This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Happy Tuesday! In general I'm a fan of the trumpet skirt — it seems professional and classic and feminine but still oh so wearable. I don't think I've ever seen one with such a great print on it — I love the texture and the way the print looks on the flounce. Gorgeous. The skirt $565, and available in sizes XS-XL. Kenzo Square Print Flare Hem Skirt Psst: I couldn't find any exact matches, but here are a few similar lower-priced options, and a few great plus size ones. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.Sales of note for 9.30.24
- Nordstrom – Beauty deals through September
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 50% off sale with code
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Friends & Family 25% off
- Rag & Bone – Friends & Family 25% off sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Fall Cyber Monday sale, 40% off sitewide and $5 shipping
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- White House Black Market – 40% off select styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
S In Chicago
Choosing between straight or bootcut jeans for fall (I own a few skinny and they just aren’t doing it for me). Is bootcut out? Back? Does it scream middle-age housewife?
Red Beagle
I think boot cut is a classic cut that will always be relevant. It doesn’t scream middle age housewife to me at all. That being said, I would keep the tops sharp and crisp and wear them tucked in, or keep any knit tops no longer than the top of the hip for balance.
Ellen
Yay! Pricey Tuesday! I love Pricey Tuesday especialy when it is on Monday’s, but I am all spent out after this weekend at mom and dad’s house! Rosevelt Field was a HUGE success for me b/c I got alot of clothe’s for the winter and am donateing 2 big boxe’s of clothe’s to NY Care’s! YAY!!!!!
As for the OP, Boot Cut jean’s are great, especialy if you have a pair of FRY boots. I have a new pair from last year after I could NOT get the smell of horsey poop out of the old one’s. Dad says he could not smell a thing, but I could so I gave them away, I think to my cleaneing lady or the cobbeler, I forget.
Anyway, the manageing partner’s brother is starteing renovation’s on his apartement today. He said the building will ONLEY allow work done between 8 and 6PM so that is good b/c I rarley get home b/f 6PM, being a partner and all we are expected to put our hour’s in. August was a bit of a washout for me, hourswize. I could NOT bill the US OPEN to anyone and I spent the WHOLE Day there. Right there I wasted 18 -20 billeable hours, but my case’s were light last week and it would have been difficult to allocate 20 hour’s across my caseload.
This week, we start in again in court. I have 2 breif’s due tomorrow for a Friday hearing. I have asked Mason last week to do a first draft on both. He is familiar with copying and pasteing so I have to see how he doe’s. I have to review them by the end of the day b/c we can NOT get more extension’s on either. One is a case where the guy slipped in the freezer, and the other is a case where a woman got her finger caught in the cash register. Who knew that I would be doing this when I was a littel girl? I wish I could just get MARRIED and shop all day! FOOEY!
Sparrow
I still have a couple of pairs of boot cut jeans that I wear on casual Friday’s in my office. However, in the winter snow I wear skinnies tucked into boots.
NYNY
There are a lot of “skinny boot” styles out there now, which are very flattering for the curvier among us. The leg is slim, and the flare starts low and isn’t huge at the bottom. I just can’t with the skinnies, but skinny boots are my fave.
Orangerie
I think it depends on the cut, wash, and how you wear them. A pair of solid dark wash jeans with a slight boot cut: totally fine. Lighter wash flares, especially when paired with open-toed wedges scream dated/unstylish to me. Like this: http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2009/GalxMonth/07/070709-bootcut-400×400.jpg
S in Chicago
Thanks, all. I’m seeing slim boot and straight as pretty similar, which is making me lean more that way versus traditional boot. Maybe that’s safter for me–I do fear I have a few Eva Longoria options in the closet that still make rotation from time to time…but at least NOT with stinky Frye boots! :)
Sunshine
Skinnies aren’t for me either, unless I’m tucking them into boots. I love both my straight and boot cut but lately have been more into the straight leg.
Red Beagle
As for this skirt versus the lower priced option, what a difference $500 makes. In my opinion, the Kohl’s version looks exactly like what it is – a $26 skirt/shmata. But the Kenzo I would wear in a heartbeat. The pattern and drape of the fabric really work.
I'm Just Me
I actually really like the Kohl’s version with the print, and would consider ordering it to get a good look at it in real life.
I wouldn’t/couldn’t spend over $500 on a skirt.
Red Beagle
Prints are very subjective, true. On me the blue print it wouldn’t work because I’m on the short side and they would overwhelm me, although I was thinking the white on black window pane would be more neutral and might have a chance. Generally for skirts and pants I tend to go with solids or subtle prints.
Sparrow
Good to know there is a lower priced option! I love skirts, but other than basic pencil skirts I always struggle with what type of top to wear. I guess that’s why I find myself choosing dresses more often since it is just one piece of clothing.
Red Beagle
Yes, me too. Although I have a whole bunch of crisp button downs in my closet looking for a bottom so I could use a few decent pencil skirts for those. They’re too long for pants without some ugly bunching.
Anon
+1 – I rarely wear skirts and blouses any more – mostly stick to my dresses since it seems so much easier.
Bonnie
I agree that the Kenzo looks so much better. It may be worth stalking.
PSA: this DVF wrap dress is marked down to $99 http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Diane%20von%20FurstenbergNew%20Julian%20Two%20Mini%20Wrap%20Dress,%20Pink%20Dahlia/prod167320075___/p.prod?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%2FbrSearch.jsp%3Ffrom%3DbrSearch%26request_type%3Dsearch%26search_type%3Dkeyword%26q%3Ddiane%20von&eItemId=prod167320075&cmCat=search
It is a mini but I think the hem can be lowered by an inch or two.
Light-colored nail polish?
Random question of the day: what is your favorite light-colored nail polish for toes? I’m looking for something I can slap on easily (not great at applying it) and remove easily. I’ve been wearing the heck out of Butter’s Yummy Mummy and none of my old lavenders/pinks seem quite right. TIA!
DontBlameTheKids
I’m not a huge fan of light nail polish in general, but when I do wear it, I go for OPI’s Bubble Bath. It’s foolproof.
Wildkitten
I don’t think bubble bath would even show up on toes.
CountC
Essie Ballet Slippers. Definitely need two coats, but it’s my go to pale/nude shade.
nutella
for a pinker, less white version, I use Essie’s muchi muchi, but I find nailpolishes vary on how they look on skintone much more than many people realize.
CountC
Very true!
NYNY
My go-to is a shimmery beige – I seem to have similar shades in drugstore and high-end brands. Basically, I can do a lazy touch-up with my shoes on, hitting only the toes that show. The no-color color and shimmer hide a lot of flaws.
**turning in my “put-together” card**
Pep
I like Butter’s “All Hail The Queen.” It’s similar to Yummy Mummy but has a slight shimmer.
Traditionalist
I like Essie Ladylike. More of a mauve, but maybe light enough for you?
BB
If you have a Sephora nearby, I highly recommend checking our their “Formula X” collab brand in their stores. It has way better color selection and coverage compared to their OPI collab last year, and you have the option of trying them all on your (finger)nails before you buy. I have a great beige color that only takes 1-2 coats.
Curly Sue
The Zoya neutral/metallics are key for this (Hermina, Pasha, Minka) — http://www.zoya.com/content/category/Zoya_Nail_Polish.html
Great coverage, easy to wear, go with everything.
Sunshine
+1 for Zoya. I have some neutrals and a dove gray that I love.
lawsuited
OPI’s Coney Island Cotton Candy and Tickle My Francey would be perfect for this – very neutral shades but not almost-white-ballet-pink.
anonsg
I like wet n wild’s 2% milk, and sinful colors tokyo pearl.
Anonymous
I just wanted to stop by to thank the ladies who recommended theSkimm. Thanks again!
Anonymous
Hi ladies, any recommendations for an organic shampoo and conditioner? Thanks in advance!
L
I should really change my name to the costco evangelist, but I swear by the kirkland moisture shampoo and conditioner. It’s not organic though it is 100% vegan and paraben, sulfate, and gluten free apparently. I love it and my hair has never looked better.
ANP
Ha! I love it: the Costco Evangelist. Has a nice ring to it!
rosie
I also really like the Kirkland brand shampoo & conditioner.
ELL
Intelligent Nutrients
AEK
I really like the Alba Botanical Hawaiian shampoos. I use the coconut (moisturizing) and mango (“volumizing”) but they have other varieties.
Actually it might not be all organic although some ingredients are. I know it’s no animal testing, no sulfates, no parabens.
Marilla
I like the Live Clean brand shampoo and conditioner – I use the “moisturizing” one. I am intrigued by the Costco option I’ve seen recommended though..
anon eagle
The Costco shampoo and condition seems to be phenom, but it did not work on my sad, thin, fine hair. If you have thick or dry hair, I would highly recommend the Costco moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. My mother has coarse, curly hair and looked like she just stepped out of a salon after she showered at my house.
Carrie
I agree with this. Straight, fine hair here as well.
LT IT
I think this skirt is really beautiful, both the shape and the pattern. Great pick!
Raleigh/Charlotte
My husband and I may be moving to either the Raleigh/Durham or Charlotte area. Does anyone know anything about the legal market in either of those locations? My background is in finance, which makes Charlotte a better fit (I think) but my husband is more likely to be able to find work in the research triangle area, plus we like Raleigh a bit better than Charlotte, and have more friends there. Just wondering if anyone has any insights about how tough the market might be in either location.
NCer
The legal markets in Raleigh and Charlotte are not particularly good in general, but are better for lawyers with a bit of experience (3-4+ years). The triangle area has FIVE law schools which completely saturate the market for entry level positions. If you’re not competing with the hundreds of recent grads, you’ll be in a much better position. Also, keep in mind that although Raleigh is growing rapidly, the legal community is still fairly small and may be difficult to break into if you have no connection to the area. I don’t get the impression that the Charlotte market is as hard for non-native lawyers to break into. I live just outside Raleigh and prefer the area to Charlotte too, but because Charlotte is a bigger city and has more financed-focused firms and companies, you may have better luck there. All that said, I moved back here 4 years ago, so things may have changed/improved since then. Best of luck with the job search to you and your husband!
Raleigh/Charlotte
Thanks for the response! One more question. I’ve been out for about nine years, working in a firm, on the Hill (I’m in DC), and doing some non-legal consulting work. Here in DC, there are so many lawyers and so many different lawyer jobs that employers tend to get very specific and can get exactly what they want. That is, most people have one very nichey, very highly developed specialty and it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get hired into anything but your specialty. Also, if your path has been a little less linear (as mine has been) it can be difficult to get hired at all. Is that true of Raleigh as well? Or are the categories a little broader (e.g., if you did X kind of litigation, you can probably do Y litigation)?
NCer
Based on my experience, I think the categories are broader here than what you’ve experienced in DC. When I moved back in 2010, I found an in-house position with a large company in an industry that is in no way related to anything I did at my law firm (although of course I was able to “sell” it a little better during the interview). I worked with a recruiter and had a compelling story for moving here (family, this is my home state, etc.). Having the “right” narrative about your move, plus generally relevant experience are, I suspect, going to be what you need, rather than exactly the right background. I’m not super knowledgeable about the markets beyond what I’ve said here, but if you have other questions and want to post an email address I’d be happy to respond as best I can from my perspective.
Alana
So true! In DC, you can go to a coffee shop or restaurant in the business district, toss a bouncy ball, and the ball will hit a judge, a firm attorney, an in-house attorney, a law clerk, a law school student, a non-practicing attorney, a public interest attorney, a government attorney, and someone thinking about going to law school.
CLT anon
I think that CLT is very open to outsiders, especially with big-city big-firm or more specialized experience. And we have no local law school (not counting CLT school of law) locking up the market. If your husband is in any technical field, CLT may have more to offer than you think (Microsoft is here). The legal community in CLT feels small and is concentrated downtown, whereas the RTP area was just to spread out and hard to manage (I moved as a big-city BIGLAW lateral to CLT even though RTP is closer to family; I’d consider a move in the future, but feel that I’m pretty settled into CLT now). I think RTP is easier if you went to school in the area and know it better, but I couldn’t figure out the vastness of it (and I’m more finance-y anyway).
Firms are still cheap though, so any way you can network your way in would probably get you better received than using a recruiter. Our corporate people are swamped and lots of firms are opening up branches in CLT, so there is a lot of movement and interst in laterals now.
Gail the Goldfish
I just moved to Raleigh from NYC about 6 months ago. I took the NC bar before I started looking for jobs, and it took me probably about 4 months after getting my bar results to find a job. I sort of lucked out in that a big firm had an opening that, while in a somewhat different area of law, lined up exactly with my skill set. On the other hand, my BF still hasn’t found a job because he has a more unusual skill set (though he’s been very picky about the jobs he applies for). So it varies. I see more openings for corporate than I do for litigation (and tons for IP work, if your husband happens to be an IP lawyer), so you may have an easier time. And I do think employers here are more open to non-linear, non-niche skill sets, unlike D.C. It’s also definitely easier to find a job if you have experience as opposed to being a fairly new lawyer.
Also, Raleigh is awesome. I had gone to Duke for undergad, so I knew Durham, but was a little uncertain about Raleigh. It’s turned out great. Good luck! If you have any more specific questions about the legal market or moving to Raleigh in general, let me know and I’ll dig up my generic email address I use for this s ite.
DontBlameTheKids
Okay, has anyone with curvy hips tried a trumpet skirt? I really like the shape, but I’m worried it won’t suit my body type. Would it help to just size up, and then tailor the waist?
Becky
Yes, I’ve tried it. The silhouette is pretty flattering, but it has a va-va-voom tendency to it. At least it did on me, so it wasn’t at all work appropriate. YMMV of course, maybe I just tried on the wrong one.
Aggie
Trumpet skirts can work, but they are very difficult to fit. For my hips, there is a fine line between “smiling” and a skirt that twists or rides up all day. YMMV on different brands, but I have given up on trumpets for now.
Mpls
I’ve tried on one or two…and I’m not crazy about them. I think the flounce at the bottom looks awkward – and I can’t decide if it’s just on me or on anyone. My preference is still for the a-line, or a stitched pleat for more fullness, or even a fluted skirt.
lawsuited
Yep, I love trumpet skirts on a curvy body! I size up to accommodate my hips of justice and then take in the waist.
AN
I love this pick for the slender ladies. I am curvy and don’t think I would look good in this skirt.
I’d wear it with a simple white blouse or shirt.
Wow
My sister’s 45th birthday is this Thursday. Any recommendations on yummy food or something else that I can purchase on Amazon Prime (so that it will get to her by Thursday)? She’s a stay at home mom, has two young kids, loves to read (but probably doesn’t have time) and loves to shop for clothes She likes savory/salty food more than sweets. Thanks!!
Wildkitten
Does she have a Kindle?
Senior Attorney
Amazon gift card plus some dry roasted macadamia nuts? http://www.amazon.com/Mauna-Loa-Roasted-Macadamia-11-Ounce/dp/B00509LVIQ/ref=sr_1_17?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1409671544&sr=1-17&keywords=salty+treats
Wow
THANK YOU! Love Mauna Loa nuts, just bought a few packs! Great gift idea.
Senior Attorney
Yay!! :)
Alana
Audiobooks?
NatalieR
Zingerman’s mail order usually ships pretty quickly – or you can do an e-gift card. If she’s like most of my friends, she’d probably really enjoy their offerings but wouldn’t want to splurge on some of the (amazing) items that they offer. They have the best Parmesan black pepper bread, but at $16/loaf, I feel a little funny ordering it more than once a year.
new boss
I’m meeting with my new boss today for our first one-on-one. She is much more senior than me and my previous boss, so I’m feeling nervous. Tips? Advice? One worry is that I don’t have much news – everything has been mostly BAU since we last met together with my old boss. Yet I feel a need to seem so competent, etc.
Ellen
Just be youselves, and do NOT talk about age or anything NOT work related. The boss is not interested in how young you are or how old she is. What she is interested in is how you can do the job. Just study what the job is goeing to intail and make sure you are quick with the answer’s. Also, look her in the eye, b/c she is thinkeing you may be intimidated b/c you are so young. Stand up and be counted as a leader, not as a meek little girl b/c you are more powerful then you think. And one other thing: Good luck! You will do fine. YAY!
Sunshine
+1 to Ellen for this! Be confident, and give a clear update of what you’ve been doing. Don’t get into every little detail; I’ve found that many times, people have a tough time boiling it down to what an executive really needs to know. Tell the “so what” of it, not every bit of detail. “I’m working to identify the blah-blah in this study, because that will help us to decide blah-blah.” The boss doesn’t need to know that you’re using Excel and VB to build a model that takes these 5 variables into account and then calculates the cosine of the square root of Y.
NYNY
If you don’t have much to report, ask her what she’d like to use as a go-forward agenda for your one-on-ones. Find out what she needs to hear about regularly, what format she prefers for tracking updates, etc. This way, you’re super-competent next time!
Anon for this
Negotiating TJ:
All, I’m expecting a job offer this week (possibly today). All the advice I’ve gotten on this forum suggests that I should ask for more $ no matter what, but I’m wondering how/when to do so. I think it’s likely that they will come in on the high end of the “range” I gave them (though I was tentative when I did so) which would mean a significant raise for me. In this case, what’s the best time to negotiate, and what is the best way? Do I ask if there is salary flexibility when they first make the offer? Or do I wait to look things over?
One thing working in my favor is that they have made it clear that they really want me and are not considering any other candidates (I have all their desired experience plus other relevant experience/expertise that a person with my background would rarely have). A complicating factor, though, is that I’m going to have to ask for a little flexibility/telecommute one day a week to make my family life work.
Finally, anything else I should request? I plan to ask them to match my current vacation allowance if they don’t already, but what if they do?
Wildkitten
Don’t accept the job right away. Look things over – including both salary and vacation allowance. Assume the salary is flexible. Negotiate the salary. Then negotiate the vacation. Congratulations!
Good advice here: http://www.askamanager.org/2012/07/what-to-say-when-you-negotiate-salary.html
Spirograph
This may be industry-dependent, but I feel like asking for a raise, and flex time/telecommute day, and more vacation is a lot, especially if they have already made a good, competitive offer. Definitely ask for at least a day to look over and consider the offer thoroughly – including benefits like retirement match and medical coverage – before you counter. Asking for more money when you haven’t taken the time to completely evaluate what’s in front of you is like salting your food before you taste it. If your acceptance is contingent on the flextime/telecommute, I would certainly ask about that when the offer is presented, but then just thank them for the offer and say you’d like to look it over and will get back to them within some defined timeframe.
Wildkitten
Oh good point – negotiate flextime first since that is the most important to you (unless it’s NBD for the employer, in which case you can save it to trade later in negotiations.)
Anon for this
OP here. I think flexibility will be somewhat NBD. The commuting issue came up in a roundabout way during my interview process (well, they had already indicated they wanted to hire me, but it wasn’t official at that point). The hiring manager already indicated that they have people working a shifted schedule to accommodate commutes, so this would be an extension of that.
Anon for this
Thanks all for the advice. Any thoughts on exactly what to say, especially if the offer is pretty good? I always hesitate to negotiate in these types of circumstances, and I kick myself later. But if the offer is good, I don’t know what to say (as in, it’s disingenuous to say I was hoping for more).
Batgirl
I think you can say something like “I am very interested in this position and am excited to join your company, but after learning more, I think that a salary closer to $x [a bit above what you want] would make be more appropriate. Do you think you have the flexibility to come closer to that?”
Brant
Between DH and myself, we’ve successfully negotiated 4 salary packages in 4 years.
– find a point of justification. “Because of X [benefit plans, current comp, bonus structure, add’l responsibilities, market value, etc], I was expecting $Y in (base, bonus, stock/options).”
– fall back on your current state “In order for this move to make sense, I was expecting an offer of $Y”
– be flexible on where the add’l $$ comes from. If they shut you down on base, ask about bonus. If there’s no wiggle room there, go for stock / options.
– if they’re offering you the role, they want you. find out how dedicated they are to you. Play this carefully. My colleague and I both had open roles on our teams. We had the same starting budget. She was absolutely desperate for a “warm body,” while I was waiting for the right fit. We had two basically identical candidates for each of our roles (both 5 years of consulting with similar firms). She made her candidate an offer, they countered, she met them at 20% over her budget. I made my candidate an offer at budget, she grumbled (note: did not counter), and ultimately didn’t accept. I moved on and found an awesome candidate much more qualified than the first, made her an offer higher than I made the first candidate(and above #2s stated expectations), and she didn’t negotiate. Had she, I could have/would have gone a little higher- she was an awesome fit and I at the very least would have been open to the discussion. For reference, candidate 1 was 5 years out of undergrad with 5 years of consulting at the same firm, which is relevant but not directly applicable to my industry. Candidate #2 was 8 years out of undergrad, no consulting, with 4 years direct experience in the exact role I was hiring for at a competitor.
Anonymous
How about just, “I’m hoping that you’d be willing to…”?
ETA: This is for Anon for this at 11:26
TV is not Real Life
I’m not in law but have been watching a lot of courtroom/crime TV shows lately and wonder, from the perspective of someone within law, what is the most untrue depiction on TV or in movies? For example, I am in medicine, and in shows like “ER” the students and first year residents get way too much responsibility and also in real life everyone stays in their specialty. ER docs and surgeons are not managing chemo, for example. What drives you crazy when you watch these shows?
First Year Anon
Lawyers that work at big corporate firms but still somehow do divorce proceedings.
Also cases that go to trial in 3 weeks.
Bonnie
Attorneys trying big cases within weeks of becoming attorneys. Also agree about the speed of cases; my cases generally don’t go to trial for a year or two after arrest.
January
Similarly, junior lawyers typically get way too much responsibility. For example, Alicia Florrick on “The Good Wife” was going to court and handling her own cases pretty much right away, which makes for more interesting TV but does not reflect reality in private practice. Cases are also resolved much more quickly and more cleanly on TV than in real life, which makes me want to be a TV lawyer (my case will be solved within an hour, AND my hair will always look good!).
Diana Barry
When I studied for the bar exam, I used to watch Law and Order for (1) all the violations of the 4th amendment (search and seizure) and (2) improper use of the hearsay rule and its objections.
posey
me too!
Wildkitten
But I love the Good Wife because the legal analysis is usually pretty bar-exam accurate.
k-padi
FWIW, I liked Boston Legal because it really nailed what I think of as “Law Firm Humor”. Suits is another good example.
Mostly legal work (unless you are in trial) is a lot of really boring, sitting in front of a computer. The humorous interactions with other lawyers and meeting with clients is a very small part of my week. At one point, I “counted” how many billable hours one lawyer worked in Boston Legal over the course of an episode (maybe a few days in “TV life”): 0.8!
Suits had one episode in my area of specialty. It was pretty awful. They had a first-year do something in one morning that takes a senior person about 25-30 hours. Best practices were completely thrown out the window, the client was never consulted on things that, by statute, they must at least review. And, a very rare procedure that usually takes months of deliberate planning by a team of lawyers, was triggered within 30 minutes of filing!
Former Partner, Now. In-House
Along these lines, the ratio of “work” to “show events” is totally wrong. Figure for every hour of deposition or court time someone(s) spent about ten hours or more sitting at a desk reading cases, reviewing documents, thinking, drafting briefs or outlines, rethinking, preparing the final binder to use at the show event. All that quiet time is completely missing from TV shows about law practice.
jc
Video/taped “wills.” These are not valid wills in almost every (all?) states.
Anonymous
Usually its movies that are the worse offenders. Stuff like law and order def has a lot of things that are wrong, but I tried watching law abiding citizen and that movie got made without even coming within a 100 yards of a law stufent.
DDD
Drop Dead Diva is my guilty pleasure (esp. when up late at night with the baby). Other than the actors wearing business suits, it bears no resemblance to the practice of law. My favorite is when Jane meets a new client, completes discovery, and tries a jury case for the client, all in the same day — and has time for a glass of wine after work.
Portia
I absolutely love Drop Dead Diva 99% of the time despite the laughably unrealistic time compression, but I do get a little bugged when the show completely ignores the rules of professional responsibility (like when Jane is directly adverse to another attorney at her firm or sends anonymous emails to opposing counsel telling them confidential details about her clients’ cases).
Equity's Darling
The amount of wandering about they seem to do. WHERE DO THEY FIND THE TIME TO WORK? And they’re always off doing their own investigations- no, that pretty much never happens. They also seem to ignore getting actual directions from their clients frequently.
I really enjoyed “Billable Hours”, which was on Showcase in Canada. Not the most accurate necessarily, but it was hilarious. There’s one episode where the white noise in the office changes and everyone is out of sorts, it’s pretty accurate what kind of mundane stuff is a huge deal.
National_Anthem
The thing that bothers me most (and I understand it is for the purpose of having the show not be as boring as real life, but….) is the ridiculously fast timelines for everything. Oh, you have a motion you’d like to bring that you just thought of? Let’s go present it in front of a judge NOW!
I also am really bothered when shows mix criminal and civil proceedings (aka, you don’t get to “settle” a criminal case by paying off the victim. *cough* scandal *cough*).
2 Cents
I love the plus options, especially the 3rd and 5th options. (Though for the CK one, what’s a PU detail? hehe)
Becky
Polyurethane (faux leather). Look at the waistband :)
2 Cents
Ahh, that makes so much sense! Though why they didn’t write it out, leaving sleep-deprived me to giggle at the abbreviation is beyond me :)
RZK
Thread jack:
In search of advice. I am a lawyer, with a significant amount of experience. My past few jobs, however, have involved managing my own docket of matters– fast-moving and ever changing, but generally just my own. I’ve done very well at that. However, I am going to have the opportunity to apply for a position that involves managing a few senior attorneys and their teams. I may have a reasonable shot at the position if I can make it through the screening round, because I’ve worked with senior people at the organization before. However, I have to make it through an HR screening of resumes.
I don’t have a lot of straight management experience to highlight; do any of you have advice about which skills I might otherwise highlight that would be useful in a management role? Or can you point me to any resources that would help me create a bridge resume from an individual who is a subject matter expert to an individual who is managing others (who are working in legal fields besides mine)? I’d really appreciate any advice. I apologize for any vagueness in the post – I can’t disclose much about myself or the position without making it easy to identify both.
TR
I am wearing a longer, crisp cotton white button down shirt today – clearly meant to be untucked. I love it and have gotten many compliments today on it and when I wore it last week.
However, by lunch, it’s insanely wrinkled in the back. I’ve tried smoothing it under the bum and also just kind of folding it up behind my bum so I don’t sit on it, and it’s still excessively wrinkly.
Any tips on how to prevent to wrinkles?
Anonymous
Work standing up.
Red Beagle
No help with prevention but maybe on a lunch break take it into the restroom, take it off, and use a little portable steamer on the wrinkles? I think it’s called My Little Steamer and you can get one at most housewares stores for not very much money. Since I hear you calling your bottom a bum, I’m thinking Canadian or British or perhaps Aussie — maybe American stores aren’t much help here — but if you are in the USA, Bed, Bath and Beyond has several options for portable steamers.
Anon
Hypothetical question: if you were a law student interviewing for 2L summer positions, and one of the firms you have an interview with just had a scandal make the news, would you bring it up in your interview?
Silver
No. At this stage of the game, why bring up anything negative in an interview?! That means no scandals, no cases lost, no partners fleeing, no lack of work life balance, etc.
TXLawyer
Nope. If they make you an offer you can factor the scandal into your decision-making process, but there’s no reason to bring it up at all at any stage in the hiring process.
Every relatively large firm gets caught up in the occasional scandal that makes it into press, but unless it was something directly related to your future there (ie, firm downsizes 75% of its legal staff), no need to discuss it.
Lorelai Gilmore
Poll: What is your Myers Briggs Personality Type? What is your job? And on a scale from 1-7, how happy are you in your work? (1 = Actively unhappy, 4= Neither happy or unhappy, 7=Extremely happy)
Me:
INFJ, Litigation attorney, 5.
Anon
INTP. Attorney (in-house, large corporate). 6.
Most Anonymous
INFJ, litigator (biglaw but small city), 3.
(But ask me again tomorrow and I could be a 1.)
NoName
ESFJ, litigation attorney, 1
Sunshine
ENTJ, strategy consultant, 6
(Think of my job as a consulant, but an employee rather than brought in from an external company)
TXLawyer
INFJ, transactional attorney at large firm in large city, 5
Romey
ENFJ, mid level associate at large firm in large city, 5.
newly in house
ENTJ. Attorney (in-house – director of litigation for international corporation). 5.
lawsuited
ENTJ. Lawyer in a litigation boutique. 5.
Toffee
ENTJ IP litigator, 4 but could be a 5 or better if I had more skills and worked with other ENTJs.
Consultant
Healthcare Management Consulting, ENTJ, 6
Anonymous
ENFP, CPA, 5
Miss Behaved
INTP, Business Intelligence Analyst (READ: Data Analysis and Reporting for a University), 5.5
OttLobbyist
INTJ, Lobbyist/Public relations, 5
anonsg
ISTJ. IP attorney. 5.
Lorelai Gilmore
Poll: What is your Myers Briggs Personality Type? What is your job? And on a scale from 1-7, how happy are you in your work? (1 = Actively unhappy, 4= Neither happy or unhappy, 7=Extremely happy)
Me:
INFJ, Litigation attorney, 5
Squash Blossoms
INTJ, Federal Prosecutor (civil), 6
Diana Barry
INTJ, private practice, T+E, 5
anon
INFJ – grant program manager (local public agency), 2 (simply not meant for government work….)
Constant Reader
Oooh good question!
I’m INFJ, Consulting, 3
anon
Why are you not happier with your consulting work?
Constant Reader
Mainly an issue of working in a very niche field within consulting. Some boredom has crept in as work can get mundane/repetitive. I want to feel greater purpose at work and this role doesn’t always fulfill the need for purpose.
3 is mainly for the work. I really enjoy the people, culture and office environment though!
Sacha
ENTP. Litigator. 5
Frou Frou
INFJ, litigator (plaintiff’s side), 6
Anonymous
INTJ, assistant attorney general (state), 7.
Like this game!
INFP, State Prosecutor, 6.5