History Series / Suits

** Mike Ross, a genius with a PhotographicMemory, having the oh-so-secure password Ross99.

* [[OverRankedSoldier Over Ranked Managing Partner.]] A realistic example. Jessica joined the firm in 2003 and became managing partner in 2011. While an attorney can easily make junior partner, or partner in a smaller firm, their is no way someone could come to the top of a top Law Firm in only eight years. However, Jessica's rise is a result of being Daniel Hardeman's number two when he launched he coup. She then, justifablly, pushed him out. However, the department heads hate her and view her as an upstart. The result is she needs to play XanatosSpeedChess constantly to remain in charge. It has also made her ''very'' cagey at the concept of disloyalty.

** Mike's password for his work computer is "Ross99" and is easily guessed by the other associates. This is [[IdiotBall an extremely stupid thing to do]] for someone with a PhotographicMemory. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] as TruthInTelevision.

** Katrina's password is "Prosecutor99".

** When Louis discovers [[spoiler:the Ballet dancer, now director of his own troupe, he idolizes is embezzling funds from the ballet he is stunned and cannot move. Rachel tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan and be the brilliant, mean, powerful lawyer she knows he is to fix this situation for the Ballet Troupe.]]

* OvershadowedByAwesome: Despite being smart, accomplished, beautiful, and having a spine to even stand against her father, Rachel simply doesn't measure up to Mike (legal prodigy /w photographic memory), Donna (the all-knowing), Louis (ruthlessly effective and financial wizard), Harvey (do I need to even begin?), and Jessica (one of the few capable of pulling one over on Harvey). Poor Rachel doesn't really have much going for her in the department of "extraordinary ridiculous superhuman craziness".
** Louis is actually a better attorney than Harvey, but lacks his charisma and social skills resulting in Harvey being promoted over him.

* MoodWhiplash: Louis meets with Donna at the office, down after [[spoiler: being fired from the firm]], the two having a friendly chat as Louis talks about his experience, including a "key" that is rewarded to those who graduate Harvard. He then off-hand mentions how when he was talking about the key, [[spoiler: Mike had no idea what he was talking about. Donna's eyes widen as Louis suddenly gets cold and angry as this is the final piece to have Louis finally figure out Mike never went to law school and Donna, Harvey and Jessica have all been covering for him.]]

** As for the rest of the firm: Donna makes the occasional reference, Jessica Pearson can quote ''Film/TopGun'' right back at Harvey, and Rachel... well, the less said about Rachel, the better. Then there's Louis. He's decently knowledgeable as demonstrated with Mike but his general jerkishness means few want to play the game with him.

* MyGreatestFailure: The reason why [[spoiler: Louis]] hates [[spoiler: Harold]] with a passion is that [[spoiler: training associates is what Louis feels he's been great at the firm. Every time he sees Harold it reminds him that he never got him trained right.]] The ironic thing is that [[spoiler: Harold manages to one-up Louis when they confront each other, demonstrating both the excellence of Louis' training as well as attributes from Harvey by playing the man. Outside the non-elite of Pearson & whomever, this is rare occurrence. Louis only wins by hitting below the belt (going after Harold's career) which he backpedals on when this is pointed out to him by his MoralityPet.]]

-->'''Donna''': "I don't think kicking the dog is going to help."

** And then between Rachel and Tessa.
** And now we possibly have a new one, which won't be so easy to untangle, because both [[spoiler: Scottie]] and [[spoiler: Donna]] are equally wonderful characters in their own rights.
* MagicPokerEquation: In "All In" Keith Hoyt goes all-in for over $3 million on a hand where he has an Ace-King full house. His opponent has an Ace high straight that becomes a royal flush when the last card turns out to be a ten of clubs. averted at the end of the episode when [[spoiler: Harvey]] goes all-in on what turns out to be a junk hand. His opponent folds and is so flustered that he then [[spoiler: loses all his chips within twenty minutes of playing. ]].

* HollywoodGenetics: Played for laughs when Louis' sister drops by, played the gorgeous Amy Acker so of course, no one can believe the two are related. Harvey even hits on her before finding out and is stunned they come from the same genetic pool. What's funnier is Louis is under the impression that "slap a wig on me and we could be twins" and doesn't seem to realize how different they are.

** Louis, though a sadist teacher to his associates, cares for them on some level. Showing weakness may not be liked but when [[spoiler:he was quitting and saw Mike come out of an elevator with a bloody face, he dropped his stuff and rushed to help Mike, taking him to the bathroom to get cleaned up without a second thought.]] When he just can't bear to tell Rachel that Harvard rejected her because she wasn't good enough. Instead, he takes the blame himself.

** TheLancer: Harvey Specter, though in practice he's TheDragon or even a DragonWithAnAgenda. The agenda being his own ego.

* {{Flanderization}}: Louis Litt. While he starts as an unsympathetic yet very competent BadBoss-type with a few quirks (his soft spot for cats and a couple of unusual hobbies), by season three these quirks started overriding his professionalism, making him go to a mock trial for custody over a cat with an opposing (and equally eccentric) lawyer that isn't even his in the first place, and later totally flunks extremely important negotiations with said lawyer because of that cat. The other guy told him that he didn't ''read the cat the letters he wrote her''.
* {{Foil}}: Harvey and Louis are one of each other. They share much of the same traits and behaviors with the major difference being that if Harvey 'plays the man', Louis 'plays the law'. It is Louis' strict adherence to the letter of the law (especially when it benefits him) that most people tend to dislike him for whereas Harvey's approach at least makes him seem somewhat charming.
* FollowTheLeader: Combined with EarlyInstallmentWeirdness. Like other recent USA shows, Suits is about a talented fish out of water thrust into high profile business of whatever they're involved in. However, Mike's lack of legal degree really isn't a huge storyline in the show as the first few episodes and season might suggest. Many episodes don't even bring it up and leave it to dramatic moments. Likewise, while earlier seasons had something of an episodic client-of-the-week structure, season two and onward don't always feature a client. Instead the show has developed in to a plot driven/character driven show based around the murky world of law and of Pearson & Hardman in particular.

* FriendlyEnemy: Louis realizes too late, [[spoiler:almost too late, that he and Harvey are actually this and not true enemies. Harvey may not have liked him but respected him a great deal but his siding with Hardman ended it. Only when Louis helps Harvey save a client not just from a bad deal but keep him to the firm does Harvey forgive him.]]
* FriendsRentControl: Generally averted since most of the characters are high priced lawyers. Mike invokes this during his conversation with [[spoiler: Monica Eton]] by pointing out that since she no longer works as a lawyer, she must be going broke paying rent on a apartment in Manhattan.
* FreudianExcuse: Harvey does not take his mother's cheating well, even all these years later, at all.

* TheGamblingAddict: One of Harvey's clients is a hopeless gambling addict who puts his company as collateral against a loan for a poker game and consequently loses the game. Since he is also Harvey's friend, Harvey and Mike try to find a way to get his company back.
* GenderEqualEnsemble: The 6 main characters are all equal gender wise, Harvey Specter, Mike and Louis for the boys and Rachel Zane, Donna Paulsen and Jessica Pearson for the girls.
** This may be subverted going forward. While we still have the same 3 guys, for the ladies, we now have Donna, Scottie, Rachel, Jessica, and Katrina.

** When their hard work and sacrifice finally pays off they find out that [[spoiler: the relative they were doing all this for has died.]]

** The finale of Season 2 was this with an exclamation point, to the point that Aaron Korsh said Season 3 will be about dealing with the consequences of this one episode.

* DoubleDontKnow: In the Season 8 finale, Thomas, a furniture manufacturer owner (and Donna's current love interest) has a handshake agreement to sell furniture to all of a real estate client's shopping malls, [[spoiler: is going to betray Thomas' company by using them as a stalking horse for getting better terms from a competing manufacturer]]. Donna, not knowing what has happened, sees Harvey's face and queries him. He admits what is happening but asks her to wait while he tries to arrange a replacement deal. Donna goes on her date, and Thomas tells her about how he got a really sweet deal from his current landlord, but this offer is only good until noon tomorrow. Worried he might get no deal at all, Donna tells him what's happening. He immediately takes the current offer and puts out a press release. The mall company is going to sue them for violating privilege. Louis wants to know how thid happened:

** This is actually playfully applied in the last season when Harold starts ahabing Louis. Louis despised Harold when he worked under him because he could never train him correctly, resulting in serious errors that nearly cost the firm hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, rather than let him wash-out, Louis intentionally kept Harold around so he could use him like a chew toy, demeaning him and harrassing him at every turn. His dethroning moment of suck was when he forced Harold to take care of his cat, despite Harold being fatally allergic to cats. Louis is then shocked when Harold jumps at every opportunity to get at him, poaching his client and even outmaneuvering during a case. Louis accuses him of being ungrateful and disloyal, to which Harold responds that Louis nearly KILLED HIM, and even Louis is given pause. Of course Louis' ego ensures this doesn't take, and he starts using using dirty tricks to end Harold's career out of spite. Eventually, Rachel intervenes and points out to Louis that he's being unreasonable and it's not fair to end Harold's career because of ''his'' inferiority complex. Louis actually agrees, stands down and let's Harold win.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Several of the characters show this with Mike clearly not realizing the full implications and challenges of being a fake lawyer until it's too late while Harvey can be cocky enough to fail to see a few angles on a case. Louis can be the worst, leaping into situations to either make himself a fool or get the firm into major trouble.
** When Louis [[spoiler: finally figures out the truth about Mike]] he uses the information to force Jessica to make him name partner. Louis immediately tries to fire Mike, thinking he has all the cards. Instead, Jessica points out that [[spoiler: by using the information to get his job back, Louis automatically became part of the fraud (and, in fact, worse as he's directly profiting off it) and thus if he exposes Mike, he'll go down as well.]]
* DidntSeeThatComing: [[spoiler:Zoe Lawford did not expect tough, strong, Harvey to be so good with kids when her niece stayed the night.]]

* CreateYourOwnVillain: As a result of the ChronicBackstabbingDisorder endemic in the firm, a shocking number of antagoists were ether former members of the firm, or attorney's who had been mistreaned by them. Justified or not.
** This is actually playfully applied in the last season when Harold starts ahabing Louis. Louis despised Harold when he worked under him because he could never train him correctly resulting in serious errors that nearly cost the firm hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, rather than let him wash-out, Louis intentionally kept him in so he could use him like a chew toy demeaning him and harrassing him at every turn. His dethroaning moment of suck was when he forced Harold to take care of his cat despite Harold being fatally alergic to cats. Louis is then shocked when Harold jumps at every oportunity to get at him, poaching his client and even outmanouvering during a case. Louis confronts him of being ungreatful and disloyal. Harold points out that Louis' mistreatment nearly KILLED HIM and even Louis is given pause. Of course Louis' ego ensures this doesn't take, and he starts using using dirty tricks to end Harold career out of spite. Eventually, Rachel intervens and points out that he's being unreasonable and it's not fair to end his career because of his inferoity complex. Louis actually agrees, stands down and let's Harold win.

* ButForMeItWasTuesday: The lawyer that closed a deal with Mike's grandmother after his parents died honestly doesn't remember who they are, because he treated so many people the same way.

---> '''Donna:'' Well, the computers don't run themselves. At least 'til [[Film/TheTerminator Skynet]] goes active.

** Harvey is a big fan of Captain Kirk and names the The Kobayashi Maru scenario when giving Mike advice.

** Mike: We have an IT department? Donna: Well, the computers don't run themselves. At least 'til [[Film/TheTerminator Skynet]] goes active.

** Benjamin in Undefeated. Mike bets him he can list every number on a sheet of paper he looked over for less than a minute or he will give him a check for $10,000. Benjamin says that if Mike gets even one comma wrong he loses. Mike instantly replies that the document doesn't have any commas.

* SecretSecretKeeper: Benjamin, the firm's IT teach and researcher, reveals in season 5 that he knew from the start Mike wasn't a lawyer for a unique reason: Mike was the only "Harvard grad" who never talked down to Benjamin or flaunt his education in man's face.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: In this universe, every attorney uses dirty tricks to win. ''Everyone.'' Rather than collapse the system it instead enables it, as it forces the victim to accept the purportators actions lest their own be expossed. And if a purportrator doesn't have anything on another attorney, it's a simply matter to find someone who does. As a result, everyone can be as unethical as they wish and The New York Bar operates on a system of mutually assured destruction.

* PrecisionFStrike: Since this is a cable program the language can be much stronger than TV. In one episode, it's done so quietly that you have to turn the volume up loud to hear it. In Season 3, Episode 5, Rachel tells mike what she found out about Donna's love life: "Donna fucked Steven."

* PunchClockVillain: Discussed. [[spoiler: As of late Season 2, Harvey has written Louis off and become openly hostile, effectively driving him out of the firm. When Louis is talking to Mike about this, he references Sam sheepdog and Ralph E. Wolf punching in at the meadow and warring with one another all day, only to punch out and go have a drink together, and says that Harvey "stopped punching out." Of course, an earlier episode showed that Louis considered Harvey to be his best friend at Pearson Hardman, so it's clear that his understanding of their relationship is rather different than Harvey's is. In the beginning, at least, Harvey seems to think of him as a WorthyOpponent and an asset to the firm, but this didn't appear to extend to real friendship. All that flew off the rails during Hardman's takeover and its aftermath in season 2.]]

* PhotographicMemory: Mike, in the usual Hollywood version. It is suggested that Louis has one too, or at least, as regards numbers.

-->"So that's how you did it. You beat him. Well I'm not Harvey. I don't need a laptop."\\

'''Donna:''' I'm Donna. [[LampshadeHanging ''I know.'']]

-->'''Mike:''' The fat guy's name was Cordoza.\\

--> '''Harvey''': Louis, I apologize. I was out of line. Now, if you'll let me text your pretend wife that I just made senior partner-- ''[Louis walks out in exasperation]'' ...What?

--> '''Harvey''': Hey Donna, did you take care of that--\\

--> '''Harvey''': I see lip runs in the family.

-->''Harvey:'' You're playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.

--> "Afraid of you? ''Boy'', I just ''kicked your ass'', and you didn't just want it. You ''begged me'' for it. Now, you are going to stay here, ''be humble'', and learn your goddamn place."

* BadassInANiceSuit: Since all the main characters are in a profession that requires them to dress in high quality formal business attire, this is pretty much a given.

* PoisonousFriend: Donna to Harvey, when he [[HonorBeforeReason stubbornly refuses]] to testify against an old boss. [[spoiler: She worked for him as well, and has no qualms turning over evidence of his illegal activities]].

* SlapSlapKiss: And WAY more.

* AFoolForAClient: The taxi driver who's about to start a litigation claiming that Harvey's driver hit him first. But he's not your normal fool for a client, considering the following BadassBoast:
-->''"I sued for my citizenship, so I have a very special appreciation for the law. I wiped the floor with the US government, counselor. I'm gonna do the same with you."''

*** In the pilot, Harvey tells Mike "I wouldn’t move your things into Wayne Manor just yet."

** Mike: We have an IT department? Donna: Well, the computers don’t run themselves. At least ‘til [[Film/TheTerminator Skynet]] goes active.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Harvey '''Specter'''. He is as the night. 'Harvey' also means 'battle worthy.' Appropriate for a lawyer of his class.

** Season 2 has [[spoiler: Daniel Hardman]]. The events of the past five years have turned an AmoralAttorney [[spoiler: (he cheated on his cancer ridden wife, embezzled money from the firm, and other things)]] into a would-be LawfulGood one. Harvey threatens to reveal his secrets to make him stay away, resulting in him confessing to his daughter and his partners in order to re-join the firm.

''Suits'' is a Creator/USANetwork television {{Dramedy}} series starring Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht. It debuted on June 23, 2011, with a ninety-minute premiere episode, and its final season began airing in 2019 alongside SpinOff series called ''Series/{{Pearson}}'' following Jessica Pearson in Chicago.

Mike Ross (Creator/PatrickJAdams) is a BrilliantButLazy college dropout with an eidetic memory that has allowed him to pass the bar exam without attending law school. Harvey Specter (Creator/GabrielMacht), one of Manhattan's best lawyers, hires Mike as his new associate. Due to the firm's policy of hiring only Harvard Law graduates, Mike is forced to pretend that he has gone to Harvard.

The show's tone is fairly light, similar to ''Series/BurnNotice'', ''Series/{{Psych}}'' and ''Series/{{Monk}}'', though it possesses a great deal of moral ambiguity, with snappy dialogue and plenty of wisecracking. Also contains probably the first instance of the word "shit" appearing uncensored on USA since the cancellation of ''Touching Evil''.

* IAteWhat?: Mike is trying out a restaurant to host an associate's party. At Rachel's insistence, he pops a squid delicacy into his mouth.
-->'''Mike''': ''[with shock and disgust]'' I think it's still moving...

''Suits'', formerly known as ''A Legal Mind'', is a Creator/USANetwork television {{Dramedy}} series starring Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht. It debuted on June 23, 2011, with a ninety-minute premiere episode, and its final season began airing in 2019 alongside SpinOff series called ''Series/{{Pearson}}'' following Jessica Pearson in Chicago.