He got expelled from college.

But really, it's all ego. He can't work in NY because then people would know Harvey hired a non-Harvard grad. (Or, after he was promoted, that a non-grad was practicing law.)

It's flimsy and it's always been the Smoke Monster of the show; the piece I wish they'd pretend never happened but turns out to be the crux of the show. It's one reason I didn't love this moodier season. Once Mike got his own cases, it became an unquestionably silly show. When I'm supposed to care about the deep dark secrets of these characters who consistently make stupid decisions and luck out of them, it's a little too much.

I did think Jack Soloff was a pretty great character though. Somehow I've missed most everything that actor has been in or didn't notice him before.