Bit unorthodox question...would long hair for males be frowned upon in big law? Forum

[uscbound]

Thought I would preface and say that I'm a 1L.

I'm a bit curious, would long hair on a male still be a minus at OCI even if it was well groomed (something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_DVPQmQNb8 )

No beard or anything as well, just long hair.


Thanks everyone.

[Anonymous User]

Let me put it this way. It, in no way, will ever help a man land an entry level law job by having long hair and a pony tail. legal profession is very traditional and I'd recommend not trying to test the waters. #1 objective at OCI is to land a job. Don't do anything that will lower your chances in the slightest.

[sublime]

That would be fine generally at my big law firm. I'm not sure how it would play out at oci though. Fwiw I had pretty long hair and cut it for oci, my SA, and starting work.

[mjb447]

Even assuming that most people don't care, you run the risk that one of your interviewers is in the minority that does.

[notgreat]

I am guessing people will hate me for saying this, but I would definitely frown upon a guy long hair. I imagine there a lot of people that are cool with it (probably the vast majority) but there will be people that think it isn't appropriate. And by no means am I the guy that thinks we should be wearing suit and tie and black shoes to work. Just think its out of place if you are serving corporate clients where no one at the client and no one else at the firm has long hair like that.

[Anonymous User]

As someone with full sleeves working in big law who has to wear one long sleeve shirt to the office in the summer and then change into another one because I'm drenched in sweat in the summer...I can tell you that long hair (like my beautiful ink) is not looked favorably upon by others there.

Cut it for your interview and while you're there look around. Do you see other people with long hair? I was hoping I'd see some tattoos poking out but no...so I play the game and keep them covered. I like my job and this is not a battle worth fighting or calling attention to myself over.

Fwiw, your problem is way easier to solve than mine

[Jchance]

I follow this motto: when in doubt, don't do it.

Some will judge you, some will understand. It's just not worth it (unless it's based on your religion).

[run26.2]

It will be a liability. Conformance is important in biglaw. Use your judgment as a guide to reign in what you would otherwise desire to do. For instance, at an avowedly biz cas firm at which I worked, a partner who always wore a tie once grumbled about people wearing jeans on Friday.

If you make partner, do whatever you want. As an associate, it is best to be clean cut.

[uscbound]

Thank you for the input everyone!

I was thinking along the same lines...especially because biglaw seems the more conservative type.

I wonder if it would be possible to grow it out AFTER OCI and cut it AFTER the bar, but before starting at a big law firm if I get lucky, that's still a solid 2-2.5 years.

[heythatslife]

Thank you for the input everyone!

I was thinking along the same lines...especially because biglaw seems the more conservative type.

I wonder if it would be possible to grow it out AFTER OCI and cut it AFTER the bar, but before starting at a big law firm if I get lucky, that's still a solid 2-2.5 years.

Once you know which firm you're going to and you've been there for 2L summer to get a feel for the culture, you'll have a better sense of what will work and what won't. If you don't see a single dude with long hair during your summer, then it's most likely a no-go.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you for the input everyone!

I was thinking along the same lines...especially because biglaw seems the more conservative type.

I wonder if it would be possible to grow it out AFTER OCI and cut it AFTER the bar, but before starting at a big law firm if I get lucky, that's still a solid 2-2.5 years.

Whats the fascination with the extremely long hair? I think most people will say cut it, just because no one really cares too much about hair so if it could negatively impact our job prospects, we will cut

[run26.2]

Thank you for the input everyone!

I was thinking along the same lines...especially because biglaw seems the more conservative type.

I wonder if it would be possible to grow it out AFTER OCI and cut it AFTER the bar, but before starting at a big law firm if I get lucky, that's still a solid 2-2.5 years.

I would say keep it on the long side of normal and keep it neat throughout the summer. After the summer, let it grow.

The problem is that, rightly or wrongly, people form snap judgments about you. On the off chance that a partner is turned off by it and remembers it, it can have consequences. You start developing a reputation during the summer at a lot of firms. It is always in your interest to have that reputation be as good as possible.

[Anonymous User]

I had long hair and worked at a pretty chill DC biglaw office (dress-code wise). I cut it after people (partners included) kept talking shit about it to my face. I assume many others thought similarly but never said anything to me about it. I probably could have kept it, but I cut it because I suspected that partners were less likely to give me court-facing and client-facing opportunities because they didn't like how I looked.

[Anonymous User]

I guess it's like beating a dead horse at this point, but...

cut it. you can re-grow it if it's a big deal to you. the best suggestions here, as other people have said, is assume that your interviewers are ultra-conservative. there is no haircut that is too conservative - there are certainly hair cuts that are too liberal.

[Anonymous User]

I have a biglaw position here in CO. Despite the liberal leanings of most everyone here, I was recently reminded that I needed to cut my hair if I'm to meet with clients or go to court.

[zot1]

Suuuuuunshine.

[Anonymous User]

I have a biglaw position here in CO. Despite the liberal leanings of most everyone here, I was recently reminded that I needed to cut my hair if I'm to meet with clients or go to court.

Also in CO biglaw and long hair would be totally fine in my office. It's definitely not NY lol

[uscbound]

Would something like this be too long?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxai-zaFBys

[A. Nony Mouse]

Probably one of the best ways to answer this is to look at the websites for biglaw firms in your chosen market(s). Lawyers all have head shots - you can see how the young male associates wear their hair.

[foregetaboutdre]

Would something like this be too long?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxai-zaFBys

If you slick it back/hairspray it like that guy IMO, no. Looks like a traditional hair style, however I'd say it'd be a pain in the ass to do every morning/after working long hours etc...

From a secondary midwestern market (that I'd say is pretty conservative) - anything that goes below basically the middle of your ear will be viewed as too long. Especially if your hair isn't curly (for a male)