Stepping into the halls of a law firm or courtroom carries a sense of decorum, exuded mostly by the lawyers. As a law student, you’re expected to project a remarkable aura through your dressing.
You might be a knowledgeable lawyer, and that’s fine. However, people often associate your professionalism with your physical appearance. This means, they see you before they hear you.
You can combine a strong work ethic with confidence and respect, all in the way you dress. In this article are tips that can help you look the part as a lawyer, and make a lasting impression on your clientele.
Understand Professional Dress Codes
Every professional environment has its own style of dressing. You won’t see a medical doctor dressing like a teacher, nor will you see an engineer dressing like a pastor. So, in the law setting, you must follow a spectrum of professional dress such as:
Business Professional: This dress code is mostly for formal settings. If you are a law student, you can dress formally to attend interviews, internships in big firms, and court appearances. Men can put on a dark or neutral colored suit, long-sleeve dress shirt, tie, and a dressing shoe while women can wear a skirt or trouser suit, conservative dress, blouse, and closed-toe shoes.
Understanding the professional dress code is an important factor to consider when deciding to study law. Lawyers are one of the most professionally and elegantly dressed workers. However, there are other things to consider when deciding to become a lawyer. Some of them include:
- Picking the right law school: Gaining acceptance into a law school is not so easy, and this mostly depends on the school. This is why you need to search for the easiest law schools to get into, before applying. You can easily learn about some of these schools from blogs dedicated to serving as guides as best as guides.
- Availability of funds: Lawyers schools are expensive. This is why you need to gather enough funds before applying to any school.
Key Tips for Dressing Like a Lawyer
Wear Exactly What Fits You
Lawyers always look good, especially with a little added effort. Avoid bogus or too tight that makes you feel uncomfortable. Instead of throwing on whatever you see in your wardrobe, you can ask your tailor to make you clothing that fits, so that you’ll look polished and put-together. Even if your clothing pieces are less expensive, you can still look awesome if they fit your body type. Just ask your tailor to pay attention to various details, including:
- Shoulder Seams: Your outfit must sit right on your shoulder.
- Sleeves: Your shirt should fit just above your wrist.
- Pants: Your tailor should sew you a pant that breaks just above your shoes
- Skirts: This should hit around your knee.
When you invest in good clothes, it makes a huge difference in how professional you look. So, adding a few well-fitted blazers, skirts, and trousers to your wardrobe can completely elevate you.
Build a Lawyer Ready Wardrobe
As a lawyer, your wardrobe should be different from that of an ordinary person. Except if you’re out on a dinner date or meeting up with a friend to enjoy a bowl of ice cream, you should never step into a courtroom with overly casual clothes, like jeans, T-shirts, and tight clothes. It’s easy to build a lawyer-ready wardrobe.
Even if you’re on a budget, start by investing in timeless pieces and you’ll be amazed at how these essentials can make all the difference. Here are some tips you shouldn’t ignore when building your wardrobe:
Looking out for affordable sales in shops that offer items on promos or allow customers to apply coupons.
- Infusing quality items over quantity picks that you might never wear.
- Patronizing second-hand or thrift stores, as they usually have nice items.
- Getting clothes that are made just for you.
Some popular budget-friendly options that can help you build a professional wardrobe include:
- Discount stores
- Outlet malls
- Thrift shops
- Online vendors, especially if they’re offering affordable alternatives.
Wear Neutral Colors
Neutral colors are the best patterns for lawyers, because they don’t need to look flashy. These colors simply add a level of professionalism and authority to their attire. You can easily mix and match neutral colors with other pieces to create any look you want.
You’ll stand out if you pick the following colors and style:
- Navy and Grey: These versatile colors work well for business casuals and formal settings.
- White or Light Blue: Soft blue or white shirt matches black blazers and pants. It can add a great touch of contrast, and elevate your entire outfit
- Texture: Lawyers can also add textures and patterns to their fit, but it should be moderate and subtle. Don’t go adding bold statements, as it can make you look wobbly and unnatural.
- Statement Pieces: A simple wristwatch or classic jewelry can improve your sophistication.
Conclusion
Law students are often admired for their smart looks and elevated confidence. And now you know that their dressing contributes to this. You can follow your professional dress code without overspending. Just go for subtle colors, combine them with your personal style to make a lasting impression in the courtroom and beyond.
