Business attire has generally become more casual. Now, even some law firms are starting to relax their dress code. But, you do need to be careful and answer the question, ‘How casual is too casual for my law firm?’ Here we take a look at the factors that you need to consider when answering that question.
Type of Work
The kind of work you will be doing has an impact. What you would wear while working behind the scenes for a Delaware County DUI law firm would likely be very different from how you would dress for court. If you are not likely to come in direct contact with clients or officials, your attire could be more casual. After all, nobody, except your colleagues, would know that you weren’t dressed in your finest suit every day.
But, you would not want to appear in court dressed overly casually. In most jurisdictions, to do so would be considered disrespectful, which is the last thing you want when presenting a client’s case.
Where You Work
The law firm you are working for can also impact what it is appropriate for you to wear. In a large city, where there is lots of direct competition, most legal employees will still wear formal attire, which means you will need to do the same. If you don’t, you could end up being viewed as unprofessional.
Client Expectations
You also need to factor in what your clients are expecting. If you mainly deal with the younger generations, you could probably get away with dressing in a less formal way. Whereas, if your firm’s clients are mainly older, you would likely be better off sticking to wearing a suit. They are more likely to expect to see you dressed in that way. If you are not, their confidence in you can be undermined a little.
Law Firm Dresscode
Even when you take all of the above into consideration, deciding what to wear can still be tricky. That is why your best starting point is the dress code that the law firm you work for provides.
Quality Clothes
It would be best if you were prepared to invest a little money into your work attire. Clothes made from good-quality fabrics hang better, keep their shape for longer, and look much smarter. This guide will help you to pick out well-made garments.
Dress Confidently
Regardless of the style of clothes you choose to wear, it is important to make sure that you feel comfortable with the way you look. If you are not comfortable, you will struggle to feel confident. That will negatively impact your performance. For example, if dressing in a suit makes you feel more businesslike, wear one, even if you do not have to. As you can see from this study, dressing in a certain way really can boost your confidence and improve your performance.
