Summer Associate Class of 2017 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

[RSN]

This thread is already so good

Also I didn't know about the AE student discount and that's just great goddamn news. I've been riding the same J&Ms since 2013 and it's time to step it up.

Excited to get going but crazy that it's in a week

[SmokeytheBear]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

[accessislife]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

I also think this is firm and practice area specific (and day specific - no royal blue in court, at least not yet)

[axel.foley]

Do NYC firms give you a metro card when you get there, or do they reimburse you? Trying to decide if I should buy a monthly pass when I get there or wait for the first day. Don't wanna waste 100 something bucks.

Bumping this. Does anyone have more info? A monthly pass is pretty expensive, but I'm not sure if it's something firms pay for.

[sublime]

Do NYC firms give you a metro card when you get there, or do they reimburse you? Trying to decide if I should buy a monthly pass when I get there or wait for the first day. Don't wanna waste 100 something bucks.

Bumping this. Does anyone have more info? A monthly pass is pretty expensive, but I'm not sure if it's something firms pay for.

In my experience they don't. If you are worried about it just grab a weekly pass until you find out. Iirc, you can just load a month onto a normal card at a machine any time so it really is not a big deal to do.

[Anonymous User]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

--

[Anonymous User]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

I also think this is firm and practice area specific (and day specific - no royal blue in court, at least not yet)

Well I'm a 1L, will be the only 1L there... without trying to out the firm, I'll say that it's pretty big but the culture seems chill. Business casual attire is the norm, unless working with clients or going to court. I'm mainly asking for this first day where we have to wear business professional. The suit set I'm talking about looks really nice.

[SmokeytheBear]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

I also think this is firm and practice area specific (and day specific - no royal blue in court, at least not yet)

Well I'm a 1L, will be the only 1L there... without trying to out the firm, I'll say that it's pretty big but the culture seems chill. Business casual attire is the norm, unless working with clients or going to court. I'm mainly asking for this first day where we have to wear business professional. The suit set I'm talking about looks really nice.

For the first day wear black or grey. It's just one day and you don't want that one partner thinking "we told her professional yet she still wore blue." Blue is game any other day, but if you are worried about it, don't do it (that should be your general rule for the summer--if you are worried about it, do not do it."

All of that said, men should not wear a black suit at any time.

[NYC2012]

.

[Anonymous User]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

I also think this is firm and practice area specific (and day specific - no royal blue in court, at least not yet)

Well I'm a 1L, will be the only 1L there... without trying to out the firm, I'll say that it's pretty big but the culture seems chill. Business casual attire is the norm, unless working with clients or going to court. I'm mainly asking for this first day where we have to wear business professional. The suit set I'm talking about looks really nice.

For the first day wear black or grey. It's just one day and you don't want that one partner thinking "we told her professional yet she still wore blue." Blue is game any other day, but if you are worried about it, don't do it (that should be your general rule for the summer--if you are worried about it, do not do it."

All of that said, men should not wear a black suit at any time.

You're right. Although it really *shouldn't* be a problem, there can always be a problem found if someone is looking hard enough. I will still get the suit but maybe for some other occasion. Guess I'll stick to good ol' black with a blue collared shirt or something and pantyhose . Any reason why black is ok for women but not men?

[Anonymous User]

A royal blue suit on the first day is not appropriate, I don't care what market you're in or how nice it looks. My opinion. People really don't value playing it safe enough. Reminds me of the girl who wore a ruffly brown skirt suit to OCI with 3/4 length sleeves that had a giant slit up the back. I don't think she was successful.

Lol brown is an ugly and frumpy color so I would not have worn that any way. I asked because I have been told by successful summer associates who have offers that NAVY is ok for women, so I wanted to see how far off blue was. Nothing wrong with clarifying

[NYC2012]

.

[SmokeytheBear]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

I also think this is firm and practice area specific (and day specific - no royal blue in court, at least not yet)

Well I'm a 1L, will be the only 1L there... without trying to out the firm, I'll say that it's pretty big but the culture seems chill. Business casual attire is the norm, unless working with clients or going to court. I'm mainly asking for this first day where we have to wear business professional. The suit set I'm talking about looks really nice.

For the first day wear black or grey. It's just one day and you don't want that one partner thinking "we told her professional yet she still wore blue." Blue is game any other day, but if you are worried about it, don't do it (that should be your general rule for the summer--if you are worried about it, do not do it."

All of that said, men should not wear a black suit at any time.

You're right. Although it really *shouldn't* be a problem, there can always be a problem found if someone is looking hard enough. I will still get the suit but maybe for some other occasion. Guess I'll stick to good ol' black with a blue collared shirt or something and pantyhose . Any reason why black is ok for women but not men?

No clue. I know why it's not ok for men, but not why it is ok for women. When it comes to these professional rules, I haven't really cared to ask "why" many times as there is no point in trying to break them, as you have little to gain and much to lose.

[Anonymous User]

If my firm has a litigation group outing and I have zero interest in doing litigation, should I go?

[EncyclopediaOrange]

If my firm has a litigation group outing and I have zero interest in doing litigation, should I go?

Is there a corresponding corporate group outing?

[TLSModBot]

If my firm has a litigation group outing and I have zero interest in doing litigation, should I go?

If yours is like most firms, a practice group summer outing is a sacred bond, an oath forged in blood. There's no coming back from that. You'll be a lit guy til the day you die.

[Anonymous User]

If my firm has a litigation group outing and I have zero interest in doing litigation, should I go?

Is there a corresponding corporate group outing?

yes

[Npret]

If my firm has a litigation group outing and I have zero interest in doing litigation, should I go?

Do you want to meet other lawyers at your firm? Are you invited?
What will you do if your firm only places you in litigated.
What better use of your time do you have rather than spending time with your summer class and firm partners?

So my conclusion is yes go unless you aren't invited. You can't reject your colleagues just because you don't want to be a litigator. Also, you want a job offer. Never lose sight of that.

[RaceJudicata]

You're right, brown and royal blue are totally different (and I'm sure the blue is attractive), but neither are the boring black/grey/navy that you should be wearing on a first day (for women).

Bingo. Boring is the goal.

[B90]

Woman here. Are blue suit skirt sets ok for business professional? I mean royal blue, not navy. Found this really nice-looking set, and I don't think it'll be a problem and I'm tired of black and grey.

What city are you working in?

I also think this is firm and practice area specific (and day specific - no royal blue in court, at least not yet)

Well I'm a 1L, will be the only 1L there... without trying to out the firm, I'll say that it's pretty big but the culture seems chill. Business casual attire is the norm, unless working with clients or going to court. I'm mainly asking for this first day where we have to wear business professional. The suit set I'm talking about looks really nice.

For the first day wear black or grey. It's just one day and you don't want that one partner thinking "we told her professional yet she still wore blue." Blue is game any other day, but if you are worried about it, don't do it (that should be your general rule for the summer--if you are worried about it, do not do it."

All of that said, men should not wear a black suit at any time.

You're right. Although it really *shouldn't* be a problem, there can always be a problem found if someone is looking hard enough. I will still get the suit but maybe for some other occasion. Guess I'll stick to good ol' black with a blue collared shirt or something and pantyhose . Any reason why black is ok for women but not men?

No clue. I know why it's not ok for men, but not why it is ok for women. When it comes to these professional rules, I haven't really cared to ask "why" many times as there is no point in trying to break them, as you have little to gain and much to lose.

I can answer this. My last career was in fashion, as a stylist/personal shopper so lawyers (and other professionals) literally paid me to tell them what to wear.
The reason black suits are not ok for men is that it is what men wear to funerals and what funeral directors wear. There is not a similar "stigma" for women, because women don't wear business suits to funerals. Women may wear black to a funeral, but the stereotypical/quinticential attire for a woman at a funeral is a black DRESS. So, if you show up in a black business suit, no one will think you are on your way to a funeral.

The reason navy skirt suits are taboo for women is they remind people of a flight attendent. However, this is easily remedied by wearing something other than a plain white or light blue button up cotton shirt. For example, even a nice ivory silk blouse prevents a navy suit from evoking the image of a flight attendent. Obviously, you also shouldn't wear a scarf around your neck, because that would really look like a flight attendent, but why would you do that anyway?

As far as royal blue, I assume you mean a brighter, medium (not light, not dark) shade of blue. This will make look like a REALTOR (aka Phil Dunphy on Modern Family).

Basically, when you are a lawyer - especially when you are appearing in court - you want to look the part. You do so by wearing a lawyer custume. Any client, lawyer, or lay person who sees you should immediately be able to guess you are a lawyer.

BTW, I am female and in Boston, if that helps.

[TLSModBot]

To really seal the look though ladies you need one of those barrister wigs that British judges/lawyers wear. Nothing says "lawyer" more than that.

[MCFC]

Basically, when you are a lawyer - especially when you are appearing in court - you want to look the part. You do so by wearing a lawyer custume. Any client, lawyer, or lay person who sees you should immediately be able to guess you are a lawyer.

Usually I just rely on the look of sadness and despair.

[B90]

Basically, when you are a lawyer - especially when you are appearing in court - you want to look the part. You do so by wearing a lawyer custume. Any client, lawyer, or lay person who sees you should immediately be able to guess you are a lawyer.

Usually I just rely on the look of sadness and despair.

That works too. However, if you are also sporting an oversized, polka dotted bowtie and/or a red rubber nose, you are sending mixed messages.
Remember, juries are easily confused.

[Big Red]

hm this is not a safe zone