Dressing appropriately is essential to getting your clients and peers to view you as such. “Your appearance is your first impression and when people hire attorneys they expect them to look a certain way, especially if they’re paying you a high retainer,” said Joleena Louis, a solo attorney practicing family law.
Wearing something too tight or too big can also damage your image. Getting your clothes tailored is the best way to look great, but it also requires some self-awareness. If you gain or lose weight, you should revisit your tailor to adjust your wardrobe.
According to Business Insider, research shows that your appearance strongly influences other people’s perception of your financial success, authority, trustworthiness, intelligence, and suitability for hire or promotion.
I was a month or so into my Biglaw career when I was sent on a due diligence trip to a client’s file storage site to review assignment clauses. In early fall, it was still pretty warm in Atlanta, and I imagined myself in a hot, musty warehouse pulling out dusty files.
Explore the challenges solo and small lawyers are facing and the solutions they are pursing to best prepare their practices for the future.
Avoid casual styles of shirts, like halter styles, tank tops, or tops with cutouts. Female lawyers may wear heels or flats, although the color should still be neutral, and heel height kept within reason.
Dress Codes for Female Lawyers. Female lawyers may have more difficulty navigating law firm dress codes, since the classic staple suit isn’t typically the option of choice. However, like the dress code for male lawyers (and any lawyers, really), the colors should remain the same, as well as the rules for dressing down.
First impressions mean a lot for lawyers, whether you’re showing up to court, meeting clients, or showing up at your law firm. Of course, your professional image has a lot to do with that. For every situation, different levels of business dress are expected. It can be tricky to navigate the different rules and expectations of each setting, ...
Women. For women, there is more variety, but white is still the go-to professional color. For secondary options, there are more colors to choose from and a variety of blouses with and without collars. Again, generally stick with solids and simpler.
Navy, dark to medium grays, and even charcoal are ideal suit colors. If you prefer lighter tones, a subtle gray is ideal. These color pairs are standard dress code for both male and female lawyers. While black is usually a safe choice for many professions, lawyers tend to avoid it.
Suits, blazers, and suit jackets are a common standard in law firm dress codes. While there’s rarely a stipulation that these should be tailored, it’s a good idea regardless. Bespoke pieces are always the best option; they’re made just for you, and they put a seamless finish on your appearance.
Clothes should be pressed or ironed, without any areas that look worn or tatty. If you prefer, get your business clothes dry cleaned to complete the image. To avoid accidentally showing up without freshly pressed clothes, it’s a good idea to have a backup outfit ready for unexpected events.
Notebooks – If you opt to handwrite your notes during law school, having the right notebook is of key importance. One excellent option is the Circa notebook. These notebooks utilize a system that allows you to be flexible by moving around pages and interchanging notebook covers.
Some good staple items include: casual blazers, cropped pants, A-line/wrap dresses, Âľ blouses or buttoned up shirts, modest skirts and ballet flats.
Keep it simple. If you wear a French cuff or double cuff shirt, go with simple cufflinks in gold or silver. Stay clear of precious stones, maybe semi precious stones, in multiple colors as well as enamel. It’s simply over the top. Apart from cufflinks, a wedding band is acceptable and maybe a signet ring or a pinkie ring if you wear it, or if you’re at an interview or you’re just starting out, it may be wise not to wear that and just keep it plain and simple.
As an attorney, you always want to look understated, professional and dignified. You don’t want to be perceived as flashy, dandy-like or fashionable. After all, you want to be respected as a man of the law and not that guy who’s just known for his colorful outfits.
A suit is the hallmark of a lawyer’s wardrobe. An ideal suit would be a single-breasted one, with a notched lapel. Ideally, you have some cuffs at the bottom or you can go without a cuff, maybe you want pleats, maybe you just want an iron crease.
Among others are a firm handshake and a good posture. As an attorney, you always want to look understated , professional and dignified. You don’t want to be perceived as flashy, ...
It’s a very classic pattern and it’s appropriate as a lawyer if it’s very fine. Ideally, you want to stick to a 100% natural fibers because artificial fibers make you sweat and uncomfortable during the day. A 100% wool or maybe some additions of cashmere to make it softer are what you want.
I think these days, you can find a lot of lawyers with a beard. So if you decide to go that route, make sure you have a clean well-groomed beard and own it, and wear it with confidence. No matter if you go with a beard or clean-shaven, wear it with confidence and it will make you look very professional like a proper lawyer. To learn more about the topic, check out our in-depth grooming & shaving guides here.
Suit Colors: Navy Blue & Charcoal Are Best. In terms of suit colors, you want to keep it professional, so navy blue and charcoal are your friends. Black is usually something worn at evening events, or for funerals, not at an office. Some will even argue navy or blue are better than grey because it connotates truth.