The landscape of De Roode Vennen estate is diverse and beautiful, with each area presenting a different challenge to conquer. Do you go to the heathland in hiking boots, perhaps a waistcoat and a hat? Or do you navigate the canyon in comfortable sneakers, with a walkie-talkie and water bottle? Similarly, there are many environments in which you could be spending your working hours. One of those environments is a law firm dress code female. So, what’s appropriate attire for law firms? Just as you must be appropriately prepared for the day ahead, you’d also be expected to present yourself in a professional and expected manner when you enter a law firm. Whether you’re an intern, a secretary, a lawyer or even a partner – your appearance is significant to the model of operation in a law firm.
The type of law firm, or the specialty of the law firm, greatly dictates the dress code of its employees. Corporate law firms, for example, have formal dress codes, so a client contact (or anyone else for that matter) doesn’t hesitate an inch in taking your suggestions and advice. After all, it’s business talk. Business starts with the professional appearance. You are representing not only yourself but also the firm. On the other hand, if you’re working in a boutique law firm, the dress code may be a lot looser. With minimal to no client contact, the model of operation is not as traditional or formal.
A traditional corporate law firm may expect you to wear a suit; preferably navy or charcoal grey. Sometimes, a black suit is acceptable, but not always. Sometimes you get away with dark blue and grey (check out Corporate Law Firm “Dress Code”). Over the years, some women have seen corporate law firms introduce business attire for lawyers and secretaries. Women have been known to wear a long-sleeve shirt and a knee-length skirt, and a less formal suit without a tie with heels or similar footwear. Some women prefer a jacket and a skirt or a pantsuit without a tie. However, if you decide that that’s pushing the formal wear, you can wear a shirt, a long wool cardigan or a long sleeve denim coat with knee-length skirt or pants. Alternatively, you can wear dark denim jeans without rips or holes with a blazer. While the blazer will give off a business-like presence, you’ll be comfortable and confident enough to deal with big meetings and teambuilding with the help of your comfy shoes.
Conversely, in a boutique law firm (e.g., litigation), the environment may be much less formal, and their dress code more relaxed. Here, you may find secretaries wearing jeans or comfortable shoes and sleeves shirts. Lawyers may be dressed in dark denim jeans (again without rips), while the partners may wear a professional yet formal dressing model. Not only do your clothing and accessories make a good first impression on clients, it significantly affects your colleagues. In a team of lawyers, having another lawyer wearing more casual clothing could lead to a feeling that that person takes things less seriously.
You can wear pants, or a dress that is just above knee-length, or a skirt with tights. Whatever you choose to wear, it should be of a dark fabric color and neutral. It is always good to pick from basics that you’d always find acceptable. That is, to have a mixture of basic colors, such as blue, grey, black, white or cream. That way, they can easily be interchanged, or matched together, and you won’t always be repeating the same clothes. Most importantly, dress code in a law firm varies with the type of work being performed. For instance, secretaries may wear less formal clothing compared to lawyers – perhaps because their interaction with clients is compared to that of lawyers. While secretaries may wear pumps, trousers or tops, lawyers would be more inclined to wear a suit, a jacket, a tie and dress shoes.
You could be anywhere in between, but dressing properly will allow you fit any role within a law firm. Even in a boutique firm, carrying out legal research or drafting wills may require you to dress professionally – since you’ll need to consult with clients. Likewise in the De Roode Vennen estate, you must adapt to the terrain and challenges. You’ll have to look good while at it. As a woman working in a corporate law firm, it is recommended to wear business attire. This does not deter you from using your logic and intuition as to what you should put on. On the other hand, again, some may find that even the physical layout of a boutique law firm is more relaxing, and their dress code is much more flexible than that of a corporate law firm.
For more information on dress codes in professional settings, you can visit Wikipedia.