Suits | Mike Ross's Rise to Becoming a Legal Powerhouse

Summary

The script revolves around a protagonist who, despite never attending law school, manages to become the youngest partner at a prestigious firm by outsmarting top lawyers. It features intense courtroom drama, strategic maneuvering to secure a merger, and a trial where a company is accused of knowingly operating a toxic plant. The dialogue is sharp and witty, with characters engaging in banter and high-stakes legal battles, showcasing themes of ambition, deception, and the pursuit of justice.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The protagonist claims to have become the youngest partner at a prestigious law firm without attending law school.
• ⏰ The character is given a time limit to complete a task, suggesting high stakes and urgency in the situation.
• 🤔 There is a moment of confusion and questioning of familiarity between two characters, hinting at a past connection or deception.
• 📚 A discussion about standardized test scores and academic performance sets up a character's intelligence and potential for success.
• 💼 A character is motivated by a desire to regain a lost dream and is willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve it.
• 🏆 The character is challenged to prove their worth and capability in a high-pressure, competitive environment.
• 🤝 There is an offer of opportunity and a chance to prove oneself, which could lead to significant career advancement.
• 👥 The script includes a competition or game that tests knowledge and wit, revealing the characters' intelligence and competitiveness.
• 📝 A character is accused of unethical behavior, including perjury and manipulation, raising questions about their integrity.
• 🏢 The script involves legal cases and courtroom drama, showcasing the complexities and challenges of the legal profession.

Q & A

What is the main character's initial claim about their law school background?

The main character claims that they never attended law school but somehow managed to convince the smartest lawyers in the world to make them the youngest partner ever.

Why does the character say they only got a 1000 on their SATs?

The character mentions they got a 1000 on their SATs to imply that they are a B-minus student, suggesting that getting a perfect score like 175 on an exam would be suspicious and could lead people to believe they cheated.

What was the character's dream during college and how did it change?

The character's dream during college was to be a lawyer. However, after getting involved in memorizing a math test and selling it, which resulted in losing their scholarship and being kicked out of school, they were knocked into a different life and have been wishing for a way back ever since.

What does the character promise in return for being given a chance?

The character promises to work as hard as it takes to outshine the Harvard graduates and become the best lawyer the person has ever seen.

What is the significance of the question about US presidents attending Harvard in the script?

The question about US presidents attending Harvard is part of a trivia game that tests the characters' knowledge and connection to Harvard. It also serves as a way to reveal the character's quick thinking and knowledge.

How does the character use the carpet to their advantage in court?

The character uses the carpet to accuse the opposing party of creating a bedbug infestation by reinstalling infested carpet from an old building into their client's apartment, which is a form of vandalism and assault.

What is the character's strategy when arguing about the insurance policy on a toxic plant?

The character's strategy is to show that the company increased the insurance policy on the plant to the exact amount of the settlement they offered, suggesting that they knew the plant was toxic and had prepared to pay for damages.

What is the character's response when accused of perjury?

The character admits that they knew the plant was toxic and that precautions they took did not work, implying that they did not intentionally cover up the issue but were trying to make things right after the fact.

Why does the character decide to take a job with Jonathan Sidwell?

The character decides to take the job with Jonathan Sidwell because they are tired of putting the people they care about in jeopardy due to the repeated issues and unethical actions associated with their current job.

What is the significance of the character being made the youngest junior partner at the firm?

The character being made the youngest junior partner at the firm signifies a major accomplishment and recognition of their abilities, despite their unconventional background and methods.

How does the character defend themselves against accusations of not attending Harvard?

The character defends themselves by arguing that it is possible to have lived in Boston without having a Boston address, and that their success as a partner at a prestigious law firm is evidence of their capabilities, regardless of whether they attended Harvard or not.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Unconventional Path to Partnership

The first paragraph introduces a character who has managed to become the youngest partner at a prestigious law firm without attending law school. The character is involved in a series of interactions that reveal their intelligence, quick thinking, and persuasive abilities. They are challenged by a colleague who doubts their academic credentials and legal knowledge. The character responds with confidence, highlighting their impressive SAT score and ability to outsmart even the most elite lawyers. The dialogue also touches on the character's past, where they were expelled from college and lost their scholarship due to a scheme involving a math test. Despite this setback, they express determination to prove themselves in the legal field and outshine their Harvard-educated counterparts.

05:01

👥 Legal Maneuvering and Moral Dilemmas

In the second paragraph, the narrative delves into the high-stakes world of corporate law, where the characters engage in intense legal battles and strategic negotiations. A case is presented where a landlord is accused of intentionally infesting an apartment with bedbugs to evict a tenant. The legal team counters with evidence and a strong argument that leads to a significant settlement. Additionally, there is a subplot involving a character's struggle for promotion and recognition within the firm, which culminates in a dramatic courtroom confrontation. The character's actions and the firm's internal dynamics are explored, revealing a complex web of ambition, loyalty, and ethical challenges.

10:03

🏥 The Fight for Justice in the Face of Corporate Negligence

The third paragraph focuses on a legal battle against an insurance company that refused to cover a patient's necessary medical tests, leading to a tragic outcome. The narrative unfolds as the legal team presents a compelling case, backed by a massive complaint detailing numerous victims' stories. The judge grants an expedited trial, setting the stage for a high-profile legal confrontation. The managing partner assigns a new junior partner their first case, marking a significant milestone in their career. The paragraph also touches on the complexities of proving one's legitimacy in the legal field, as a character defends their unconventional background and qualifications in court.

15:03

🤝 A Bold Move to Secure the Firm's Future

In the fourth paragraph, the firm faces a critical decision that could determine its survival. The partners consider a merger as a strategic move to strengthen their position against a rival firm. The narrative discusses the potential ramifications of such a move, including the risk of losing the trust of a key partner, Harvey. The characters weigh their options and decide to proceed with a plan to outvote their rivals by bringing in additional partners. The paragraph also features a courtroom exchange where a witness is questioned about the suspicious insurance policy on a plant, leading to an admission of corporate knowledge and cover-up of a toxic facility.

Keywords

💡Law School

Law School refers to an educational institution that confers academic degrees in law, such as a Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, or a Bachelor of Laws. In the video, the theme revolves around the main character's claim of being a lawyer without having attended law school, which is a central deception that drives the narrative and challenges the audience's perception of legitimacy and merit.

💡Partner

A partner in a law firm is a senior lawyer who is part of the ownership structure. The concept of partnership is significant in the script as it highlights the main character's ambition and the firm's internal dynamics. The phrase 'youngest partner ever' signifies a major accomplishment within the legal profession and is used to emphasize the character's perceived success despite their unconventional path.

💡SATs

The SATs, or Scholastic Aptitude Tests, are standardized tests widely used for college admissions in the United States. The mention of '1000 on your SATs' in the script underscores the character's intelligence and academic potential, which contrasts with their unconventional educational background and raises questions about the value and recognition of formal education.

💡Scholarship

A scholarship is a financial award given to students to support their education, often based on academic merit or other criteria. In the script, the loss of a scholarship due to an unethical act is a pivotal moment that changes the character's life trajectory, illustrating the consequences of dishonesty and the importance of integrity in personal and professional development.

💡Harvard

Harvard refers to Harvard University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, particularly known for its law school. The script repeatedly mentions Harvard, using it as a symbol of elite education and success. It also plays a role in the character's deception and the subsequent challenges they face in maintaining their fabricated background.

💡Perjury

Perjury is the act of willfully telling an untruth while under oath in a court of law. The script alludes to the risk of perjury when a character is reminded of the penalty for lying under oath. This concept is central to the legal drama, as it raises the stakes for the characters and adds tension to the narrative by questioning the limits of deception and the consequences of being caught.

💡Promotion

Promotion in a workplace context refers to an advancement in job rank or status, often accompanied by increased responsibilities and compensation. The script discusses the character's desire for promotion and the challenges they face, reflecting on themes of ambition, meritocracy, and the ethical dilemmas that arise when pursuing career advancement.

💡Insurance Policy

An insurance policy is a contract that provides financial protection or reimbursement against losses. In the script, the mention of an unusually high insurance policy on a plant suggests a foreknowledge of risk and potential cover-up, which is a key element in the legal case presented and highlights the theme of corporate responsibility and ethics.

💡Deception

Deception is the act of causing someone to believe something that is not true, often for personal gain or to achieve a hidden agenda. The script's central theme revolves around deception, as the main character has built their career on a lie about their educational background, leading to a complex web of lies and the constant threat of exposure.

💡Justice

Justice refers to the principle of fairness, reasonableness, and the administration of law. The script involves legal battles and discussions about justice, particularly in the context of a lawsuit against a company that allegedly endangered children's health. The concept of justice is integral to the video's narrative, as it drives the characters' actions and the resolution of conflicts.

💡Dirty Secret

A 'dirty secret' refers to a piece of information that is kept hidden due to its potential to cause harm or scandal if revealed. In the script, the phrase is used to describe the main character's undisclosed lack of formal legal education, which is a source of conflict and tension among the characters and a driving force behind the plot.

Highlights

A character claims to have become the youngest partner at a law firm without attending law school.

A character is challenged to achieve a high score on a test to avoid suspicion of cheating.

A character reveals a past incident where they lost a scholarship and was expelled from school due to selling a test.

A character expresses a strong desire to work hard and outperform their colleagues at a prestigious institution.

A character is given an opportunity to prove themselves in a high-stakes situation, with the potential for significant consequences.

A trivia game reveals a character's knowledge about US presidents and Harvard, showcasing quick thinking and trivia skills.

A character uses a trivia question about Harvard to demonstrate their knowledge and claim superiority over an opponent.

A character is questioned about their past living situation in relation to attending Harvard, creating a tense moment in a trial.

A character cleverly defends their credibility by comparing their past achievements to the current accusations against them.

A character faces a moral dilemma regarding their job and the potential jeopardy it puts others in, leading to a decision to leave.

A character confronts another about using their secret for personal gain and power, demanding accountability.

A character passionately argues for an expedited trial on behalf of victims, moving the judge with their plea.

A character is officially given their first case as a junior partner, marking a significant milestone in their career.

A character devises a strategic plan to offer partnerships to executives in order to outvote them in a merger situation.

A character cross-examines a witness about their company's actions, revealing a potential cover-up and insurance fraud.

A character is hired in a humorous and unconventional manner, showcasing the lighter side of the legal profession.

Transcripts

You actually expect these people to believe

that I never went to law school at all, and

yet still somehow managed to convince the

smartest lawyers in the world to make me

their youngest partner ever.

Times up.

Pencils down. Excuse me.

Do I know you from somewhere?

No, I don't think so.

A pretty good memory for faces.

Uh Huh.

So do I. Sorry.

I got it.

Hey, hey, stop!

You and the cap.

What did you get me?

I said I was gonna get you a 158.

I told you I wanted a 175, and I told you

only one out of 100 people can score that.

You're a B-minus student.

You got a 1000 on your SATs.

If I get you a 175, they'll know you

cheated. So only a genius loser can get a

175? Actually, no, I would get a 180.

Now can I have my money please.

Wow, this is only half.

And why don't you go call the police?

You want this job so much, why don't you just

go to law school?

When I was in college, it was my dream to be

a lawyer. I needed some money, and Trevor

convinced me to memorize this math test and

sell it. Turns out we sold it to the dean's

daughter. I lost my scholarship.

I got kicked out of school, I.

I got knocked into a different life, and I

have been wishing for a way back ever since.

Let me tell you something.

This isn't elementary school.

This is hard work, long hours, high

pressure. I need a grown goddamn man.

You give me this, and I will work as hard as

it takes to school those Harvard douches and

become the best lawyer you have ever seen.

I'm inclined to give you a shot, but what if

I decide to go another way?

I'd say that's fair.

And sometimes I like to hang out with people

who aren't that bright, you know, just to

see how the other half lives.

Move over. I'm emailing the firm.

I just found our next associate.

How many US pres. 8. That's not fair.

You didn't even finish the question.

And yet it's right.

The question was going to be, how many US

presidents have attended Harvard?

You want names?

No, we get it. Final round.

Ross ahead by one.

One question each.

Points are double.

Double because he wants to keep you in the

game. Seth. Bring it on.

Ross I bleed crimson.

Oh venomous banter.

This is adorable I love it.

Ross square pizza.

Where do you get it? Are you kidding?

Any self-respecting Harvard alumnus would

know the answer to that.

Late night studying.

You want square pizza? Where do you go?

Um.

You know, I'm more of a burger guy.

I study better on protein.

Come on. That's pathetic.

It's Pinocchio's.

I answer mine, I win.

Yeah, I know. How many current US Supreme

Court justices are from our alma mater?

Five.

Guys got anything?

Say, Ross?

No, just that the answer is wrong.

Scalia. Roberts.

Kennedy. Breyer.

Kagan.

Ginsburg.

Ruth. Bader Ginsburg went to Columbia.

She graduated from Columbia after she

attended Harvard for two years.

The question was phrased, how many justices

were from Harvard?

Well, she was on the Harvard Law Review.

And when she arrived at Columbia as a

transfer, she was from Harvard.

The rules dictate that you must be precise,

as the law is a precise endeavor.

What's in the bag?

Um. Hey, hey, what are you doing?

Oh.

Do you recognize this carpet?

Make him get that out of here.

This is your own carpet, Mr.

Kerensky. It's from Frank Carvalho's

apartment. Come on.

You feel the fibers, the texture.

It's almost alive.

You brought bedbugs in here?

Oh, that's vandalism.

Assault. You know

I'm happy that you put it that way, because

that's exactly what we're going to be

charging your client with.

What are you talking about?

He didn't just fail to eradicate a bedbug

infestation. He actually created one.

Yeah, he pulled the carpet from one of his

old buildings. Carpet that was already

infested. And then he reinstalled it in my

client's apartment to drive him out.

That's crazy.

You might want to warn your client about

perjury. We've got sworn testimony from the

installer.

And a picture of the same carpet from one of

his old buildings before it was renovated.

By the way, my wife and I really love what

you've done with the place, so it looks like

we're talking about what?

Assault violations of rental codes, health

codes, and, you know, just basic codes of

human decency.

And if a jury.

In New York heard all that.

Wow. Imagine the damages.

Harvey, spectate.

Please. Just get that carpet out of here.

So, Vivien.

How am I doing for my first time?

This still counts as my first time, doesn't

it? Now let's talk about how much this is

going to cost you.

What are you going to do.

For my boss? As a matter of fact.

I'm gonna play the woman, not the case.

You say you expected to be passed over for a

promotion, correct? Yes.

And yet you applied three times?

Yes. And you were never promoted.

As I said, yes.

And when Norah Jones was promoted, you wrote

scathing emails to the rest of your

co-workers in response, not scathing.

The intent was to be funny.

Oh, right. You like to be funny.

Who doesn't like to laugh?

Someone whose reputation has been ruined.

Objection. Just a thought.

He's testifying.

Sustained. Mr.

Ross questions.

I'm sorry, Your Honor. Forgive me.

I was just trying to be funny on your

performance review.

Lena Lunders wrote.

Good work ethic, lacks skills.

Do you think that's a fair assessment?

Fair, I don't know.

Your coworkers were promoted and your boss

was calling you mediocre.

Are you mediocre?

No. So, why haven't you been promoted?

I don't know.

Do

you think you deserve better?

Doesn't everyone? So why haven't you tried?

I have tried.

Why haven't you improved?

I didn't say I haven't improved.

Well, you're right, you did.

You're five years without a promotion.

Did. Look, you were so angry that you

weren't moving forward that you lashed out

at your boss. Objection!

Made him testifying. And everyone was moving

past you. People making good on their

potential. People who could cut it.

I can cut it.

I sat in that room today and listened to you

tell me that ever since the day we met,

you've had to cross one line after another.

And. Mike.

Just. Let me finish.

First it was Clifford Denton.

Then the witnesses.

Then suborning perjury.

Not to mention the 17 things we did to stop

the merger in the first place.

All of it since you hired me.

Look, that's not what I said.

Yes it is.

I wasn't blaming you for those things.

It doesn't matter.

I'm tired of putting the people I care about

in jeopardy. I called Jonathan Sidwell this

afternoon. I took the job.

We just got out.

Harvey.

You gave me permission to point a finger at.

you.

Give me permission to go.

This again.

Excuse me.

You heard me. I've seen this movie before.

And the reason it keeps rerunning is because

every time I think I'm done with you, you

and your dirty little secret rear your ugly

head. You know what, Jessica?

I have had it up to here with you saying that

this is my dirty little secret.

You could have fired me when you found out

and you didn't know.

You decided to keep me around because you

were more concerned with beating Daniel

Hardman and keeping your power.

And then you kept me around because you

didn't want to lose Harvey.

And then you wanted to use my secret to beat

Harvey, and then again and again and again.

So, please, Jessica, why don't you tell me

when the hell does this become your dirty

little secret?

I have to say, Mr. Zane, I find it hard to

believe that in two days you found out

enough to know you need an expedited trial,

let alone care about these people at all.

Your honor, four years ago, a mail carrier

named Stanley Powell felt tightness in his

chest. He thought it was nothing, but his

wife insisted he go to the hospital.

When he got there, doctors couldn't find

anything wrong, but they wanted to keep him

for one extra day.

Now. Unfortunately, Kelton Insurance refused

to pay. So Mr.

Powell went home, crawled into bed, and one

day later he was dead.

In front of you you have a complaint that's

over 5000 pages long, which tells the

stories of another 189 victims.

Pick a page at random.

Tell me the number and I will tell you

exactly what their client did to them.

Your honor, are you actually buying that?

Page 627.

Mr. Laurence Green, 63 year old grandfather,

admitted to Saint Vincent with complaints of

lower back pain and excessive weight loss.

He thought it was stress.

Turns out it was lymphoma.

Only they didn't find out until it was too

late because their client refused to pay for

the MRI. So please rule against us if you

have to. But don't tell me we don't care.

Motion for expedited trial granted.

Jury selection starts Monday.

What are you going to do?

I don't know. I do.

You're doing this.

As managing partner, I am officially giving

you your first case.

Oh my God!

What?

It's tradition that the managing partner give

all new junior partners their first case.

Is that what this is?

Yes it is.

Congratulations, Mike.

It may not be what I wanted, but I really

did mean it when I said you deserve it.

Thank you. Jessica.

I can't believe that just really happened.

You are the youngest junior partner the firm

has ever had.

Mr. specter, you said there's no record of me

ever having an apartment in Boston.

Can you explain to the jury why there's no

record of you ever having lived there?

I'm not the one on trial here.

No you're not. You're the one in that chair.

So why don't you answer the question, or we

can stop this whole thing right now.

There's no record of me living there because

I sublet up there when I had my place down

here.

So it is possible that a person not have a

Boston address without it meaning that they

didn't attend Harvard.

Great. Thank you so much.

This witness is excused.

What exactly is your reason for not having an

address up there? Unless you're too afraid

to answer my questions?

No, I'm not afraid of you at all.

My reason is that I chose to live with my

friend Trevor during that time.

The only problem with that is your friend

Trevor has lived in Brooklyn his entire

life. Exactly a

Three hour and 20 minute drive from

Harvard. So you're saying you made that drive

every day?

No, I only went up for tests because that's

all I had to do.

I guess you needed some extra tutoring, huh?

You expect these people to believe that you

graduated from the most competitive law

school in the world without ever going to

class?

See, that's funny, because you actually

expect these people to believe that I never

went to law school at all, and yet still

somehow managed to convince the smartest

lawyers in the world to make me their

youngest partner ever.

Whose story is looking more farfetched now?

Oh. No answer. Great.

No more questions, Your Honor.

Louis. It's not your

fault. That statement was my idea.

I went to Gordon with it in the first place,

and we could pretend that it's not what got

us here. But it is.

Well, right.

Now, I'm less concerned with what got us here

than what's going to get us out.

You have an idea. I do.

They want us to offer them partnerships here.

So what if we do that?

But we also ask Zayn to come over and to

bring enough people so that we can outvote

them.

Say we never go for it. We've asked them a

thousand times.

Have we ever asked them right after random

Calder cut his legs out.

Huh?

What about Harvey? He comes back to find out

we merged.

He trusted us enough to take care of this.

If this is what we have to do and this is

what we have to do.

You make sure they get the offer in the

morning. Leave the rest of me.

Before I ask you my question, I want to make

sure you understand what the penalty for

perjury is.

I know what perjury is.

And you also know that 20 of your executives

pulled their kids from Treetop Elementary

School within the first six months of the

plant opening.

Objection.

Relevance. The relevance is that they knew

what they were doing. That's why they pulled

their kids from school, pulled soil from the

ground.

You have no proof of that?

No, but I do have proof that your client

increased the insurance policy on that plant

to $15 million.

The exact amount of the settlement you

offered us, and five times the amount you

have on any other plan.

That was a very generous offer.

No, it's what you've been prepared to pay for

almost a year.

That's not true.

Which part isn't true?

The insurance policy.

Because I have that right here.

Objection. Badgering. Overruled.

Mr. Evans, I am asking you under oath, why is

one plant insured for so much more than all

the others?

I'm not in charge of our insurance policy.

Your name is on the policy.

Isn't that right? I remind you, Mr.

Evans, you're under oath.

I'd like a moment with my client, and I'd

like

him to answer the goddamn question.

The witness will answer the question.

Why so much

insurance? What do you want me to say?

I want you to admit that you knew the

plant was toxic and you covered it

up. All right. We knew we took precautions,

but they didn't work, and the plant was

already open, so we offered to make things

right. What else do you want?

What I want is for those kids to have never

gotten sick in the first place.

That's not going to happen now, thanks to

you.

Mike, what are you doing here?

I didn't think I'd see you till my first

day.

Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing here.

You may be moving to Seattle, but.

You don't have a job yet.

I get it. You want to interview me?

Well, I don't see another way around it.

Otherwise, how am I going to know what I'm

getting?

You want to know what you're getting?

You're getting a guy who doesn't like to

hang out with people that aren't that

bright. You know, just to see how the other

half lives.

All right, well, let me tell you something.

This isn't an elementary school.

This is high pressure, long hours.

I need a grown goddamn man.

Well, I see you've got a Barbary legal

handbook there. Oh, this old thing.

Go ahead, open it.

Any page. Ask me anything.

You really want to keep going with this?

F***, no. I won't know a thing.

Well, did you at least bring a briefcase full

of weed?

No, but I know a guy.

Coffee cart. You got it.

You're hired.