The Law School Fashion Statement, Part I

by Hengameh Poya 
LCS Intern

Remember college? Rolling out of bed 10 minutes before class and throwing on the closest pair of sweats. Fine for college, not so much in law school. This doesn’t mean that you have to wear a suit to every class, but you probably shouldn’t wear flip flops. Why? Law school is a professional school. Are you presenting yourself in a way that supports your professional ideals? How might you be received by others?

There isn’t a precise guideline for everyday attire. There are, however, some things to avoid, such as, clothing that is tight fitted or revealing. In addition to what you wear to class, there are those events that require more thought, such as: career panels, receptions, informational interviews, and formal interviews. What do you wear to those? Again, there is no rulebook, but here are some things to keep in mind:

Networking Events: Any event that gives you the opportunity to network with attorneys should have you looking your professional best. This is your chance to make a good first impression on attorneys who may have internship or employment connections, so dressing the part can reveal your professionalism. Business casual is probably a safe bet. You can also play it really safe (depending on the event) and wear interview attire since some events turn into on the spot interviews. Informational

Interviews: When appearing for an informational interview, you always want to put your best foot forward. Even if the attorney you are meeting with is not offering you a job, informational interviews are an opportunity to establish your network. We recommend that you wear formal business attire so the person you are meeting with can be confident in the impression you'll create if he or she refers you to a colleague.



Formal Interviews: Ahh, interviews. This is it. Palms sweating, heart racing, IT’S TIME. Although you may not have to wear a suit to work every day or your interviewer is in jeans and flip-flops, it is absolutely necessary to wear a suit that projects confidence and professionalism. Suits can become pricey, but there are some tricks:

• Buy various shirts and accessories (which are a lot cheaper than suits) to let you create a different look with the same suit. 
• Plan ahead and browse for sales and promotions. 
• Browse in discount and consignment stores. 
• Add a suit to your birthday/holiday wish list. 
• Make an investment on a higher quality item so that it not only looks better, but lasts longer. 
• Take good care of your suits to minimize dry cleaning and replacement costs. 
• Wear shoes that are clean, polished, and in good repair by keeping them in a dust bag or shoe-box when they are not in use and wiping them off after each use. (Always wear close-toed shoes, no sandals!) 

Just remember, you are asking professional colleagues and prospective employers to see you as a lawyer. Make it easy by looking the part! If you need suggestions or aren’t sure, make an appointment with an LCS counselor and they will help guide you.

Stay tuned for Part II: Attorney Suggested Guidelines for Formal Attire, and Part III: Law Student Shopping Experience