How do you expect your lawyer to look?

[wejammin]

I need help! I'm having a crisis of confidence.

I'm a solicitor and for the whole of my career (a decade) I've worked in the legal aid sector. I've always worn a suit for court (only a cheap one mind) most of the time I'm in Jersey dresses and cardigans, or tailored trousers and tops. Lots of scarves, bright coloured tights. Never heels (I can't walk a step in them). I wear very little make up and I have wild curls that look lovely about once a week.

My clients in general are very very casual, have no money and I imagine don't care how I look. I do a good job for them and that's the main thing.

Next week I start a new job, same type of work but for privately paying clients, many of whom are extremely wealthy. I know what matters most is that I do a good job but I can't help feeling that appearances will be more relevant to the client.

I'm on a very limited budget and I'm also 10 weeks pregnant. I've bought 2 black maternity shift dresses and I have 2 pairs of black maternity trousers.

What I would like to know is what things would you notice about a professional doing a job for you? Do you care about how they look? Is hair/jewellery/shoes important?

Please help!

I'd expect them to look as if they had made an effort. I'd expect them to wear some make up because it looks polished. So, foundation, mascara, nude lippy, bit of blusher at least. And hair that was 'tamed', well cut and washed etc.

Clothes- again, something that looks professional and is regarded as business dress. Dark dresses, trousers and neat tops, minimum jewellery. I guess a lot depends on which area of the law you work in; commercial and litigation would for me require more a formal dress code than family law.

I do children law and my new place only does family.

I have 4 earrings in each eat and none of them match. I think I need new earrings.

Also I don't own a handbag only a rucksack (it's a nice fjallraven one though!)

I'm feeling so stressed about this!

Also, nails. I keep them short and clean but don't wear varnish. I don't like the chemicals and it always chips anyway. Is there a way to make them look smart without varnish?

Just use clear varnish or very lightly tinted pink?

For smart nails try this and this - you can buy them cheaper from other sites!

I use both daily (the creme at night and the other during the day) and have strong neat nails and don’t tend to wear polish unless going out etc.

I’m a social worker and have also been through family court myself.

I think smart office wear is key. You might have clients or other sides who try to come into court having not made any effort and I think you need to be able to say to them - you are going to come across better if you wear a shirt etc - you can’t do that if you yourself are too casual!

I’d go for shift dresses and tights, suit jacket over cardigan really, definitely a nice handbag instead of a rucksack.

They last for ages too by the way!

Private paying clients, some wealthy, will almost exclusively expect a certain level of professional appearance, but it doesn't have to be too dramatic or expensive.

Clean, neat, tidy, well presented, and professional is the basic expectation. I wouldn't expect to see four different earrings in each ear. Nails - clean and short is fine; clear polish much better. Dark, professional clothing would be the norm but no problem with colour if not over the top. Neat, controlled hair. Simple makeup, although I don't this this is completely essential.

Hair, jewellery, shoes - none are critical on their own, but all add up to a picture of professionalism. You will be judged on this, whether you or anybody else likes or agrees with this, it is just the way of the world, especially with your new client base.

Fellow solicitor here!

I'd say clients definitely notice and care about the way we present ourselves. Clothes can be cheap enough (I'm not averse to a good charity shop rummage), but I only ever buy good quality fabrics (wool, silk, decent cotton) and have things like jackets and skirts tailored by a local seamstress. It makes all the difference and I recommend it! I'm hardly ever in a suit. Best quality shoes and bags I can afford, conservative jewellery, but I'm partial to a colourful silk scarf to add some interest to the whole look. I always wear make up, but that's down to personal preference. Hair needs to be well kept (cut, colour if applicable) and out of the way.

I'd probably expect to see you in plain shirt and dark trousers with nice hair (natural colours) and neutral nails. Smart flats are fine but I'm short so anyone in heels I find to be very tall.

I wouldn't expect to see 4 earrings in each ear, probably just a pair of nice matching earrings really. But I work on the theory that 'less is more'. and old fashioned in my thinking

For make up if you like a natural look you can go to Clinique makeup counter and get blusher, simple clear/very slightly tinted lip gloss (not a high shine one), plus matural (eg soft brown) mascara and eyebrow pencil. They will try them on for you and help you with colours. Then you will look polished but still natural and with very minimal effort!

What you've chosen sounds great. Simple, basic, effective. For me, the clothes should be in the background, I want my lawyer to look clever and in charge.

I would get a nice bag - not a rucksack. And I wouldn't worry about nails, as long as they're not bitten to the quick.

I don't need to see a bit of blusher.

Some nice classic jewellery really helps too - bracelet and necklace

Thanks everyone! I'm making a list.

When you say neat hair, does that mean always tied up? I'm mixed race and my hair is so temperamental, but I also have a big forehead and it looks wierd off my face. I've managed to plait it today but it's already breaking free.

I have 2 young kids and struggle to find time for grooming so anything requiring a regular treatment etc is not going to work. Also I have no spare money.

I wouldn't notice or care about no make up/nail polish but I would expect clean, tidy, smart business wear - navy, grey, or black trousers or skirts/dresses. Cardigan ok if smart cashmere or cotton twinset type cardigan - baggy boyfriend cards not so much. Shoes and jewellery conservative (so flat brogues or other shoes fine, as long as clean and well kept, but the multiple earrings unexpected.) I think of the legal profession as more conservative in general so anything out of the ordinary would probably catch my attention.

When you say neat hair, does that mean always tied up?

Not necessarily always up but a nice cut and clean hair looks better than the 'havent washed it in a month and haven't had a trim in years but I'm leaving it down anyway' sort of style.

I bet your forehead isn't that large and doesn't look bad, it will just be that you prefer to cover it or you've always covered it up so anything different looks odd to you.

I think your confidence will make you look more professional too. If you're worried about how you look you won't apear as confident. Remember you got this job because you're good at it. Dress smart, neutral and be confident and you will look professional and capable to your clients.

Fellow solicitor here. As long as your clothes are ironed and shoes are polished you will be fine. If in doubt keep it dark, I tend to wear a black dress most days and a tailored jacket. If I am in court or meeting a corporate client I wear a dark jacket, if it's a non-corporate client I might wear a bit more colour.

Hair down is fine, I never wear mine back. I don't think make up or nail polish matters provided you are well groomed (e.g. eyebrows and nails are kept neat).

I would suggest you need a bag instead of a rucksack though, doesn't have to be designer or anything though.

I'd not be impressed with 4 different earrings in each ear
Obviously what matters is how good you are at your job. But appearances do count and if your clients are paying you anything like the top going rate in London ( £500+ an hour) for lawyers, you need to look the part.

Nothing anyone has suggested is high maintenance. The ideas for make up take 10 minutes. Your hair doesn't have to be up but if it's very curly and wiry it has to look neat and not like Wurzle Gummage.

Maybe some clips would work instead of tying it back? Or see a hairdresser for ideas?

No bare legs. In summer, stockings rather than tights are more comfortable

Make up optional. Hair just needs to be reasonably tidy, which does not necessarily mean straight or tied back

Flat shoes are fine; but not ballet flats or scrappy sandals. Brogues are good

Basic wardrobe of dark (black, grey, navy, brown, depending on what suits you). Can be enlivened with scarves etc.- this saves both time and money

Neat cardigans are fine

I wouldn't give two hoots if my lawyer was wearing makeup or not! Clean and tidy, yes, but makeup is totally unessential in my mind.

Another solicitor here; I am fairly senior and do privately funded work for individual and commercial clients.

Pasturesgreen has it right IMO. I wear tailored separates or dresses in wool, silk
cotton and cashmere. Trousers and skirts are well fitting and in sober colours. I don't wear suits unless I'm in tribunal or seeing a new commercial client, in which case I play it safe. Ebay is a good source of suitable work clothes if you know what you're looking for.

I too have slightly "mad" hair (very curly) but I think that's fine as long as the rest of you is neat and conventional. I have short, unpolished nails and subtle makeup.

Others may not agree, but a quick straw poll of solicitor colleagues comes up with the view that multiple piercings would definitely detract from the image. Friends who had these in their youth and are now senior doctors and lawyers, have all kept only the "usual" ear piercings and have let the others grow over.

I think stay exactly with what you were wearing when working in Legal aid. Sounds what most female solicitors wear at the places I have worked (including in the City) including me.

Another lawyer here. Hair doesn’t need to be up, but it does need to be groomed - not looking like it needs a cut and not standing on end or obviously tangly. Makeup is personal preference but groomed brows and a bit of lipstick go a long way. I never paint my nails (would if they didn’t chip so often!), just keep them short and clean.
Clothes wise, I don’t think you necessarily need a suit, so consider options like dress + jacket as well. I always put on a jacket for meetings and presentations. Check eBay for Isabella Oliver or Séraphine dresses, and then pair with a non-maternity jacket whilst you’re pregnant?
Shoes need to be clean and smart, and well maintained- not in need to re-heeling etc.
The rucksack must definitely not appear at client meetings, but obviously fine for your commute.
The overall look should be smart and professional, so your appearance isn’t a distraction from your advice. Good luck with the new job.

Oh and I don’t think you need to wear dark colours, but that might be easier to begin with, whilst you build your working wardrobe and find your professional style.

Ok. Noted on the piercings. Would tiny studs be acceptable?

@Fozzleyplum (and others) can you recommend names/brands for work stuff? I was thinking Hobbs and Mango but not really sure.