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Current 1L. I have a corporate internship this summer in Texas (non-Austin market) and am curious about whether nice cowboy boots will be considered acceptable. I have worn boots to interviews, receptions, and other networking events in the past, without any negative reaction, but wearing them everyday to an internship seems different.

Does anyone else have experience with this or advice? For what it's worth, I'm from Texas and exactly the kind of person you would expect to see wearing boots at any given time (drive a truck, gunowner, etc.).

Tons of attorneys in Texas wear boots some of time, but I certainly wouldn't do it everyday as a intern.

I know lawyers who wear cowboy boots to work but they're the people who run the firm. I'd feel things out first to see if it would be too informal for the firm. But someone who is from and works in Texas might have better information.

I summered at a mid-size shop in Houston. I wore boots once or twice a week and nobody ever said anything. It seemed like the norm around the office...Most of the partners did the same. Just feel it out your first week and then go from there. I doubt anybody cares.

Don't wear them everyday and you will be fine. This is Texas dude.

This likely differs on a firm-by-firm basis in Texas. Also, potentially by practice group. Don't wear them the first day, and then if you notice others wearing them, feel free to do so.

But both firms I summered at had people wearing them, for what it's worth.

People wear shitkickers to biglaw jobs in Texas? There's a lot about this great country of ours that I haven't experienced.

cron1834 wrote:People wear shitkickers to biglaw jobs in Texas? There's a lot about this great country of ours that I haven't experienced.

You clearly haven't been to Texas.

I need to move to Texas.

I wore them to all my CBs in Houston and did fine. It's not a big deal.

I agree with the above posters to not wear them the first day, see what others wear, and then act accordingly.

I would wear them occasionally, especially if your firm has something along the lines of casual Friday.

A nice pair of snake skin or emu skin boots would be perfect.

Chewing Copenhagen long cut while wearing snake skin boots would be incredible.

By intern do you mean SA?

Either way, I think this is fine. If you wear boots normally, I don't see why you should avoid wearing them during your SA. Just make sure they look decent. Maybe adjust if you get weird looks, but at both firms I was at last summer there were summers who wore boots every single day. It wasn't an issue.

Come to think of it, I can only think of this being an issue for a summer in two scenarios. First, if you've never worn boots before and go out and buy some just to look the part, that's not gonna fly. But it doesn't sound like this applies to you. Second, if no one else in your office/group wears boots (and/or you get weird looks for it), then maybe consider going with regular dress shoes. To note, this is a perfectly appropriate thing to bring up with one of the younger associates or with your partner/mentor (if you have one).

Anyway, I say go for it.

Pneumonia wrote:By intern do you mean SA?

Either way, I think this is fine. If you wear boots normally, I don't see why you should avoid wearing them during your SA. Just make sure they look decent. Maybe adjust if you get weird looks, but at both firms I was at last summer there were summers who wore boots every single day. It wasn't an issue.

Come to think of it, I can only think of this being an issue for a summer in two scenarios. First, if you've never worn boots before and go out and buy some just to look the part, that's not gonna fly. But it doesn't sound like this applies to you. Second, if no one else in your office/group wears boots (and/or you get weird looks for it), then maybe consider going with regular dress shoes. To note, this is a perfectly appropriate thing to bring up with one of the younger associates or with your partner/mentor (if you have one).

Anyway, I say go for it.

Thanks for the replies. I assumed it wouldn't be an issue, but thought it best to check. To clarify, yes I was talking nice, professional boots, not what you would see guys wearing at the bar after a day in the field. I have both ostrich and caiman boots I was planning on rotating with regular dress shoes. I'll probably wear dress shoes the first couple days to feel it out, but I'm sure I'll end up wearing them a fair amount.

Hey y'all, could I have a link to the type of boots that you feel would be acceptable? (Just genuinely curious)

mornincounselor wrote:Hey y'all, could I have a link to the type of boots that you feel would be acceptable? (Just genuinely curious)

It's a combination of the toe shape, the heel shape, the type of leather, and how much stitching/decoration is on the lower and the toe. I'd avoid "Ropers", because I think they're too informal - they have a low heel where the rear edge is perfectly vertical, rounded toes, tend to not have any decoration and are usually just plain calfskin.

On the chart below, most of what I have that I consider "dress boots" have toe shapes from the left side of the chart, and any of the heels except for the "Roper" or "Stockman". For leather, most of mine are alligator, snakeskin, eelskin, lizard, or goatskin in black or varieties of brown or reddish/brown.

mornincounselor wrote:Hey y'all, could I have a link to the type of boots that you feel would be acceptable? (Just genuinely curious)

I'll be wearing these. As long as you're in an office that deems boots acceptable, something like this would certainly be fine.


https://www.cavenders.com/western/cowbo ... s/JUSJ3281

Rock some alligator boots like you're on some straight pimp shit.