During my process of interviewing with firms to secure a position for this summer, I noticed something striking: I was the only one wearing a tie. The attorneys in most of my interviews wore dress shirts and a blazer or sport coat. In others, the attorneys were even more casual, opting for a collared polo and slacks. Beyond making me feel like a dweeb, this made me realize the legal profession's expectation of "professional attire" is changing. In the days of Zoom hearings and meetings that can be done from anywhere, do lawyers still need to dress as professionally as they have in the past?
While most (if not all) courts still impose a strictly professional dress code, if you were a managing partner of a firm, would you require business professional attire within the office at all times? Would your answer change depending on the type and size of practice you managed?
I personally don't mind wearing professional attire in the office (hence my dweeb status), especially if my role is client-facing. I've found that what I'm wearing can contribute heavily to my mindset, and I'm just not sure if I could confidently advise a client or get in a heated discussion with opposing counsel while wearing a graphic tee and jeans. That being said, I think we can all agree that the days of frivolous, ultra-formal dress codes are hopefully gone for good.
I've noticed this too! At my firm, one of the partners wears t-shirts and basketball shorts because he likes to ride his peloton while reading our memos. It was jarring the first time I saw it but I quickly got used to it because he always dresses up for client meetings. At my externship, my supervisor and I both wear tennis shoes (although I always come in the office with flats first). He rides his bike to work because he lives so close and I like using the walking desk downstairs. Because it's in-house, we don't really have "clients" so I don't have to change them back. While I agree it makes a difference mentally, Either way, both attorneys are examples of the professionalism world changing.
ReplyDeleteI once did an interview with a managing partner who was wearing a hoodie in his living room. Granted, he is younger than most managing partners but it just goes to show that the days of suiting up all the time are past us, and I think it is for the best. Suits are great for court, for meeting with clients, and things where formal dress is needed, but the day-to-day lawyer duties don't need a suit.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to an interview in a full suit, heels and everything and the partner who interviewed me was wearing jeans and a blouse and even commented on my attire that I was wear my "fancy court clothes." This really stuck with me because it was my first time seeing that the formal work attire is dead. I think depending on what you have going on that day, whether youre meeting with clients or just sitting in your office doing paper work should determine what you wear. But, I was always told to keep an extra suit in my office just in case.
ReplyDeleteI've worked in firms where attorneys wore pajamas and slippers, spandex bicycle kits, or simply just jeans and hoodies. However, whenever they were meeting with clients or attending court, it was always a formal suit. I also think that even the firms where the dress is more casual, there is still an expectation to be dressed formally for the interview process.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I love that I get to dress up for this job! At least as an attorney, I can wear my suit if I want to and no one will think it looks too weird... I'm very much of the "look great, feel great" mentality. Loving the way you look in an outfit makes all the difference with confidence!
ReplyDeleteI find the expected attire that Stetson has made us believe is to be expected of us, pretty outdated. While I wont disagree that a lot of places still expect the tie and blazer, I see many places opting for no tie or no blazer. Which is fantastic in my opinion because, c'mon... outside of less experienced client expectations and the courtroom, we live in Florida! It gets unbelievably hot and can pour down rain unexpectedly at any time. Plus, why expect the blazer for attire when 90% of the time, its normal for it to be off while in the office especially when plugging away at computer work. Most of the attorney's I have been with during client meetings and working during an mediation have not worn the tie and/or blazer and have no affect what-so-ever on their performance or client satisfaction. In this day in age, im pretty sure the suits are still around simply because of the social norm/expectation of the profession and no other real reason.
ReplyDeleteI love to dress up in “court clothes” because it makes me feel more professional and like I am in “lawyer-mode”. I know that courtroom rules change depending on where you are, so if you are in court in a rural town you would expect to see cowboy boots and jeans, even on attorneys. Somewhere more busy like Tampa and you would see every lawyer with a formal suit. Sometimes, I feel the dress codes are too strict like requiring women to wear heels or pantyhose which is still a thing in some jurisdictions. Overall though, I think with firms you have more flexibility in your dress compared to places like the state attorney’s office or public defenders.
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