I have a tattoo of a butterfly behind my ear (about 1 square inch). I'm planning to attend law school next year. Does anyone have any informed thoughts on how this will affect my job/internship prospects? I'm female, so I can hide the tattoo, but only if I wear my hair down.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Just wear your hair down for interviews. There have been a lot of tattoo threads on TLS and varying opinions on how much partners would really care. Search around.

.

Considering that wearing a plain black pant suit instead of a skirt suit is barely acceptable for interviewing, I'd bet you're gonna be told to cover it up if you're interviewing for any kind of firm job, and probably a fair number of PI/government jobs, too.

A butterfly? Really? Was a dolphin too cliché?

I lol'ed. ...son of a bitch.

Thanks for the replies so far. Please spare me the sarcastic remarks considering my tattoo choice, I've had it since I was a teenager. And I have considered laser removal, I just wanted to test the waters.

Srs response. Maybe it will rub some people the wrong way. Maybe it won't; can't say for sure. Good thing the solution is easy. Wear your hair down or get some of that Kat von D makeup. DONE.

+1

I am a 2L with some serious tattoos. I have always hidden them from employers and such, but have encountered some pretty strong reactions from fellow students and practicing lawyers I've met socially. I wear short sleeves around the school, but keep my tattoos under wraps when interacting one-on-one with professors and certainly do so in any job-related situation. I have peers at my firm who know about my tattoos and don't care. If I ever become a partner, I could see being open about it with colleagues, but a partner I interviewed with told me that his test for hiring is "would I leave this person alone in a room with my most important client?" Given the relatively conservative nature of the profession, most partners would answer "no" to that question for someone with a visible tattoo. I wish it weren't true, but it is. Better to play it safe: keep your hair down in an interview or job setting.

*Bull's eye

Wait you have to wear long sleeves when meeting with professors too? How about to class?

I have a sleeve and have never had a problem with it yet.. Is the legal profession this old fashioned?

Well, shit. Might be worth the $200 to get it removed.

You really don't want to wear your hair down that much?

Yes, it is.

Seriously considering investing in tattoo removal technology. Gonna be a shit ton of demand when all these kids realize that tattoos in areas not easily covered up (although yours is, albeit a limited hair style) was a bad, bad idea.

You don't have to do anything. I'd prefer, however, not to risk offending anyone. Most professors are of a different generation where tattoos had very different connotations. Although I'm sure some of my profs have noticed my tattoos when I walk around the school or in class, I'd rather not risk offending someone by flaunting my tattoos in his/her office. I do the same when I see my grandmother.

Those choices are all, however, personal choices without that much risk. Worst case scenario some prof won't write you a LOR. When it comes to employers, I think anyone who says it's fine to show off your tattooed sleeves in the office or chambers doesn't know what they're talking about. (Non-profits are sometimes very different, so put that aside for a moment.) I'd just rather not take the risk of being the first at my firm to show off my sleeve to the managing partner.

I'm guessing you don't summer at Martha's Vineyard?

I already had tattoos before deciding to be a lawyer. Since I have to cover my arms anyway, I figured why not have a real reason for it?

I wear my hair down most of the time anyways. The thought of having to, or else risking my job, sounds dumb. What if I'm tucking my hair behind my hears and my boss catches a glimpse? I'll pass.

I got tattoos so I never have to summer at Martha's Vineyard.

I have a tattoo that someone will definitely catch a glimpse of at some point. I doubt that's an issue. I think it's more of an issue of purposely showing it, or not being able to cover it up in a meeting with a client.

My tattoo question is, is it wrong to get a young money tattoo if you're not in young money, but really want to be in young money?

A young money tattoo is always right.

YMCMB vs. YOLO tattoo

Discuss.

This seemed like the tittiest idea in Cancun during spring break freshmen year of UG. I probably should have gotten it in a less visible area. I won't be able to wear v-necks to work on casual Friday's when I get out of law school.

vs


YOLO is trash.
YM is the truth.

YOLO tattoo is also like, "no shit. that's why you get tattoos"... or "that's why you don't get tattoos"...it's way too meta.