This BigLaw firm now allows jeans any day of the week
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Lawyers and staff members can wear jeans any day of the week at Dechert, the law firm’s management announced Tuesday.
The law firm is expanding its embrace of business casual to allow jeans, according to Dechert’s chief talent officer, Alison Bernard, who spoke with the Recorder. Previously, jeans were allowed at some Dechert offices but only on particular days or parts of the year, she said.
Despite the relaxed dress policy, lawyers will still be expected to wear business attire in court and in other appearances that call for a more formal look. And just in case of an unexpected meeting or visit, lawyers can change to business clothes stored in a garment bag provided by Dechert.
“This is just trying to make life easier for people, make people more comfortable, more innovative and letting our talent do their best work,” Bernard told the Recorder.
Darin Morgan, managing partner of Major, Lindsey & Africa’s Philadelphia office, saw another reason for the policy. Relaxed dress codes can appeal to millennials, and law firms are actively recruiting midlevel associates with strong skills, he told the Recorder.
Other law firms also are going casual. Jeans and even flip-flops were allowed at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan as far back as 2011, when the Careerist encountered an associate there dressed in shorts.
