Northern Preppy vs. Southern Preppy

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally Posted by macallan25

ahhh yes, the New Jersey guido types. Do you also like these guys?:

These guys look like a future boy band. I shall name them Gotti Wannabeez.

The pink shirt guy would be cute if he lost the fake tan. He is starting to look like an Oompa Loompa.

Truth be told, I didn't know what everyone meant when they mocked hair gel. Now I know. I wish I didn't.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Oh, I would love to see those guys TRY AND GET an interview with HaynesBoone, AlstonBird, Greenberg Traurig, (enter any other prestigious law firm here).

You can't tell some people by their casual dress...I can name any number of associates and partners at "big firms" who have some interesting clothes choices. There are people at Goodwin Procter, WilmerHale and a couple of others (including Greenberg) who come to mind.

[shinerbock]

Well I think you're probably accurate to a degree. I'm sure many people who dress like this on friday know better than to do it in any business setting. Greenberg was probably a poor example, considering their home office is in the dismal setting of Miami. However, for many other prestigious firms in the south...King and Spalding, Alston & Bird, Kilpatrick Stockton, Bradley Arant, etc...may not look so fondly upon such actions even in a social setting. The reason I mentioned trying to get an interview is that often, especially in in greek life circles, such opportunities arise out of social settings such as a dinner, a night at a bar, etc. Thus, if I was in Atlanta one night and saw a fraternity alum or partner for a law firm I wanted to interview for, and I was dressed like that, I'd be pretty apprehensive about approaching them. However, dressed like I normally am (slacks/oxford/no earrings/no gel), I wouldn't really think twice. I think first impressions are surely important everywhere, but in southern professional life, they can be unforgiving.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well I think you're probably accurate to a degree. I'm sure many people who dress like this on friday know better than to do it in any business setting. Greenberg was probably a poor example, considering their home office is in the dismal setting of Miami. However, for many other prestigious firms in the south...King and Spalding, Alston & Bird, Kilpatrick Stockton, Bradley Arant, etc...may not look so fondly upon such actions even in a social setting. The reason I mentioned trying to get an interview is that often, especially in in greek life circles, such opportunities arise out of social settings such as a dinner, a night at a bar, etc. Thus, if I was in Atlanta one night and saw a fraternity alum or partner for a law firm I wanted to interview for, and I was dressed like that, I'd be pretty apprehensive about approaching them. However, dressed like I normally am (slacks/oxford/no earrings/no gel), I wouldn't really think twice. I think first impressions are surely important everywhere, but in southern professional life, they can be unforgiving.

If somebody approached me about the law when I wasn't at work, I'd kick them in the face, or at least throw a drink on them.

[shinerbock]

I'm not talking about the law. I'm talking about being out somewhere when somebody you want to make a good impression on (hoping it could lead to employment), happens to show up.

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

If somebody approached me about the law when I wasn't at work, I'd kick them in the face, or at least throw a drink on them.

But what if it was someone approaching you to tell you that you were breaking the law, breaking the law.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well I think you're probably accurate to a degree. I'm sure many people who dress like this on friday know better than to do it in any business setting. Greenberg was probably a poor example, considering their home office is in the dismal setting of Miami. However, for many other prestigious firms in the south...King and Spalding, Alston & Bird, Kilpatrick Stockton, Bradley Arant, etc...may not look so fondly upon such actions even in a social setting. The reason I mentioned trying to get an interview is that often, especially in in greek life circles, such opportunities arise out of social settings such as a dinner, a night at a bar, etc. Thus, if I was in Atlanta one night and saw a fraternity alum or partner for a law firm I wanted to interview for, and I was dressed like that, I'd be pretty apprehensive about approaching them. However, dressed like I normally am (slacks/oxford/no earrings/no gel), I wouldn't really think twice. I think first impressions are surely important everywhere, but in southern professional life, they can be unforgiving.

I guess, although I'd argue that first impressions are just as important up here. The firms I mentioned (and a few others) are paying $100,000+ at first-year associates in Boston (and more than that in NYC); they're not just going to throw that money at anyone.

I'd bet that intelligence, law school record (grades/law review), impressive clerkships, and a couple of other things would go above casual dress, though, when the Goodwins, WilmerHales and Alston & Birds of the world are looking to spend their budgets.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I'd bet that intelligence, law school record (grades/law review), impressive clerkships, and a couple of other things would go above casual dress, though, when the Goodwins, WilmerHales and Alston & Birds of the world are looking to spend their budgets.

Yes.

[shinerbock]

You're absolutely right, all those firms are starting at 115,000 in major cities and more like 135k in NY and DC. You're also correct about what they value, but what I'm talking about is how appearance like that can keep you from even getting in the door at these places. I'm sure if you're editor of the law review, top of your class and clerking for a US court, you can get away with whatever you want to. However, theres also a chance that dressing and acting in such a manner could preclude you from getting that clerkship, or getting on law review. Lets be honest though, its probably not a common difficulty, as I doubt the brightest law students in the country tend to dress/act in that manner.

[kddani]

Hmmmmm.... let's see. Someone (shinerbock, cough cough) who has not even started law school and who does not work in a law firm professes to know the inner workings of law firm recruitment. Come back and talk to us after you actually get involved in the field in some way. Now, there's no doubt that who you know can be helpful and give you an extra edge, but there's no getting around grades, law review (and other law school experiences), writing ability, etc.

[shinerbock]

Hmmm lets see, I've worked in corporate law for a billion dollar Atlanta corporation...for their lead counsel who is also their liason to the firm they use...which just happens to be Alston & Bird. I also have a total of 3 large firm lawyers in my family, my mother used to be director of summer associate recruitment for a major law firm, and my best friends mother does the same for a prominant Memphis law firm. This of course, is in addition to the countless fraternity alumni I know who are lawyers, the 15+ friends I know who are currently in law school, and the person who convinced me to go to law school, a prominant House Republican and former big firm partner. Do I know everything about how firms recruit? Of course not. Do I know a great deal more than most? Most certainly. If you plan on getting your job because of your scores and grades, more power to you and good luck. But I didn't get into law school solely because of those, and I imagine handshaking will be quite important in my post law school plans.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Hmmm lets see, I've worked in corporate law for a billion dollar Atlanta corporation...for their lead counsel who is also their liason to the firm they use...which just happens to be Alston & Bird. I also have a total of 3 large firm lawyers in my family, my mother used to be director of summer associate recruitment for a major law firm, and my best friends mother does the same for a prominant Memphis law firm. This of course, is in addition to the countless fraternity alumni I know who are lawyers, the 15+ friends I know who are currently in law school, and the person who convinced me to go to law school, a prominant House Republican and former big firm partner. Do I know everything about how firms recruit? Of course not. Do I know a great deal more than most? Most certainly. If you plan on getting your job because of your scores and grades, more power to you and good luck. But I didn't get into law school solely because of those, and I imagine handshaking will be quite important in my post law school plans.

Making coffee != working in corporate law

[shinerbock]

Haha thankfully I've never made coffee for anyone but myself. That was the advantage of working for a local attorney during the school year, I actually got to draft pleadings rather than just file them and run errands. Also, during the summers I got to work for the company's counsel (the one I referred to above), rather than the firm (A&B) they use, so I didn't have to do too much bitch work. Well, and my dad being an exec in that company helped as well.

[tunatartare]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Hmmm lets see, I've worked in corporate law for a billion dollar Atlanta corporation...for their lead counsel who is also their liason to the firm they use...which just happens to be Alston & Bird. I also have a total of 3 large firm lawyers in my family, my mother used to be director of summer associate recruitment for a major law firm, and my best friends mother does the same for a prominant Memphis law firm. This of course, is in addition to the countless fraternity alumni I know who are lawyers, the 15+ friends I know who are currently in law school, and the person who convinced me to go to law school, a prominant House Republican and former big firm partner. Do I know everything about how firms recruit? Of course not. Do I know a great deal more than most? Most certainly. If you plan on getting your job because of your scores and grades, more power to you and good luck. But I didn't get into law school solely because of those, and I imagine handshaking will be quite important in my post law school plans.

One year in high school I worked as a laboratory assistant to a distinguished researcher and doctor who had both an MD and a PhD, filing and organizing paperwork. This in no way guarantees me admission to medical school. Nor does it make me a scientist.

[shinerbock]

I never claimed to be a lawyer. I claimed to have some knowledge of what they look for in young employees. As much as I'd like to think my gpa and scores got me into the law schools I applied to, I imagine my references may have had something to do with it.