First Day Clothes/Beard Forum

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First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Anonymous User » Wed May 03, 2017 10:04 pm

First day of SA at small firm - do I wear a suit or slacks and a button down (no one was wearing a suit the two times I went to interview). Also, I was clean shaven both times I went to interview but have since then grown a small beard, guessing I should shave this and not keep any facial hair till I've been there a couple weeks?

Nebby

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Nebby » Wed May 03, 2017 10:09 pm

Suit first day and whatever anyone else is wearing after. I would shave for the first day and then let it grow out from there.

ballouttacontrol

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by ballouttacontrol » Wed May 03, 2017 10:10 pm

dress like everyone else there dresses

BigZuck

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by BigZuck » Wed May 03, 2017 10:11 pm

You've combined two TLS standards- Suit up first day? and Shave or no shave? These things are covered just about every other week on TLS but I've never seen them in the same thread before!

The correct answer is suit and shave. But this is TLS, so we'll probably argue about this for 3 pages or so.

NoLongerALurker

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by NoLongerALurker » Wed May 03, 2017 10:13 pm

You could show up biz casual and scruffy and you'd be fine. But you would feel uncomfortable and stand out a little so I wouldn't recommend it.

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ballouttacontrol

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by ballouttacontrol » Wed May 03, 2017 10:37 pm

NoLongerALurker wrote:You could show up biz casual and scruffy and you'd be fine. But you would feel uncomfortable and stand out a little so I wouldn't recommend it.
in the last 2 markets I've worked in you would stand out and be joked about if you wore a suit. there's always that 1 intern that does

Tiny Rick!

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Tiny Rick! » Wed May 03, 2017 10:52 pm

I work at a firm and I'm here to tell you: nobody gives a fuck. If it were me, I would keep the beard. I have one, as do many of my peers.

The worst thing you can do is shave first day then let it grow out. Because then you'll be going to work during the in-between phase of having a 5 o'clock shadow turn into a beard. Just keep your shit well groomed and you'll be fine.

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UVA2B

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by UVA2B » Wed May 03, 2017 10:56 pm

I don't know why these questions come up so often. It seems pretty obvious: overdress/play the part the first day, take the temperature of your particular firm, adjust accordingly. No two firms are entirely alike, and they will have different dress/cultural norm requirements. No one will chastise you for dressing conservatively on the first day, only to find business casual will suffice for work days outside client-focused interactions.

And if you have a clean-cut beard, keep it that way and no one will flinch. If you're going straight Duck Dynasty, that could be a different story. But still, just let your hopefully good judgment guide you.

Blackfish

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Blackfish » Wed May 03, 2017 11:29 pm

Suit, no tie + Allen Edmonds.

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foregetaboutdre

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by foregetaboutdre » Wed May 03, 2017 11:35 pm

Anonymous User wrote:First day of SA at small firm - do I wear a suit or slacks and a button down (no one was wearing a suit the two times I went to interview). Also, I was clean shaven both times I went to interview but have since then grown a small beard, guessing I should shave this and not keep any facial hair till I've been there a couple weeks?
I'd hedge on suit first day and no beard (permanent). SA at small firm/office here too. All it takes is one partner to not like the beard etc.. and be passive aggressive holding it against you or w/e.

ballouttacontrol

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by ballouttacontrol » Wed May 03, 2017 11:38 pm

Blackfish wrote:Suit, no tie + Allen Edmonds.
and here I thought TLS was over its weird obsession with Allen Edmond

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kalvano

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by kalvano » Thu May 04, 2017 3:26 pm

JFC, no one gives a shit about a beard so long as you look like a normal human being. Look in the mirror and ask yourself "if I were to be dropped in front of a client looking like this, would my firm be embarrassed?"

If the answer is no, then head on out. If the answer is yes, change / groom better. If you don't know the answer, then you're screwed no matter what.

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SmokeytheBear

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by SmokeytheBear » Thu May 04, 2017 3:43 pm

Midlevel biglaw associate in LA here. With a beard from day 2 (day 1--my interview--my face was as smooth as a baby's bottom).

What city are you summering in?

No one in CA will care. Based on my experience with co-counsel and opposing counsel, they might care slightly more in DC or Texas.

Just get it trimmed so that it's clean and even on your first day. Doesn't have to be super tight. My barber uses a 6 for me and I get it trimmed once every three weeks (so by the third week I'm a bit scruffy).

Wear a suit and tie your first day. You will likely to told that you can take your tie off and that you don't need to wear a suit the rest of the time.

You might also get an email prior to your first day asking that you just dress business casual.

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Bluem_11

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Bluem_11 » Thu May 04, 2017 4:01 pm

As long as you're not naked and don't smell nobody will care/notice.

Blackfish

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Blackfish » Thu May 04, 2017 4:06 pm

Don't bring your backpack.

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Anonymous User » Thu May 04, 2017 4:14 pm

OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Blackfish » Thu May 04, 2017 4:16 pm

Anonymous User wrote:OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?
Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...

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BigZuck

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by BigZuck » Thu May 04, 2017 4:31 pm

Blackfish wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?
Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...
I'm in Texas. The above is wrong and I intend to argue about it now. Backpacks are fine.

We've almost hit one page, thread is developing nicely.

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SmokeytheBear

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by SmokeytheBear » Thu May 04, 2017 4:37 pm

BigZuck wrote:
Blackfish wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?
Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...
I'm in Texas. The above is wrong and I intend to argue about it now. Backpacks are fine.

We've almost hit one page, thread is developing nicely.
I'm going to continue to make the point that people should be buying Aldens and not AEs

arklaw13

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by arklaw13 » Thu May 04, 2017 4:43 pm

Beard is fine. I interviewed without one and showed up with a nice full beard as an SA and first year with no issue. Unless literally no one at your firm has facial hair, keep it.

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by dabigchina » Thu May 04, 2017 5:03 pm

Blackfish wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?
Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...
That's a new one. Are backpacks not cool anymore?

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arklaw13

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by arklaw13 » Thu May 04, 2017 5:36 pm

Also tons of associates at my firm carry backpacks. And we are about as old and stodgy as it gets.

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polareagle

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by polareagle » Thu May 04, 2017 5:58 pm

arklaw13 wrote:Also tons of associates at my firm carry backpacks. And we are about as old and stodgy as it gets.
A lot of college freshman wear their IDs on lanyards. Doesn't make it okay.

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Nebby » Thu May 04, 2017 6:03 pm

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard

Post by Polymorphic » Thu May 04, 2017 6:09 pm

Speaking of backpacks and messenger bags, is it fine to just bring a padfolio--and no bag--to your first day of SA? As long as I bring a pen and something to write on is that enough or will it look weird if I bring no type of bag at all?

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