First Day Clothes/Beard Forum
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First Day Clothes/Beard
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?
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
dress like everyone else there dresses
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.
The correct answer is suit and shave. But this is TLS, so we'll probably argue about this for 3 pages or so.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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 doesNoLongerALurker 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.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.
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.
- UVA2B
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.
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.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
Suit, no tie + Allen Edmonds.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.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?
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
and here I thought TLS was over its weird obsession with Allen EdmondBlackfish wrote:Suit, no tie + Allen Edmonds.
- kalvano
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.
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.
- SmokeytheBear
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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.
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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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
As long as you're not naked and don't smell nobody will care/notice.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
Don't bring your backpack.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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
Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...Anonymous User wrote: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
I'm in Texas. The above is wrong and I intend to argue about it now. Backpacks are fine.Blackfish wrote:Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...Anonymous User wrote:OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?
We've almost hit one page, thread is developing nicely.
- SmokeytheBear
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
I'm going to continue to make the point that people should be buying Aldens and not AEsBigZuck wrote:I'm in Texas. The above is wrong and I intend to argue about it now. Backpacks are fine.Blackfish wrote:Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...Anonymous User wrote:OP here, in Texas. Should I take anything? I've got a cheap bag for my laptop, is this acceptable?
We've almost hit one page, thread is developing nicely.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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
That's a new one. Are backpacks not cool anymore?Blackfish wrote:Messenger style bags are fine. Just no backpacks. Don't bring your laptop...Anonymous User wrote: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
Also tons of associates at my firm carry backpacks. And we are about as old and stodgy as it gets.
- polareagle
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
A lot of college freshman wear their IDs on lanyards. Doesn't make it okay.arklaw13 wrote:Also tons of associates at my firm carry backpacks. And we are about as old and stodgy as it gets.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.
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Re: First Day Clothes/Beard
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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