Female lawyers may wear heels or flats, although the color should still be neutral, and heel height kept within reason. Open toed shoes may seem too casual. It’s best to try and match shoes with jewelry and other accessories.
You don’t need a closet full of shoes to be a well-dressed lawyer. Keeping a simple, clean, yet classic appearance is all you need when heading to the office. To achieve that, all you need is black.
These garments are often forbidden by a law firm’s dress code and they include: Shirts with straps, open backs, halter tops, etc. As a general rule of thumb, female lawyers should avoid showing any cleavage and revealing too much leg. To keep things simple, females should follow similar guidelines that define male lawyer’s dress codes.
Your appearance strikes an immediate impression and people are constantly looking you up and down as you move through the room. A striking appearance can help you build an appearance of authority and your shoes are usually the first thing noticed. When you’re out shopping for the best shoes for lawyers, here’s a few things to keep in mind.
You always want silk ties either printed or jacquard woven and stay clear of textured materials which are great for a casual wardrobe but not for a lawyer’s professional wardrobe. In terms of colors, tones of red, burgundy, navy and blue are best.
Footwear Not to Ever Wear in Court: Athletic shoes. High-heel spikes. Open-toed shoes. Anything you would wear at the beach.
Formal Business Dress Code: Lawyers should wear a white dress shirt which a neutral collared tie beneath their tailored suit. Common suit colors include gray or navy (note: wearing black is known to represent funerals which are advised to avoid in the courtroom environment).
“Peep toes are marginally better than flat-out open-toe shoes, but even then a closed-toe shoe is the preference,” Griffin told the Careerist. “Don't wear open-toe shoes unless you've seen a much more senior lawyer do it.”
Dress shoes are the appropriate choice for footwear. If you do not have dress shoes, you could get away with clean black sneakers if you absolutely must. Do not wear jeans, sandals, or colorful or dirty running shoes. Women could wear either pants or a skirt.
Dress Codes for Female Lawyers A tailored suit is a great option for women lawyers, although for women, a black suit is more acceptable in a legal setting than it is for men. A blazer or suit jacket is typically a must in most law firms, whether you wear pants or a skirt.
Shoes should be comfortable and preferably in black, brown, tan or grey. Shoes in red or pink colours or jogging shoes are not acceptable.
Ideally, court shoes should be closed-toed. Peep toes are borderline, and sling backs are okay, so long as they are closed-toed not too sexy (read: no five inch heel sling backs). The appropriateness of a very high heel is determined by the rest of the shoe.
What Color Should a Woman Wear to Court? Darker, more serious colors are preferable, and bright colors should be avoided. The best colors to wear to court are “conservative” colors (white, blue, navy, gray, and the like) and to steer clear of crazy patterns and shocking fashion statements.
2) Women should wear a dress, or a blouse and skirt or long pants. (Jeans are acceptable). 3) All laypersons should wear shoes in the courtroom. (Thongs are not acceptable).
In principle, all practitioners are required to robe which includes the wearing of a bib as well as a dark jacket and pants or skirt.
This is similar to the advice given to The Careerist by Kat Griffin, former Cahill Gordon associate and founder of Corporette (whom we previously profiled): “[A] closed-toe shoe is the preference. Don't wear open-toe shoes unless you've seen a much more senior lawyer do it.”
Jurors should not wear shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats (except for religious purposes). Jurors who are not appropriately dressed will be sent home and ordered to appear for jury service on a future date. Courtrooms can be cold, so a sweater or jacket is recommended.