Dressing like a lawyer for men is relatively simple. If you’re going to court, meeting a client, or going to an event, you should be wearing a well-cut suit. Generally dark suits in black, navy or grey will be the staples of your lawyering wardrobe. Combine a dark suit with a lighter shirt for a smart look.
If men choose to wear short-sleeves, polos are the safe choice. Slacks need not be formal. Dockers or dressy khakis are appropriate, with or without cuffs. Jeans, sweatpants and shorts, however, should not be worn in the law office. Trouser fit is crucial. Pants should fit and should be cut well.
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.
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. Expect to wear suits in similar styles and made to fit in a similar fashion as men.
Suits are the apparel of choice for any male lawyer. Dress shirts are still a must, and should be buttoned up sufficiently. Along with the dress shirt, male lawyers are expected to don neckwear, i.e. a tie. Some may choose to wear a bow tie, although it's often discouraged.
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).
As a general rule, hair length should not extend beyond the lower lobe of the ear or touch the shirt collar. Facial hair should be neat and groomed. Avoid long hair, wild, untamed styles, long beards or excessive facial hair, or hair dyed in an unnatural color such as pink or blue.
Dress conservatively and in a respectful manner. Men should have a tucked-in button-down shirt, belt, closed-toe dress shoes, and dark-colored socks.
(a) A black buttoned up coat, chapkan, achkan, black sherwani and white bands with Advocates' Gowns. (b) A black open breast coat, White shirt, White collar, stiff or soft, and white bands with Advocates' Gowns. In either case wear long trousers (White, Black Striped or gray) or dhoti excluding jeans.
Wear a suit. Generally dark suits in black, navy or grey will be the staples of your lawyering wardrobe. Combine a dark suit with a lighter shirt for a smart look. You can't go wrong with a classic dark suit teamed with a white shirt and a plain coloured tie.
With this in mind, our foundational recommendation is that every man should own a minimum of three suits: one each in navy, charcoal and black. This combination is appropriate for all occasions.
There is no generally applicable rule that prevents a lawyer from having facial hair. There are some judges who may require a “kempt” personal appearance in their courtroom, meaning that facial hair must be cleanly groomed and not wild (as mine is right now).
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.
Athletic attire, especially baseball caps. Jeans, unless they are the only long pants you own. Clothing that is too small or too large. Clothing that reveals your underwear.
Black Robes are worn by both advocates and attorneys in the High Court. In the Magistrates' Court, only attorneys are required to wear the robes when appearing. The dress code, like the legal system, finds its origin in both the English and Dutch traditions.
That's perfectly acceptable. However, there's a big difference between wearing a simple plain white button down shirt and a pair of slacks compared to a torn T-shirt and ripped jeans. You don't need to wear anything expensive to court.