend. See, e.g., any bank left standing after the financial crisis.

[Tom Joad]

What is the point of BIGLAW if you plan on living like a prole?

[Icculus]

Do you guys find a "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality prevalent in biglaw at all?

Is there pressure to lead or look like you lead a certain lifestyle? Does one have to drive a nice car, live in a nice home/apt, etc.? Are there extravagent parties and events you feel pressured to attend with others? In short, is there a kind of image game that's played at all?

Can a person who is just very humble/modest in his or her lifestyle fit in well?

Appreciate the perspective and thanks for your time!

Honestly, I have never felt as bad about myself or my upbringing as I have the last few weeks of my SA. I mean, the way these biglaw lawyers talk, throw money around, mock my Macy's shoes and jacket I feel worthless. I mean everyone here is in a $2K suit and wears bling the likes of which is only rivaled by rap videos. Seriously, if you want to just be a normal person biglaw isn't for you.

[Gunnar Stahl]

[Lacepiece23]

Working an SA right now and answer is no. Everyone is pretty chill. You can get a nice suit for cheap. Beyond that are people really going to check the parking lot to make sure your driving German?

[stillwater]

Working an SA right now and answer is no. Everyone is pretty chill. You can get a nice suit for cheap. Beyond that are people really going to check the parking lot to make sure your driving German?

definitely

[scifiguy]

Oh, HI FANS!

I'd sign autographs today, but so many places to be and things to do...got to go, but maybe next time!

[stillwater]

.

[scifiguy]

you make people SICK

Hey....really?

Like really really???

[scifiguy]

Do you guys find a "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality prevalent in biglaw at all?

Is there pressure to lead or look like you lead a certain lifestyle? Does one have to drive a nice car, live in a nice home/apt, etc.? Are there extravagent parties and events you feel pressured to attend with others? In short, is there a kind of image game that's played at all?

Can a person who is just very humble/modest in his or her lifestyle fit in well?

Appreciate the perspective and thanks for your time!

Honestly, I have never felt as bad about myself or my upbringing as I have the last few weeks of my SA. I mean, the way these biglaw lawyers talk, throw money around, mock my Macy's shoes and jacket I feel worthless. I mean everyone here is in a $2K suit and wears bling the likes of which is only rivaled by rap videos. Seriously, if you want to just be a normal person biglaw isn't for you.

I'm a Banana Republic type of guy.

Couldn't tell if you were besing serious or facetious above.

[chuckbass]

Oh, HI FANS!

I'd sign autographs today, but so many places to be and things to do...got to go, but maybe next time!

He doesn't even go here!

[Kafkaesquire]

please please stop

[traehekat]

I actually love this guy.

[swc65]

I actually love this guy.

Me too! So do the people asking OP to stop. They know that by posting they raise the OP and attract attention.


FWIT, I have noticed that 1/2 yrs act like theyre making min wage at McDonald's or something. I don't start 'til Sept. but Ive done a budget and it aint that bad. I guess a lot of people fall into to "oh noez I gotta live like a miser to pay off the most flexible and least consequential debt in existence (AKA student loans)" trap.

[PRgradBYU]

Do you guys find a "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality prevalent in biglaw at all?

Is there pressure to lead or look like you lead a certain lifestyle? Does one have to drive a nice car, live in a nice home/apt, etc.? Are there extravagent parties and events you feel pressured to attend with others? In short, is there a kind of image game that's played at all?

Can a person who is just very humble/modest in his or her lifestyle fit in well?

Appreciate the perspective and thanks for your time!

Honestly, I have never felt as bad about myself or my upbringing as I have the last few weeks of my SA. I mean, the way these biglaw lawyers talk, throw money around, mock my Macy's shoes and jacket I feel worthless. I mean everyone here is in a $2K suit and wears bling the likes of which is only rivaled by rap videos. Seriously, if you want to just be a normal person biglaw isn't for you.

I'm a Banana Republic type of guy.

Couldn't tell if you were besing serious or facetious above.

[californiauser]

What is the point of BIGLAW if you plan on living like a prole?

Living within your means is not prole.

Buying $2000 suits when you have $200k+ debt is striver and stems from prole thinking.

[scifiguy]

Related to this, do a lot of biglaw attorneys either go broke or struggle with finances, due to mismanaging their money the way many professional athletes do (e.g. around 70% of all NBA players are broke after retirement, despite having earned millions)?

[WhiteyCakes]

[smaug_]

[rad lulz]

[PRgradBYU]

[Balthy]