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A Cheery Counterweight to Layoff Talk: Denim Day at Dewey & LeBoeuf!

If you're an associate at Dewey & LeBoeuf, leave your brown shirt at home tomorrow. Just bring a $5 donation -- sure, you can afford it, your bonuses were good -- and participate in Denim Day!

Dewey LeBoeuf LLP Denim Day jeans Above the Law blog.jpg

It's for a good cause. And it beats the pants (hehe) off Hot Cocoa Day at Skadden.

After the jump, the invitation to the Denim Day Associate Happy Hour. Very snazzy -- props to the paralegal or ALS person who was tasked with preparing it.

Dewey LeBoeuf LLP Denim Day 2 Happy Hour jeans Above the Law blog.jpg

Comments
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1 Posted by Firsty! | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 4:02 PM

Firsty?

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2 Posted by Fraternity Lothario | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:26 PM

Gentlemen at my preparatory school often wore dungarees in business settings. It was not a conspicuous event.

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:26 PM

Hey! I can comment now!

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:26 PM

Second!!

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:26 PM

You have to pay $5 to wear jeans to work? I only don't wear jeans on Monday out of some strange reverse casual friday duty I feel for the ridiculous amount of money that I make.

Not only do we get more comfortable weather out in the bay area, but we get to be comfortable at work to boot!

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6 Posted by B.F. Deal | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:27 PM

Meh. My old firm used to do this monthly, and weekly during summer recruiting.

When I worked for the govm't every day was jeans day!

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7 Posted by D-Bag | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:28 PM

Damn, I was the douchebag who last year on denim day worse a Canadian tuxedo even though I had a very important meeting with clients from outside the firm. Wish they would've put that asterick in there last year.

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8 Posted by D&L Associate | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:29 PM

I'm ecstatic about it!

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:30 PM

is a canadian tuxedo the same thing as a texas tuxedo?

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10 Posted by D&L to 190K!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:30 PM

D&L to 190K!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kick CWT while they're down. They deserve it.

The glory is yours for the taking!

D&L to 190K!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D&L to 190K!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D&L to 190K!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:30 PM

Why is this news?

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12 Posted by in jeans now | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:33 PM

I wear jeans and a golf shirt to work everyday here in Texas.

Cue the "yeah, but Texas sucks comments." I wish more people thought that, there are too damn many of you yanks and californians here in Austin driving up real estate prices as it is.

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:35 PM

wow slow news day

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:36 PM

Thelen already does this.

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15 Posted by legacy LLGM | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:46 PM

More importantly than the jeans --- Will there be flip cup tournament again this yr?

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:48 PM

MWE does this occassionally. $5 to wear the jeans, no happy hour or iPod Touch though.

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17 Posted by anon | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:49 PM

tons of firms do this already...Got 5 on it? Hardly seems like a donation.

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:52 PM

Weil has already had several casual days tied to charitable giving this year. There was one for Big Brother/Big Sister and one for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (Donors received little pink ribbon pins too).

Personally, I loved the opportunity to wear jeans and was happy to make donations to worthy causes.

Are casual days tied to giving really so unusual as to warrant reporting?

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:57 PM

Canadian tuxedo=denim jeans, denim jacket, and denim shirt.

I remember interviewing with firms when I was a 2L. Lots of Friday interviews, lots of jeans, and lots of pink ribbons. I never put two and two together and thought they were just kind people who didn't bother to dress formally to interview people. I thought it was rude. I'm dense.

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20 Posted by Legacy Cow and Sheep | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:09 PM

Also more important than jeans: the partners are away! The partners are away!

I too would like to see some conference room flip cup action.

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21 Posted by anon | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:26 PM

5:49: While $5 is a small donation compared to the $160,000+ that the associates make, it may not be as trivial to the staff.

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:27 PM

lame

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:28 PM

King & Spalding in Atlanta has been doing the $5 Denim Day charitable thing for years.

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24 Posted by Lat's spank boy | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:29 PM

Lat's Asian ass looks hot in his tight Versace jeans. Gay love forever!

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25 Posted by anonyous | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:34 PM

Sidley does this annually in the fall as well.

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26 Posted by anonymous | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:37 PM

Sidley New York has a denim day one a year in the fall as well.

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:42 PM

Lat... You should merged the Dewey & LeBoeuf Archives with the Dewey Archives and the LeBoeuf Archives.

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 7:45 PM

This is extraordinarily gay. In the Bay Area our firms let us wear jeans EVERY Friday (at least). And -- get this -- it's FREE!

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 7:46 PM

I wear jeans to work every day - usually the same pair.

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30 Posted by anon | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:36 PM

every firm i know does this. shitty topic.

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31 Posted by Skeletor | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:44 PM

This campaign is teh ghey for the following reasons:

1. Lots of firms around the nation do this.

2. The charity isn't named. For all we know, Do We Eat The Beef could be donating to the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (go Google it).

3. Reminding us that we shouldn't be wearing "denim" when seeing clients is schoolmarmish.

4. Cadwalader is laying off, MoFo is rumored to be doing so, and Merrill, Morgan, and Goldman all say we're in a recession; a "Denim Day" seems pretty trite in light of this news.

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32 Posted by SNR Assoc | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:46 PM

Sonnenschein in NY has been doing Jeans Day on Fridays for months now.

Quit stealing our ideas, D&L!

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33 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:08 PM

8:44:

As to your second point, the rumors are that the proceeds will go toward feeding the families of laid-off Cadwalader associates.

(Too soon?)

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:23 PM

I can't afford the $5 until my bonus comes in February. I hope the extra two months of interest covers some of the harassment counseling/defense expenses.

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35 Posted by D&L Associate | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:37 PM

I can't be the only person who thinks this is straight up retarded. I don't want to wear jeans to work. News flash: jeans really aren't that comfortable. And I really don't want to know more about whatever fashion sense my colleagues may or may not have. The best part- and by best, I mean "most typical of a law firm"- of this shark-jumping effort at...cultural relevance? comes from a follow-up memo sent earlier today. "Denim (i.e., jeans) should be clean and neat; no holes, rips, droopy, tight or cut off jeans. Please keep in mind that clients, vendors and other external service providers will still be in the firm's offices and all D&L employees should strive to make a positive impression in their dress attire and general appearance. With the exception of wearing denim jeans, please follow the firm's general business casual dress attire guidelines (e.g., no t-shirts, sneakers, etc.)"

Thanks for clearing that up for us. Thanks.

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36 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:40 PM

I work at Legal Aid, wear jeans to work every day, and get to go home at 6:00. Beat that, bitches.

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:15 PM

9:23: spill the beans

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:23 PM

Legal Aid, how's this:

I used a small part of my year end bonus to finish off my private law school debt (the public is at 2.5%, and I'm planning on keeping it as long as possible).

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:27 PM

So are the pictured jeans acceptable? They look a little frayed. That might appeal to the prurient interests of some partners/counsel.

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40 Posted by legacy leboeuf | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:00 PM

someone at dewey: arrange to have tables for flip cup!

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:32 PM

I can't get over how unbelievably gay this is. Is this common at NY offices? Making people pay money to wear jeans, and this being seen as a rare opportunity? At my SF Biglaw office, I wear jeans, a hoody, and sneakers every Friday, and sometimes other days if we've got a big filing or I'm just generally feeling overworked. I don't pay $5 to do so either.

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 2:02 AM

Wearing jeans to work is very unprofessional.

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 8:39 AM

what's this "flip cup" stuff? seriously

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44 Posted by Justin Timberlake | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 8:57 AM

The jackass complaining about jeans proves JT's theory that douchey law students/lawyers will complain about anything.

Fell ass backwards into a million dollars? It's not two. Usual million dollar TTT bullshit

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 9:23 AM

Only pirates need to pay to wear jeans. Ninjas wear whatever they want, because they're invisible.

P.S. Chuck Norris never starred in a single action movie; they were all documentaries.

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46 Posted by anonymous | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 10:48 AM

8:39: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_cup

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47 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 10:57 AM

11:32, it's unfortunately very common: my firm does the same thing every couple of months. We even have "casual Friday" every week under the explicit understanding that jeans are still forbidden: casual evidently means a polo shirt with slacks. I refuse to take part or give them my $5 on principle; if they just passed around a hat and didn't tie it to "jeans day" I'd be much more generous.

And news flash: nice, dark-wash jeans and a sweater look at heck of a lot better than chinos and a polo shirt. This isn't a dot.com.

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 11:02 AM

chinos and polo shirt = Best Buy uniform

There is a difference between cotton chinos and "khaki" or grey slacks. The first is not acceptable for the office, the latter is not.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 11:03 AM

9:37-what is your problem? Giving guidelines (probably directed more to support staff) is not a big deal. F*cking baby.

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50 Posted by Hungry Girl | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 11:26 AM

I work at said firm, and let me say, I would give a year's worth of my salary to NOT have denim day. My boss seriously showed up today in his denim jacket! And I'm talking about those old school Guess ones. Siiiiiicccccccck! I mean, I'm all for looking hot as shit, esp. when its me in my new Rock & Republics, but I know not everyone can have an ass like mine. I wish work was like a club, where we had bouncers to keep all the fuglies out! It would make the work day so much easier to get through.

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51 Posted by Concerned D&L Associate | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 11:29 AM

No we can't afford to make the $5 donation because we haven't been paid either the special or the market bonus, nor will we be paid them until some unspecified date (read last day of) February.

Additionally, usually we receive an individually addressed letter confirming that we have met our hours and will be paid a bonus of X and that has not yet happened.

This has left room for rumors that although D&L announced that they will match market and special bonuses, the firm may actually let some folks go (with or without bonuses, who knows).

Until we get those letters confirming our bonus awards, I'm not getting teary eyed over denim day and a happy hour (to which I wasn't even invited btw).

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52 Posted by Concerned D&L Associate | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 11:41 AM

Also, I'd like to say, now that I've finally seen the reception invitation here on ATL, that I don't know what the hell ARC means or where Multipurpose 1301 is. Maybe the happy hour is only for our OTHER DC office. That's hot.

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 12:11 PM

Concerned: lighten up. It's D&L Denim Day! Sheesh

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 12:33 PM

Concerned: I'm calling bullshit on that layoff rumor. We were told that it was going to take until February due to integration issues. There has been no reason to believe otherwise. Chill out.

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 2:01 PM

If you don't like to wear Jeans -- stop using that as an excuse not to give. I can assure you the charity will take your money no matter what the f*** you wear to work. And for the people bragging that they don't have to give $5 to wear jeans -- you're a bunch of cheap bastards who should give to charity what you're saving by wearing hoodies instead of business casual.

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56 Posted by jeans, schmeans | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 2:29 PM

I'm not quite as fired up as 2:01, but I don't really understand the need to protest jeans day. My firm has $5 jeans days on a regular basis. If I feel like wearing jeans, I pay $5. If I don't or I forget about it, I don't. The $15 or so that this costs me in a year does not factor into my other charitable giving decisions.

I agree with the person above who noted that apparently law students and lawyers will complain about anything. As for the person who thought it was rude for people not to be dressed up when you showed up for your interview, you sound kind of like Fraternity Lothario, except that I assume his posts are intended to poke fun at uptight elitist nerds.

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57 Posted by D&L NY Associate | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 2:29 PM

11:29 - Are you at a non-NY D&L office? There are absolutely no rumors of any layoffs in NY. D&L is no CWT!

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58 Posted by Nixon associate | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 2:51 PM

Nixon Peabody has "Green jeans" Fridays - people who commute using environemtnally friendly methods (subway, walking, biking, carpooling, etc.) can wear jeans on Fridays (under the assumption that they're 'professional-looking'.

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59 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 3:43 PM

Legacy LeBoeuf always paid the bonus late, so I don't think we can blame the February schedule on "integration". If a few people quit or are fired in January and February, it's some savings to add to the Executive Director's "firm is a business" list of successes.

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60 Posted by everyone's a green winner | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 3:57 PM

2:51, it sounds like everyone's a winner under that system!!

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61 Posted by Raw Dawg | Permalink Friday, January 11, 2008 11:14 PM

I'm on to y'all: Y'all been running D&L stories because you wanna catch the Raw Dawg! But I got news for you -- you don't catch the Raw Dawg. The Raw Dawg gonna catch you! AWOO! RAWF! Right now I'm sunnin' my dawg bawls, raw, straight up chillin'.

PS: You left out the best part: Free pizza party today, fools. Don't say I never did nothin for ya.

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 14, 2008 11:06 AM

Weil Boston does this every Friday. Where's the love??

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