Lawyer-ly appearances? Forum

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I'll be starting law school in the fall. I'm a guy and I've always been pretty lazy about my appearance. As of right now it's a scraggly beard and relatively long curly hair. Do you guys think this sort of appearance is appropriate in the legal realm? Or is it all about clean-cut and "professional" styles? Or is appearance even relevant at all? Honesty is appreciated! thanks guys.

[Danger Zone]

Lol

[09042014]

I'd hire you.

[BVest]

Even the Attorney That Rocks maintains a professional, albeit alternative, appearance.

[WHJTMG178]

I'll be starting law school in the fall. I'm a guy and I've always been pretty lazy about my appearance. As of right now it's a scraggly beard and relatively long curly hair. Do you guys think this sort of appearance is appropriate in the legal realm? Or is it all about clean-cut and "professional" styles? Or is appearance even relevant at all? Honesty is appreciated! thanks guys.

We talking hanks in castaway? Probably can pull it off at Yale, Stanford, or Boalt. Do you want biglaw or PI? Might be able to get away with it at a PI job.

[Mal Reynolds]

I'd hire you.

FUCK Harry Knowles

[anyriotgirl]

its rude to quote PWs mal

[Crowing]

its rude to quote PWs mal

180

[Mal Reynolds]

its rude to quote PWs mal

180

Why is saying I can't quite picwhores 180.

[randomstudent]

Law school tends to be pretty relaxed, at least where I'm at. But when you start interviewing for a job, some firms/offices are going to care.

[mephistopheles]

bro-ish/cali surfer hair can be pulled off.

a beard can be pulled off.

both? your CSO will have a heart attack

[BVest]

a well-kept beard can be pulled off.

[mephistopheles]

a well-kept beard can be pulled off.

hahaha, pardon me, i forgot OP said "scraggly"

[anyriotgirl]

its rude to quote PWs mal

180

Why is saying I can't quite picwhores 180.

the joke is I pretended that was DF

[Mal Reynolds]

its rude to quote PWs mal

180

Why is saying I can't quite picwhores 180.

the joke is I pretended that was DF

I got the joke. Curuois why he thought it was that funny.

[Attax]

Even the Attorney That Rocks maintains a professional, albeit alternative, appearance.

I love seeing his billboards around town!

[RCinDNA]

I'll be starting law school in the fall. I'm a guy and I've always been pretty lazy about my appearance. As of right now it's a scraggly beard and relatively long curly hair. Do you guys think this sort of appearance is appropriate in the legal realm? Or is it all about clean-cut and "professional" styles? Or is appearance even relevant at all? Honesty is appreciated! thanks guys.

Just MHO, but no, I don't think having a scraggly beard and long curly hair is appropriate for any professional environment, and law firms can be pretty conservative. I've worked at quite a few firms: appearance does influence others' perception of your professionalism. Perception matters. While it would be nice to think only the quality of your work is being evaluated, all factors come into play during performance reviews. That being said, having a well-groomed, neat beard and trimming your hair to make it more polished should be acceptable.




Also, you should make sure you buy suits that can be tailored to fit you really well, if you haven't already. Preferably a couple of dark navy ones to start.

[alicrimson]

For beards, your overall demeanor/size can matter. My bf has had a beard since college. He's a former D1 offensive lineman--big dude--and is borderline cocky. It works for him. He had it all through OCI, all through his summer associate gig, and will be sporting the thing during his first year as an associate. He also is pretty good about grooming it. You have to trim and make sure that the beard isn't growing crazy or you're going to look like a character from Duck Dynasty. The above guys are man dimes and they rock beards, but they'd probably look amazing in anything. I think if you have a very slight build, beards probably aren't for you. I'd even argue that if you're below 5'8'' and average weight, beards probably aren't for you. Also, if you aren't into caring for your appearance, beards probably aren't for you. I wouldn't go with longish hair and a beard, unless you can style that shit. You want to look groomed. Of course, these are all my opinion. Except the grooming thing. That's important.

[Holly Golightly]

For law school itself, doesn't fucking matter. Once you start interviewing, it will.

[alicrimson]

For law school itself, doesn't fucking matter. Once you start interviewing, it will.

Agreed. Only apply my stuff above to interviewing/working, if you choose to consider it at all.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Though I seem to know a fair number of short guys who wear beards to try to look older (since a lot of people see short as young). You may want to avoid something overly hipster, but otherwise I don't get the height thing.

[alicrimson]

Though I seem to know a fair number of short guys who wear beards to try to look older (since a lot of people see short as young). You may want to avoid something overly hipster, but otherwise I don't get the height thing.

I'm probably biased, being above 5'10'' as a female will do that for ya. I think the height thing is more for really skinny short guys. But 2x on the keep away from the hipster zone.

[scrowell]

wear a suit to school. otherwise people will laugh at u.

[mephistopheles]

[img]hot%20men[/img]

way to quote like some of the hottest men alive. terrible examples.

[worldtraveler]

Though I seem to know a fair number of short guys who wear beards to try to look older (since a lot of people see short as young). You may want to avoid something overly hipster, but otherwise I don't get the height thing.

I'm probably biased, being above 5'10'' as a female will do that for ya. I think the height thing is more for really skinny short guys. But 2x on the keep away from the hipster zone.

I don't get the "short men can't wear beards thing" either and I'm not sure your height explains it any better.