In part one, we addressed the courtroom uniform, but do those same rules apply outside the courtroom? In our opinion, mostly not.

Most attorneys—even litigators—spend more time in the office than in court, so let’s talk about what we wear most of the time. The short version: There is going to be a lot of variation, and for anything client-facing, you should look like you’ve tried.

For day-to-day attire, if a given office has a more relaxed dress code, so be it. It is not uncommon for people in nonoutward-facing positions to dress very casually in the office or while working from home, including athletic wear. Office attire varies, based on the level of formality of a given law firm, and some formal written dress codes exist for larger firms and for government offices.

Some things have changed, while other things have stayed the same

It is challenging to make generalizations about attire out of court, particularly post-pandemic, because our profession is, year by year, increasingly consisting of young adults who missed out on attending their own proms and other events designed to give them experience dressing up for varying occasions, and now they are in the workforce.

It’s not that Generation Z doesn’t care; it’s that their high school years were impacted by COVID-19. They are now graduating law school and entering the profession in increasing numbers year upon year, and they learned their craft while working and going to school entirely or mostly from home. Not to mention that younger professionals may also be drawing more inspiration from content creators than from their fellow professionals.

None of this is a bad thing; it’s just that it may set up clashes of expectations about many things, including what to wear.

Speaking of generational differences, millennials might generally know the dress code but often consider sneakers appropriate for any attire. Our advice? Invest in higher-end brown or black leather sneakers that give the impression of dress shoes—or wear actual dress sneakers. No, they won’t fit like your Air Jordans or your Golden Gooses, but you will not get called out by the judge for them.

This is not the world that shaped the habits and attire of their Gen X, boomer or even millennial colleagues. This distinction doesn’t show as much at the high end of dressing up but more in the day to day, where the lines between streetwear, pajamas and professional wear have blurred. It’s no longer unusual to see a hoodie or T-shirt under a blazer in the office.

The office is a good place to test-drive variations on the courthouse theme and to try suits and dresses with colors and patterns that you wouldn’t typically wear to court. It’s not about any particular look; what we are doing is not casual to our clients, and to the extent that we are client-facing, they’re apt to notice whether we took the time to dress up for them. But that doesn’t mean that you have to become a clone. Let’s talk about developing your own personal style while keeping it professional (enough).

Read “Legal Attire and the Clash of the Generations, Part 1: The courtroom” here.

Be yourself

In part one, we talked about the first step (when in doubt and/or when purchasing less expensive brands, go up a size) and the second step (you need a tailor). Both of those apply to working from home or the office, as well. Now let’s talk about the third step: There is no need to hide or discard your generational and cultural identity, and you can be yourself without offending your boss, client or judge.

When you see someone who has a personal style that you like, ask them where they shop. Build your wardrobe one piece at a time, and don’t be shy about mixing in inexpensive pieces with one good garment or accessory that elevates the whole outfit. A couple of examples:

• An orthopedic surgeon who wore a suit for his video deposition, but his tie was full of tiny Texas Longhorns “hook ’em horns” made of bones, whimsically celebrating both his alma mater and his career. A T-shirt with the same logo would have been inappropriate, but the tie was a perfect ice-breaker and conversation starter.
• Many law firms print T-shirts and polos with the firm logo, and those shirts are perfectly appropriate for anywhere that the lawyers need to go except mediation and court.

In the office, anything goes, as long as it’s OK with the boss. If every day is casual Friday at your office, great.

But in outward-facing situations, without exception, we submit that the lawyer should always be the most formally dressed person in the room, and that includes Zoom rooms. It is common for attorneys to keep a backup “law suit” in their office in case they need to jump online for a remote hearing or a client meeting.

When choosing your outfit for the day, don’t forget that there is an element of theater to our profession. You might want to strike a comforting and authoritative note for a counseling appointment with a difficult client, or you might want to wear something that makes you feel majestic—yes, majestic—to difficult meetings. Even if it just impacts your own state of mind, it matters.

Tattoos

What about ink? This appears to be an evolving area for not only lawyers but others in the courtroom, as well. Biases against people with visible tattoos have been documented, but tattoos are increasingly common in our society, and the biases appear to be decreasing.

As with many things that change over time, a lot of us now have a boss with tattoos or have appeared before a judge with visible ink, so acceptance of tattoos is rapidly evolving but largely dependent on what forum you are in.

Conclusion: Read the room

Many professions have a uniform, and ours is no exception. Older and younger people can learn from each other, and it’s helpful to think about why others think, act and dress differently than you do, as opposed to reflexively judging.

For court, a suit is the modern visual shorthand for authority, and court dress codes could be externally enforced if not respected. For the office, you’re largely on your own, but attire is a choice, so it’s good to be aware of how it can positively impact your career.

Bobbi Reilly Sheahan is the director of motion practice and briefing in the Dallas office of Angel Reyes & Associates. Henry Williams IV is an attorney in the Dallas office of Burke Bogdanowicz. The authors thank Ameen Bebahani and Alex Ivanov for their critique and thoughtful input.

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