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!

If you are working for such wealthy clients you should not be on a limited budget?!

By neat hair I would say either off face, blow dried, or very smartly cut and well maintained of your hair us naturally curly.

Personally, I couldn't care less. I've known professional people who looked like they'd been dressed by a committee but did an excellent job. I've also known people who dressed impeccably and were hopelessly inept.

Shocked at the makeup comments. You don't need it too look groomed. Does a well-groomed man look less well-groomed for not wearing makeup?
I'd expect ironed conservative clothes, neat nails and hair.

I used to be a solicitor, criminal defence work. I used ebay a lot, and bought my court suits at M&S as they would last a good 3 years and were plain and serious. On ebay dark clothes sell for a lot less than brighter colours, as it is harder to see the detail and they don't photograph well, so lots of bargains to be had. A dress and jacket is more comfortable than a suit and adds a bit of versatility to your wardrobe. Neat hair and subtle make up is best. There are quite a few low heeled shoes about for this summer, you can go totally plain or look for detailed fronts. For work comfort is important and if you have to stray into Hotter territory "Donna" or "Angela" would not be too repulsive.

Some slightly odd views on this thread. No nail varnish? only natural make up? heels are distracting?

I'm a senior lawyer, mid 40s 20 years PQE. Mixture of private and public sector clients including some large corporates.

I wear tailored dresses most of the time with heels. I have long hair which I wear down most of the time including in court, my make up is rarely described as "natural" and is definitely more towards the glam style and I paint my nails The key is to look polished and professional.

You definitely a handbag and not a rucksack. Get a wheely case if you're in court and need to transport files and a laptop. You also need to remove the additional earrings IMO. I would buy a couple of dresses and rotate them. Since you're pregnant, jersey is fine as long as its a smart looking style and not low cut/short/bulging in the wrong places. You might need a jacket with it if you're going with jersey though since it has a tendency to look casual.

Today I'm working from home in yoga leggings and a dressing gown. My favourite work look.

I’d expect clean and smart, I wouldn’t expect (or notice) nail polish or makeup or heels. I’m pretty laid back generally I guess but I’d never expect a female professional to have to do things a male professional doesn’t have to!

I’m a teacher and so am expected to dress to a certain standard. I’ve found that a good pair of smart boots, tights and a smart dress are the easiest thing to wear. I tend to wear fairly plain dress with a nice necklace and that seems to make it look like I’ve made an effort.

I’m working with 2 solicitors atm, one on a probate issue and one to arrange deputyship, one is much neater than the other, but I’m only really bothered about them doing a good job and explaining to me the processes clearly.

Going back to your OP I don't think brightly coloured tights are appropriate and a cardigan with a jersey dress is definitely veering towards too casual for clients to see. Take the cardigan off and replace with a jacket when you're seeing the clients.

@KERALA1 not that it's relevant, but the salary is the same to start with as my legal aid work salary, I think they're just testing me out, and I won't be eligible for statutory maternity pay because of being made redundant after pregnancy (my firm is shutting down), plus I would hope to have a year off so I'm trying to save.

I'm a pregnant lawyer and have been ordering stuff from Seraphine recently - it's not too pricey if you wait until there is a good sale on.

I've just ordered this dress today and a couple of other more casual things:
www.seraphine.com/en-gb/ponte-woven-navy-nursing-dress.html

I'm much more interested in how competent my solicitor is than how they look.

I am always impressed with professional women who don’t wear make up , like they need less props or some such.
For me clean and neat rather than
polished works well. It looks in charge and shrewd.
I am Mediterranean with curls the texture of some of my mixed race friends, and Curley girl has been great for bringing more uniformity, and definition , and less frizz . You sound busy, but maybe casually research it over the coming months Britishcurlies.com
Or pm me and I’ll tell you what products work and give you a synopsis.

I remember the solicitor I had in my divorce only ever wore the same black suit (maybe she had more than one) but it looked like it cost a fuck tonne of money. Like the proper high end bit of Harvey Nichols. And yes, it did make a difference to my perception of her.

Not for now, since you’re pregnant, but afterwards workwear good workwear is definitely a case of investment dressing IMO.

I'm a solicitor and wear jersey dresses with cardigans in the office but keep a jacket in the office (and a shoe box) so I can prep for meetings quickly.

Maybe it makes a difference that I've only been to court once in the last 5 years and most of the time I'm not in the office I'm on a building site!

Cos has some good stuff in the sales, including for maternity wear and another vote for Ebay. If you look for brands (jigsaw/ hobbs/ phase 8/ vivienne westwood etc) you can get some fantastic stuff very cheaply.

Hey on Asos lots of work wear on there also earrings makeup and bags and a massive maternity section

Brazilian blow dry will keep it tamed x last about 3-4 months xx

@ohyesiam I do CG method already and my second day hair is amazing but it's downhill from there, but if I wash it more often than every 5 days it goes all horrid.

@himynameiss I don't use strong chemicals anywhere on my body and those things sound quite dangerous!

@Speedy85 thanks that dress is lovely

I am always impressed with professional women who don’t wear make up , like they need less props or some such.

I'm a professional woman and have been for 40 years. I wear make up because a) I love it and it makes me look better by covering up my purple under eye circles and b) I don't use it as a 'prop' and consider it insulting that it's seen in that way.

Take it or leave but there is masses of research out there which proves that women who do wear make up are taken more seriously than those who don't. I don't wear make up for that reason, as it happens. I wear it all day in the house too.

OP I think there is a difference between a solicitor and a lawyer. In the US a lawyer is a catch-all title whereas in the UK there is a difference between a barrister and a solicitor.

I would accept a less-than-formal dress code from a solicitor dealing with probate and family matters in a rural town or a small suburban practice , compared to someone representing me in court in a City.
Having said that, I'd always expect a male legal person to be in a suit and shirt/tie rather than jeans or chinos and a T shirt.

A satchel type bag would be good for all your paperwork and would look smart.

I did some work at a very reputable firm during LPC, and honestly there wasn’t tons of power dressing. And joules jersey dresses with a suit jacket were the uniform of the pregnant female workforce
I’d go all black and a jacket/blazer
If you’re doing family law I wouldn’t want to be too intimidating
You’ll be ace whatever you wear
Good luck in the new job and with your pregnancy.

Re curly girl method op. I use one of the Cantu products on very wet hands to get good results on days 2,3& 4. Mine can’t take much washing either.

Maybe clear polish and a bit of makeup...a good blusher and lip gloss or a tint. I would even get some nice simple jewellery - pearl stud earrings that will go with most outfits and you can wear often and necklace, a good watch - think of these as investment pieces as they will last you years and years. I think classy jewellery can really polish your outfit.
Good luck!

Plain-ish clothes, that fit perfectly. Simple jewellery, like pearl studs. Nice handbag, sensible tote for papers. Comfortable shoes, simple style, heels you can walk in. Natural make up, but definitely make up. I wasn't a lawyer, but a consultant in a related field. Now retired.