#yeaaaaah real new york

[scriptmyworld]

“this is nothing I’VE SMELLED DEAD BODIES IN THE HALL”

[readingraebow]

The Firm Section One

Chapters 1-7

1. How is Bendini, Lambert & Locke different from other firms? What is their turnover rate? It's a much smaller firm and it's in Memphis (which most of the other large scale firms are in Chicago or New York) and it pays better than almost any other firm in the country. They only have 41 lawyers on staff and half of them are partners. This is definitely not the norm. They want everyone to become a partner and basically guarantee that you will become one. So basically they promise that if you work really, really hard for your first few years, you'll be able to relax more when you make partner because you will have earned it. They also pay reaaaally well and basically all of their lawyers become millionaires by the time they're 40. And most retire somewhere in their 50s with a very, very healthy chunk of change. Their biggest selling point, however, is that their turnover rate is zero. No one ever leaves their firm unless they retire. They also offer way more in the first year than all of McDeere's other offers. And they provide a home with a low interest mortgage as well as a brand new BMW. Basically since they're in the middle of nowhere and have to entice their new hires to move to the middle of nowhere, they offer a lot of very shiny perks. They also don't hire very often and they hand pick their new candidates. Mitch McDeere is their only candidate at this time. So basically it's either him or no one for this hire cycle.

2. Why, as Kay explains, does the firm wish all the associates to be homeowners? They want the new associate + family in Memphis since that's where they'll be working so a new home is an incentive to move. Plus they generally work associates 80 hours a week and Kay says it's sometimes more like 100 hours during tax season. So their theory is if the associate has a strong marriage they will be happy and if they're happy, they'll be productive and that will equal profits. So basically they want to make life more ~comfortable while they're working the associate to death and their wife just has to sit ideally by. But it's also a status thing. The firm likes to ~keep up appearances and if everyone who works for them has a really big, nice house that looks better for the firm. So they lease you a smaller house up front but expect the family to be in an even bigger house in five years and so on.

3. All of the firm's employees have moved from different places. While eating lunch with the partners, Mitch is asked if he's accustomed to eating grease and many mention that they're not used to the greasy southern cooking. Is grease a regular part of your diet? Would you be able to handle a completely southern dining palette if you were in Mitch's position? Hmm. Grease is kind of a part of my diet? I absolutely love fried green tomatoes and definitely cook them every chance I get during the summer. And I do tend to each fried food maybe once a week, if that? But, on the other hand, I don't like super greasy foods and my stomach definitely can't handle them on a more permanent basis. I wasn't raised in the south and I'm not sure I've ever really had truly southern cooking. But from the sound of it, I would not be able to handle it. I like some fried foods but for the most part I could leave them? And southern food is usually heavily spiced and I absolutely cannot handle that at all. So if I were in Mitch's position, I would definitely be the guy who had heartburn for 20 years, haha. I probably would not be able to handle that at all and I'd be off somewhere panicking and making a salad, hahahaha. *would actually die from all the grease*

4. At the end of the second chapter, what are your feelings about the firm? Do you think Mitch should accept their offer? Honestly it sounds way too good to be true???? But I get why it's appealing to Mitch and Abby. When you're super broke and paying all of your big bills is a struggle and needing a new car but actually getting one seems light years away? Yeaaaaah. I totally get that feeling. So I get why taking an offer that has all of those perks sounds appealing. But if all of the other successful firms aren't offering those things and this is the only one that is, doesn't that seem a little suspicious? Honestly a lot of the people who work for the firm also sound sketchy??? And that conversation with Kay was super weird. Yes, I would love to be a trophy wife (or Emily Gilmore; either is fine) but I would also like to make my own decisions. And the things "encouraged" by the firm are just super weird and controlling. But the money is super tempting and I would probably take the offer, if in Mitch's position. Plus I find the firm fascinating so if he didn't accept, we wouldn't have a story, haha.

5. What occupies the half of the 5th floor that's not the partner's cafe? What goes on there and what do we learn about the McDeeres' visit? The other half of the fifth floor is security. It's a bunch of cramped little offices and, I'm assuming, surveillance and such. One of the offices is occupied by the head of security, a Mr. DeVasher. From him we learn that the firm is seriously into wire tapping and basically they were watching the McDeeres the entire time they were in town. They bugged the hotel room (and had people in the rooms on either side), the limo and the phone. And we knew most of what he said. But basically they liked the firm and all the perks and DeVasher thinks he'll sign with them. And then we went into a lot of stuff that doesn't make any sense yet. But it sounds like they basically watch everyone who works for them at all times and the entire office is bugged along with all of the houses of everyone who works there???? (That would also explain why they like to provide homes and cars for their employees.) And there was a lot of stuff about the FBI and New York being suspicious and that they have to get a handle on the situation or two of the associates and a cop will end up dead. Soooo. Maybe that's why their turnover rate is zero??? No one ever leaves they firm. They're just quietly killed instead. *gulp*

6. On Mitch and Abby's first day in Memphis, what do they learn has happened? How does Mitch spend his first day at the firm? They learn that two members of the firm have died. Martin Kozinski and Joe Hodge died in what they said was a boating accident. Apparently they were on a "business trip" and there was some kind of explosion. But the details are sketchy at this point. Though these are the two who were going to be "taken care of" so none of those details are probably actually correct. But that's the story the firm is going with. And on Mitch's first day at the firm, instead of sitting behind his new desk, he and Abby attend both funerals.

7. What is Mitch's first impression of Nathan Locke? What had he heard from Lamar about Locke? That Locke is literally terrifying?? Basically he has really black, sinister eyes and has the most ominous, evil presence Mitch says he'd ever felt. Mitch hadn't met Locke before he signed on and according to Lamar, no one was really ever allowed to go to his office. He told Mitch it was because Locke is eccentric and liked to be left alone. Or something like that. But he's probably the front man for whatever shady thing is going on in this firm.

8. Why does Oliver Lambert ask to see Mitch? He asks to see Mitch for two reasons: one, to invite Mitch and Abby to dinner on Saturday night. He says that he and his wife like to go out to dinner and they usually invite a group and so he's invited a few other people from the firm and wants Mitch to come/feel welcome with them. But what seems to be the real reason he asks Mitch to see him is to lecture him on confidentiality. He gives him this long speech about how you never talk about a client with anyone else, especially not your wife (oh, he drives this point home) and probably not even other people at the firm, unless they're directly involved in the case. And especially not to other lawyers around town. But esPECIALLY NOT YOUR WIFE. Which is super weird and fishy???? It's almost like Mitch has told Abby something and Lambert knows it and is telling him not to do that??? But if this actually happened, it wasn't something we've read. But basically Mitch knows all of this already because it's covered in law school? So it's just an all around weird conversation.

  Section One Reading Journal

So. Wow. I haven’t read any John Grisham in quite a while. And off the top of my head, I think the only one I’ve actually read was Runaway Jury. (I honestly can’t remember if I’ve even read any of the others?? Though I own almost all of them.) And I read that back in high school (and I remember it taking me quite a while since they’re kind of long and, in some places, dry and I hadn’t read a lot of ~variety then and still had trouble with stuff. So I think it took me like a month though I do remember liking it well enough). So, yeah. Apparently I’m way over due for more Grisham, haha.

Anyway, I don’t really know what I was expecting from this? I haven’t actually seen this film (though I think I’ve seen all of the others) but it’s definitely not been what I was expecting. I’m really enjoying it a lot and I pretty much flew through this section. I’m super intrigued by this firm and all of its shady dealings. And, lbr, I’m always here for legal dramas. So while I was a little on the fence about actually reading this and even considered changing my pick for this category, I’m glad I went ahead with this. I’m really enjoying it and I am really excited about reading the rest of it.

So, a few notes from this section: that firm seems super interesting but suuuuper sketchy. Like wow. The money is great but all the work they’re shoving at him? By the end of this section, he sounds so overworked, I would literally be dead if I were working that much. How do they actually expect him to finish everything they’ve thrown at him?!?! If he’s supposed to spend most of his time studying for the bar (which I thought you actually took before you got a job but okay) then why are they throwing so much else at him?!? Don’t they want him to sleep??? Or actually, you know, spend time with his wife????

Though I would love to have all the perks that come with that job. A low house payment and new car? Um, yes please. But I almost don’t feel like it’s even worth it?? Because that’s a lot of hours and he’s not really eating or sleeping. Sooo. Side-eyeing the firm for making him do that.

But, anyway, yes. Super interested in where this is going and what this firm is even up to. Because wow so much shade. So can’t wait to move on to the next section!! I hope ya’ll are enjoying this so far, as well!