law student attire Forum

[gdane]

Seriously? Just wear whatever the hell you want.

Quite honestly, I'm just going to dress casual. Jeans, a t shirt, sometimes a button down shirt, polo, whatever.

As for wearing suits and all that nonsense, please dont. You'll look like a show off. You're not an attorney yet so there is no reason to wear a suit. A professor isnt going to say "So and so always wore nice suits to my class. His professional attire speaks volumes about his professionalism". Let yourself be defined by your work.

This is like guys that stuff their pants so it looks like they have a bigger bulge. Underneath all that stuffing is usually a sad excuse for a member...

[vanwinkle]

The only response I've ever really gotten to what I wear to class (beyond the days I wear a suit for on-campus interviews) is when I wear one of my Serenity T-shirts. I get a lot of "Love your shirt" type comments with it.

Other than that nobody seems to care what I wear at all.

[cavebat2000]

Seriously? Just wear whatever the hell you want.

Quite honestly, I'm just going to dress casual. Jeans, a t shirt, sometimes a button down shirt, polo, whatever.

As for wearing suits and all that nonsense, please dont. You'll look like a show off. You're not an attorney yet so there is no reason to wear a suit. A professor isnt going to say "So and so always wore nice suits to my class. His professional attire speaks volumes about his professionalism". Let yourself be defined by your work.

This is like guys that stuff their pants so it looks like they have a bigger bulge. Underneath all that stuffing is usually a sad excuse for a member...

Pshh, I don't know about you but studying with sock-stuffers sounds exciting!

haha

[eandy]

Is law school like UG where it is ok to wear whatever? As in, can I wear a mini-skirt(with like a sweater, not a tube top or something trashy!) or cute shorts and it will be ok?
I think of reasons for yes, and reasons for no.

[Aeroplane]

Is law school like UG where it is ok to wear whatever? As in, can I wear a mini-skirt(with like a sweater, not a tube top or something trashy!) or cute shorts and it will be ok?
I think of reasons for yes, and reasons for no.

Yes, it is ok to wear whatever.

[chadwick218]

My attire every single day: nikes, jeans, long-sleeve t-shirt, various colored northface fleeces. I go for weeks at a time without shaving ... I don't give a shit b/c it really doesn't matter and it's easy.

[gdane]

Eandy if you are cute, then please do. Ha!

But really I dont understand why there is so much fuss as to what one should wear. Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. You figure that if you're going to law school then you will presumably be a lawyer in 3 or 4 years, which in that case you will most definitely have to wear formal/ semi formal attire on a regular basis. Take advantage of the opportunity to dress casually and comfortably while you have it.

[badfish]

No-one cares what you wear to school on any given day. Law school is one of the last times you'll be able to dress like a homeless person and grow out your beard on a day to day basis, I suggest you take advantage.


(but you should definitely dress up and shave down for interviews and the like)

[PDaddy]

I don't know why anyone would 'dress up' for class. I'll be sporting the mesh shorts as far into winter as possible.

"Dress 'up'" for class? No. Dress neat and clean? Yes.

The level of fashionability depends on where you do to school. If you're at NYU, Columbia or NU, or going to school part-time at Loyola (L.A.) because you have a job, you might dress a little better than the typical student because of your location and circumstances. If you're in Miami, you might dress in linen slacks and a nice button down shirt (or khakis or jeans) when you wear clothes; if not, walking shorts, sandals and either a t-shirt or a Polo.

The "b-school look" is popular in the urban law schools but you can wear what you want. Just don't be surprised if you run into some real fashionable people in the major cities, especially NY, Chicago, Miami, L.A. and ATL. On Fridays there's much to do in those cities, and you're likely to hit up happy hour right after school. You want to be dressed at least fashionably, if not "dressed up".

[notanumber]

I'll dress down in law school by wearing plain toe calfskin oxfords with my tux.

But seriously, I'm a bit older and I'm not going to be caught dead in ratty jeans and a t-shirt. If that makes me a tool, then so be it. I'm not going to be "that guy" in an ill-fitting charcoal suit with square-toed brown shoes, but I'll also not be dressing like an undergrad who has just discovered J-crew. Sweaters, tweeds, and knit ties are as casual as I roll. I suspect that I'll occasionally wear one of my tailored suits to class. And I'll look damn good in it.

[chadwick218]

I'll dress down in law school by wearing plain toe calfskin oxfords with my tux.

But seriously, I'm a bit older and I'm not going to be caught dead in ratty jeans and a t-shirt. If that makes me a tool, then so be it. I'm not going to be "that guy" in an ill-fitting charcoal suit with square-toed brown shoes, but I'll also not be dressing like an undergrad who has just discovered J-crew. Sweaters, tweeds, and knit ties are as casual as I roll. I suspect that I'll occasionally wear one of my tailored suits to class. And I'll look damn good in it.

Although not politically correct by any means, I have a friend who tried to do exactly what you did ... he is still convincing the girls in our class that he is straight.

[notanumber]

he is still convincing the girls in our class that he is straight.

That's not something I particularly have to worry about.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

During my last couple years of UG, I had a job that required me to dress profesionally, and I was often leaving for business meetings right after class. Of course, since it was UG, I'd be the only person wearing a suit, but it never seemed to be a big deal one way or the other (though it did attract a lot of comments). I think some profs may have taken me more "seriously," but I doubt it was a big deal. That said, even in my first couple years, I could never imagine going to class in sweatpants, sweatshirts, or otherwise a mess. At least a nice sweater/top and neat jeans.

[chadwick218]

he is still convincing the girls in our class that he is straight.

That's not something I particularly have to worry about.

[PDaddy]

Seriously? Just wear whatever the hell you want.

A professor isnt going to say "So and so always wore nice suits to my class. His professional attire speaks volumes about his professionalism". Let yourself be defined by your work.

This is like guys that stuff their pants so it looks like they have a bigger bulge. Underneath all that stuffing is usually a sad excuse for a member...

I disagree with this. At an urban undergrad (at least at mine), you run into people dressed nicely every day. They aren't in suits, but they dress nicely. Guys do wear "skinny pants" and nice button downs with loafers. We also had people rockin the gangbanger look. It's a variety, and there's nothing wrong with that. But I wouldn't stereotype nicely dressed people as over-compensating.

I spoke to a hiring partner from a firm in Atlanta. He told me he shoots over to schools like Emory before OCI with a list of 3L classes and observes students in the days before the interviews. This can't be an abnormal practice. Recruiters know that interview day is a facade, and they want to see how you are naturally, including your dress. If you look like a slob when they observe you, that might take a few points away, depending on what the recruiter thinks is important. Law is a detail-oriented field, and that is a habit that should permeate every aspect of your life, including your dress. That said, fashion has nothing to do with your "capabilities" as a lawyer. It might, however, indicate your "attitude" about being one.

I am one of those guys who likes to dress. I hate ties and I rarely wear suits, but I hook up my clothes. And remember one other thing. Two of the often unstated, but very real, goals of many male and female law students is to a) get laid and b) find a potential long-term mate. Women love a well-dressed man. That said, they also love a well-paid man! So just keep it all in perspective.

[badfish]

This distinction b/w urban and non-urban settings and its impact on attire is altogether pretty worthless. NYU is about as urban as it gets and the dress of students here spans the spectrum. On a whole, the undergrad is far better dressed than the law students, probably because we're concerned with, you know, learning.

[BobSacamano]

I spoke to a hiring partner from a firm in Atlanta. He told me he shoots over to schools like Emory before OCI with a list of 3L classes and observes students in the days before the interviews. This can't be an abnormal practice.

I assure you that this is an abnormal practice.

[gregw8705]

The OP is dated May 2008. At that time, law students thought they had a chance of someday actually becoming professionals with jobs, so they had reason to worry about their clothes. By 2010, the kind hand of fate has lifted that worry.

I've been practicing dressing like I'm homeless. I think I'm also going to buy a McDonald's fry cook uniform over spring break and wear that for finals so I look like the professional we'll all probably become. I've also been wearing lots of hooded sweatshirts and baseball caps so I'll be respected when I'm a Big High School Teaching/JV Coaching associate after graduation. I've got some connections.

Seriously, though, some guy in my class wears suits everyday. He's a cool guy, but at the beginning of the semester he was universally known as "suit guy". Eventually most of our class got to know him personally, but I think some 2Ls and 3Ls only know him as suit guy. If you can be like him, though, and the suit fits you (figuratively speaking) it doesn't appear to be a problem. I found it pretty hilarious when his Halloween costume consisted of him wearing a suit sans tie. Just wear what fits your personality, and don't try to use clothes to turn you into someone you're not.

[gdane]

See maybe its just me, but I wouldnt like "suit guy" simply because he wore suits everyday. It would come off as very pretentious and stuck up. Like "Im going to dress better than everyone because I am better than everyone". A really awesome prank would have been if everyone in one of his classes wore the same suit as him on a given day. Maybe some would have worn a top hat or an ascot.

[TTH]

You mean you all aren't wearing a Morning Coat every day?

Um...I guess you can call that going to law school.

[ughOSU]

In law school, do most of the students shower regularly? I just want to know how many days I can get away with.

[blerg]

For those of you who haven't had to wake up nearly everyday and wear a suit and tie, it gets old really fast. I would enjoy your last few years of being able to dress comfortably. Once you enter the suit and tie world, the only real variety you have is your tie. And maybe your shoes. And maybe a light colored suit you wear on Fridays.

Seriously, don't be in a hurry to look like a professional, it pretty much sucks to dress nice every day.

The kids with collared button up shirts stood out like at admitted student events. Not in a good way.

Damn skippy. This is particularly true when your coworkers don't know how to dress, as it becomes impossible to care about dressing sharply in such an environment. The worst thing is when you have to wear a suit and don't care what it looks like.

I AM SO EXCITED TO NOT WEAR HEELS AND SLACKS EVERY SINGLE DAY. Also, to have my dry cleaning bill come down a little.

[sullidop]

Actually everyone in my 1L class is required to dress as such

--ImageRemoved--

[bignoseknowsnoes]

My dad is bugging me like crazy about this in emails--that if I want to succeed in the legal profession, I have to seriously improve the way I dress. Granted, how you dress definitely affects others' perceptions of the kind of person you are. But typically, I wear dark button down shirts with semi-formal pants, always tucked in and with a belt, black socks, leather shoes, currently I'm wearing a black leather jacket. All my clothes are in good condition, an I don't think I have any problem with putting things together that flagrantly don't match. Perhaps I could iron more often, but that is all. . . I don't really see any flaws in my dress--perhaps it's not highly elegant/fashionable, but is that really necessary? Certainly if I dressed any more formally for class, I would get the "tool" label, and if I dressed more "fashionably" I would have to take out more loans.

What are opinions on this matter?

Do you, by any chance, have two dads?

[DoctorNick189]

Actually everyone in my 1L class is required to dress as such

--ImageRemoved--

poorly?