Do clothes make the man or woman? Is there anything to be said for giving some more thought to what you wear in a professional setting rather than just settling for whatever you’ve done in the past?
I’m spending this summer at a law firm in Northern Virginia where the attorneys dress business casual. Obviously for client meetings and court dates, lawyers suit up. But the rest of the time they’re fairly casual. This is actually similar to the dress code my current company has. Yet, I think the contexts and expectations are a bit different.
By Virginia standards, the firm I’m working at is slightly larger than average (27 attorneys), has been around for 100 years, and has a very collegial environment.
What’s a Summer Associate to do in this situation?
When I asked Interwebs this question, this was among the leading search results: “Your first day at the firm is really important. More than likely, someone will take you on an office tour on your first day and introduce you to other associates and partners. Try to make a good first impression on everyone. Be very respectful. Wear a suit, even if your firm has business casual dress code. Also, you will be filling out tons of forms. Make sure that you have all the important documents and information with you (I.D., SSN etc.). Do NOT be late!!”
The ABA Journal quotes a fashion consultant: “Business casual, he says, means wearing a mix of slacks, shirts, blazers and ties. Yes, ties. “Ties show that you respect your peers, your position and your environment,” he says, and they should be de rigueur for every male attorney.”
The law firm Andrews Kurth advises the following: “Remember the business part of business casual. Business casual is a nightmare to fashion-police any time of the year, but it can be brutal during the summer, particularly among law students whose wardrobe consists of shorts and T-shirts. Err on the side of business when you’re in the office. As for after-hours events, keep your “casual” dress on the conservative side. Nothing too skimpy or grungy.”
And this discussion at The Style Forum is quite helpful.
I was certainly planning on wearing a suit at least for the first day. I have a fairly decent business casual wardrobe. It’s nothing to write home (or to GQ) about, but it’s decent. My initial thinking was wearing a blazer without a tie as my predominant “style.”
What do you think?
Is a mix of ties and suits and sport coats what I should be going for?
What are some things I might need?
What are the “staple” items – blue blazer, charcoal slacks, etc?
What did you find helpful?
Where is the line between too casual and too dressy?
How is the calculation for women different?
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9 Responses to Summer Associate Style, Part 1: The Business Casual Law Firm
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Before reading this, I would never have guessed that business casual required blazers or ties. I assumed dress pants and a button down were sufficient, but it seems I’m wrong.
I think that’s just the problem. Well, “problem” since it’s not really a HUGE issue relative to many things. Typically, business casual doesn’t require blazers or ties. It certainly doesn’t in my current gig. It seems to be largely context-dependent and whether you prefer to be slightly more dressy than typical business casual.
Do not listen to the recruiting coordinator. He/She is not hiring you.
If you are a summer associate, you are seeking a job from lawyers who are older and likely more conservative than you are. You are doing so in the worst hiring market in decades.
Dress at LEAST as formally as they do and show respect their standards. Ties? Absolutely. Especially in the “head shot” you send to the firm for the summer associate directory. This is the first impression you make and the one you leave behind when hiring decisions are made. Do NOT look like a frat boy who just rolled out after an all night bender.
Actually overheard while perusing the head shots: “This firm is over 100 years old and you want us to hire you and pay you 160 [expletive deleted] thousand dollars per year. Would it kill you to put on a [expletive deleted] tie?”
Kendall-
That’s a great point. The lawyers I interviewed with for the summer were all dressed down, though the women were much more “business” than “casual.” Also, the younger and newer attorneys were more dressed up than the older ones.
I’m definitely going suit for the first day to get the lay of the land and leaning heavily toward defaulting to a tie and sportcoat everyday.
It definitely will not kill me to put on a [expletive deleted] tie, but it would if I didn’t get a [expletive deleted] offer.
If you are not going to wear a suit the first day, then wear something that looks like a suit. Dark slacks, blue blazer, white shirt, tie. You can take the tie off if you appear overdressed. Wear black shoes, polished.
That’s not a bad idea Jorge. I’ll probably wear the suit on Day 1, but do the sportcoat/tie thing the rest of the summer so I have some flexibility if there are times when I’m REALLY overdressed.
Lest I be misunderstood, I’m not dissing staff or iconoclastic partners (of which I am one).
The basic point is to be aware of your audience. The true audience for your six week audition is a group of lawyers who may have strong, contradicting opinions, even in the same firm. Be alert and take your cues from the lawyers you work with.
Nobody ever came to grief wearing a grey suit, white shirt and respectable tie.
Not at all. Your point was well-taken and a good reminder of the most important part my current job in PR: know your audience.
I vote for white linen suit with a pair of spectators and a straw, C block homburg. Go see Lou at Hippodrome Hats. Tell him I sent you.
Alternative: Seersucker and a big, floppy bow tie.