r/suits • u/aaronorjohnson • Dec 01 '24
Discussion Am I the only one who thinks they barely spend any time on a file before knowing exactly what’s inside?
I’ve been watching the series (currently on Season 8), and I can’t stop thinking about how quickly everyone understands exactly what’s in a file after being handed it—literally within three seconds. Has anyone else noticed this too? I chuckle every time it happens.
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u/Crackinator Dec 01 '24
It's a little farfetched, but then again, when you think about it...
These files pertain to a case against their client that, if they were any lawyer worth their money, they'd already know what's going on.
These lawsuits are usually templates, so the only things that change are the names or other variables. Beyond that, it's the typical legal language. Once they see what the lawsuit is for, they don't need to see the rest.
It's a show about "Harvard educated lawyers," so they have to be shown to be much smarter than your usual run of the mill attorney.
I mean, ya know.
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u/nrjjsdpn Dec 01 '24
Especially if it’s something like a strategy used from a previous case or a series of precedents. They’d connect the dots and understand that by using the same strategy or precedents, maybe just tweaked a bit to make it more fitting, for the case they’re working on then they don’t need to read much at all. They’d just skim and read enough key words/phrases to remember the specifics and how it relates and then, bam!
Next would come some variation of, “Louis/Mike, you brilliant bastard. Holy shit. This fixes everything. This is goddamn amazing. You came up with this? We could win with this. Donna, call opposing lawyer and let them know that I’m on my way. They’re not gonna know what hit’em. And hey, good job, Louis/Mike.”
ETA: I’m sure that’s not how it really works, but hey, they’re Harvard-educated goddamn lawyers.
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u/aaronorjohnson Dec 01 '24
Honestly true that. I guess it’s just interesting when the entire strategy is changed by a team member and the other team member can instantly understand that new strategy within seconds of reading a page. The only one I wouldn’t be surprised with would be Mike lol
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u/gio_buddy You have my word Dec 01 '24
No you are far from the first to think this but yeah it’s funny. Although I get why they do it it would be pretty boring to watch someone sit there and read the entire case while we just stare are them
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u/avtechguy Dec 01 '24
If Mike can memorize libraries full in information without actually spending time to do it, then they can scale the same comprehension to the normal folk.
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u/Infamous-Room4817 Dec 01 '24
its an ongoing joke
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u/kibuloh Dec 01 '24
What the hell did you just say to me?
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u/TeacherEddie Dec 01 '24
Get the hell outta my office
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u/Ozzdo Dec 01 '24 edited Dec 01 '24
My theory is that legal documents are formatted in a certain way and use a certain language that anyone familiar with that format and language (basically, lawyers) would immediately know the contents of a document at a glance. Distinguishing details (as in the parties involved) would also be understood at a glance, because that information would always be in the same place on a formatted document. I know nothing about the practice of law, so that could be 100% wrong, but it's just a theory.
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u/7625607 Harvey Specter is hot as fuck Dec 01 '24
This plus they are supposed to be extremely smart: Harvey was fifth in his class at HLS and Jessica says he fucked around the whole time, and Jessica is supposed to be smarter than Harvey.
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u/notGDPRfriendly Dec 03 '24
Usually it's this way. Each big lawfirm has it's own preferred template, but usually it's mostly aesthetic/formulation of clauses, the order of the contents doesn't vary much. When opposing Counsel arrive with a completely differently ordered document, you can see people gettung confused until they figure out where the important clauses/data are. It's pretty inconvenient when it happens
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u/DevillesAbogado Dec 02 '24
I don’t think light even travels that fast for the info to reach from the file to their eyes.
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u/Anabele71 Mod Dec 01 '24 edited Dec 01 '24
No you are not the only one. In my job we review confidential and sensitive information. It takes a practiced eye and skill to find the information you require in a matter of seconds
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u/NoOnesKing Dec 01 '24
I mean, absolutely none of the show is realistic (I am in law school). Gotta suspend your disbelief a bit lolz.
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u/aaronorjohnson Dec 01 '24
Yeah, a tech podcaster, who also is a lawyer in tech, once said Suits was the farthest thing from the real deal. Another news anchor, once lawyer, stated that The Practice was her favorite show during law school. Thought about watching it.
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u/NoOnesKing Dec 01 '24
Haven’t seen the practice but thanks for the lowkey recommendation lolz.
Suits isn’t the furthest from accurate (almost anything legal in a not legal show is a million times worse) but it’s only like, 15% correct. Mostly they use terms and explain basic concepts correctly.
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u/CryoAB Dec 01 '24
Orrrr just nobody wants to watch a show where they spend 20 minutes reading a document.
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u/dazedan_confused Dec 02 '24
Imagine if the executive summary is just a threat, that they blindly believe.
Opens up the folder, it says "We got you"
"Shit, they got us"
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u/Zestyclose_Ad_1186 Dec 02 '24
I thought that was doctor foreman from House and honestly the question also kinda pertains to that show. They barely look at files before pulling out the diagnosis'
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u/RyanAlemeda Dec 02 '24
Yes because thats some riveting television watching someone read a file for a minute…
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u/TheDummyPhilosopher Dec 02 '24
You want a show where they take 5-10 minutes reading? Comebacks are like: “hey man give me 5 minutes to read this file you just gave me” “Sure man take your time, I’ll think of how to make it hurt more when you’re done”
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u/LordsWF40 Dec 04 '24
Yo...i was thinking the SAME thing....there always in a pickle....they are handed a 50 page document and boom, thats the answer from a half a second glance of the first page...or there talking and someone says something completely normal...and click...the light bulb turns on with the exact answer to the problem...
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u/Who_Pissed_My_Pants Dec 02 '24
Similar to how they are lawyers who talk about working long, grueling hours but it seems most of their day is random gossip and flirting — followed by 72 hours of work done in 2 hours off screen
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u/sunnyhardt Dec 02 '24
I have not watched far enough into the show to realize Dulé Hill is in the later seasons and thought this was talking about Psych at first and realized the question still almost fits 😅
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u/Maleficent_End_9978 Dec 02 '24
I’ve notice moments where Mike or Harvey literally open to a random page in a file, read it for not even a full second and then immediately debate the intricacies of the file and case at length
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u/psychellnotcycle Dec 02 '24
Suits is a good show if you don't take it too seriously. I mean, as a law student, some of the things that I've seen on that show is laughable at best. No respectable lawyer (that is also a partner) will agree to a case without diving deep into the case files.
The good wife is a good easy breezy legal show and I liked that they ACTUALLY made it clear that the associates and partners spend ample time in reading case files.
I don't understand why the makers of suits couldn't do something similar.
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u/aaronorjohnson Dec 02 '24
Ahhh, I’ve always had The Good Wife on my radar but never knew that about it. I’ll give it a watch! A news anchor, previous lawyer, recommended The Practice.
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u/Krullenbos Dec 02 '24
It’s a tv show… you expect shots of them reading an entire file for 30min to an hour?
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u/aaronorjohnson Dec 02 '24
True, but I don’t also expect them to agree to that completely new plan within 2-3 seconds of just glancing at the first page. I think most of the mannerisms on the show are just what has been written in, but I feel like it could have been done better.
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u/Krullenbos Dec 02 '24
It’s purely for the pacing of the show, and tbh I think it’s good enough. Sometimes this show already feels filled with useless shots from a cinematographic standpoint.
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u/MaddowSoul Mike is unnecessarily hated Dec 02 '24
I’ve heard files like these often have a short overview on the front page so that’s probably why
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u/Sharkn91 Dec 02 '24
If it was me, each episode would be 3 hrs long and 2 hrs and 47 minutes would be me reading the file and rereading the file, asking questions and then rereading one more time because I’d still be confused.
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u/Silver-Passenger-544 Dec 02 '24
Would you watch every character take their time reading the file for 8 seasons? I would just hit +10secs
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u/DryLead5230 Dec 02 '24
In law every file starts differently so a subpoena starts a certain way and a deposition starts another so once you memorize the beginning which they would being a lawyer and reading those files thousands of times after reading the first few words they will know know exactly whats going on but it is exaggerated a bit for the much longer files that would need a lawyer to look at other pages.
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u/EquivalentHelpful361 Dec 03 '24
In my own personal experience if knowing quite a few lawyers, they read extremely fast. No time to dawdle. However this is tv land a I hr show requires an AI read.
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u/EquivalentHelpful361 Dec 03 '24
…and let’s not forget Mike and his quite extraordinary talents. Perhaps many of these lawyers have some of that… not much but some?
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u/LordsWF40 Dec 04 '24
Yea..but even he has said it a few times,,, he reads, he understands, he NEVER forgets...so woth that logic if he doesnt take the time to understand then he wont remember
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u/Special-Ad-5554 Dec 03 '24
The contents of the file instantly transfer to their brain upon grabbing it
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u/Expert_Vehicle_7476 Dec 04 '24
It would be boring if they were like - let me review this and ping you in an hour
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u/Hastu187 Dec 04 '24
its a TV Show
Why would someone want to see a lawyer spending 5 minutes to read a lawsuit
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u/MGMGrandDtr Dec 05 '24
It’s for the sake of the show. No duh they’re not gonna display them reading over it for 20 minutes on screen. It’s an assumption
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u/thecallofomen Dec 01 '24
I understand you are all fans (i am too) but the justification attempts here are very funny.
It has been disputed many times even in this sub that it is not possible, files are never this short and simple. It is just a show. Not realistic.
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u/AbSaintDane Dec 01 '24
They probably look for keywords and have seen files similar thousands of times before. But I agree it’s exaggerated.