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Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:39 pm
by 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!
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:55 pm
by 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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:08 pm
by stillwater
.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:09 pm
by redbullvodka
Bronte wrote: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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:10 pm
by Tom Joad
What is the point of BIGLAW if you plan on living like a prole?
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:26 pm
by Icculus
scifiguy wrote: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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:36 pm
by Gunnar Stahl
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:46 pm
by 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?
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:54 pm
by stillwater
Lacepiece23 wrote: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
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:01 pm
by scifiguy
Ghost93 wrote:
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!
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:03 pm
by stillwater
.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:04 pm
by scifiguy
stillwater wrote:you make people SICK
Hey....really?
Like really really???
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:08 pm
by scifiguy
Icculus wrote:scifiguy wrote: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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:09 pm
by chuckbass
scifiguy wrote:Ghost93 wrote:
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!
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:12 pm
by Kafkaesquire
stillwater wrote:please please stop
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:10 pm
by traehekat
I actually love this guy.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:22 pm
by swc65
traehekat wrote: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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:01 pm
by PRgradBYU
scifiguy wrote:Icculus wrote:scifiguy wrote: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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:30 am
by californiauser
Tom Joad wrote: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.
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:52 am
by 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)?
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:02 am
by WhiteyCakes
Ghost93 wrote:
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:17 am
by smaug_
WhiteyCakes wrote:Ghost93 wrote:
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:26 am
by rad lulz
hibiki wrote:WhiteyCakes wrote:Ghost93 wrote:
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:22 am
by PRgradBYU
rad lulz wrote:hibiki wrote:WhiteyCakes wrote:Ghost93 wrote:
Re: Biglaw Professional Image?
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:45 pm
by Balthy
PRgradBYU wrote: