The Unlikely Lawyer
Mike Ross' Interview with Harvey Specter | Suits
Despite not going to Harvard Law, or any other law school for that matter, Mike Ross was still able to practice law in Suits and several characters made it possible. USA Network's legal drama premiered in 2011 and ran for 9 seasons. The show may now be best known for Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex's final acting gig, but at its peak, it was religiously followed by its legion of loyal followers. Suits boasted an impeccable ensemble cast and the series tackles the complexities of running one of the biggest law firms in New York City.
Mike sitting across from Harvey in a scene from Suits.
Despite following several major players, Suits' true leads are Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Together, the pair were arguably the best closers in the city. Harvey's confidence and experience coupled with Mike's deep knowledge of the legal system, not to mention eidetic memory, made them formidable as a team. The only problem was that Mike never went to Harvard Law Mike Ross Convinced Harvey Specter To Hire Him In the Suits premiere, Harvey got a promotion to become Pearson, Hardman's newest senior partner. Jessica Pearson had her sights set on him to become her successor despite intense competition from Louis Litt. As part of Harvey's promotion, he needed to hire an associate. While he was initially defiant, explaining that he was better off working on his own, Jessica argued back that it was part of the rules, and if he wanted to maintain his new position, he had to abide by it. This led him to a chance encounter with Mike at a hotel where he and his secretary, Donna Paulsen, were doing interviews for potential candidates.
Harvey and Mike on the street in Suits.
The Risky Hire
Meanwhile, Mike was in the same hotel to deliver a briefcase of weed. Little did he know that it was a buy-bust operation. Realizing it gave him the time to run away from the cops and into Harvey and Donna's interview room, where he immediately made an impression while trying to ditch the police. During the conversation, Mike came clean about the truth. Harvey was so impressed with his ingenuity that their conversation led to his knowledge of the law. After a series of tests and realizing that Mike was the best candidate out there, Harvey took a chance and hired him on the spot. That means that, initially, Mike wasn't able to legally practice law, but he still participated in cases.
Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt, Jurgen Hooper as Gary Lipsky and Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross in Suits series premiere
Taking a chance on Mike was such a bold move even for someone who liked taking risks, like Harvey in Suits. Harvey risked losing his new promotion and getting fired from Pearson, Hardman, and he could also be disbarred and sent to jail. Initially, only Harvey and Mike knew about their secret, but Donna soon found out. Not long after that, both Jessica and Louis also learned the truth too. Had it not been for Harvey's protection, Mike would not have been even able to settle into his new work at Pearson, Hardman before he got fired.
An image of Mike getting arrested in Suits
The Legal Consequences
Ultimately, Mike and Harvey's secret was revealed. Despite the backing of the higher-ups at the law firm, they were eventually exposed due to a series of unfortunate events. Instead of holding Harvey accountable for his involvement in the whole scheme, however, Mike decided to take all the blame for it. This resulted in him doing time in prison. For his part, Harvey did everything to make sure that Mike was safe inside the prison, while also finding ways to get him out.
Mike Ross in prison in Suits
Mike got his law license in Suits season 6. Following years of lying, however, Mike decided to leave the world of corporate law, joining Rachel Zane to open a legal aid clinic in Seattle. The pair's departure was part of the show's effort to write Markle out in light of her joining the British Royal Family. Mike eventually left the series after season 7. So, just as Mike earned his license to legally practice law, he left the firm where he learned exactly how to do it, causing a shift in the cast and story for Suits.
Mike and Rachel at a fancy event in Suits.
