Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Social Life, Food & Drink, Travel › Advice on casual dress policy at job this summer
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Advice on casual dress policy at job this summer

post #1 of 15
5/28/09 at 5:39pm
Thread Starter 
Hi everyone,

So I am starting as a summer associate at the largest law firm in my mid-sized city next week. I'm a first year law student, so for those following the legal market you know I'm a pretty lucky cat (almost NO first years are getting paid and many have trouble finding free work).

Here's my slight dilemma - I've been told by my interviewer that one of the benefits of the place is its "casual" attire policy. She said "some" people wear suits everyday (and then rolled her eyes) but that most just wear polos and khakis.

Job offers are being rescinded left and right and the fact that I even have a chance to get one after graduation from this place is huge - so I want to make a good impression. I'd prefer dressing up everyday (shirt and tie) but am not sure if it'd be appropriate. I don't want to be the prick that out-dresses everyone, but maybe it wouldn't look so bad if stood out (and would make use of my new Allen Edmonds). Additionally, the firm is at the top of a building downtown and I've never taken a tour - so I don't know how everyone else actually dresses - which leaves me stumped as to what I should wear on my first day.

So what do you think? I promise when I make partner I change the casual dress policy
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 15
5/28/09 at 5:47pm
Wear a suit, bring a tie, you can take off the jacket or put on the tie if need be. Would help to look around if you can before your first day. Take a tour and see what people are wearing. I did the summer thing at one of the bigger firms in the southeast. Wore trousers and OCBDs almost everyday, no tie usually, usually no jacket as well. Obviously if I was acting as a brief case monkey for an associate or partner I wore a suit.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 15
5/28/09 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorian Gray View Post
Wear a suit, bring a tie, you can take off the jacket or put on the tie if need be. Would help to look around if you can before your first day. Take a tour and see what people are wearing. I did the summer thing at one of the bigger firms in the southeast. Wore trousers and OCBDs almost everyday, no tie usually, usually no jacket as well. Obviously if I was acting as a brief case monkey for an associate or partner I wore a suit.

Seconded.

If it is truly a casual workplace, at least wear trousers and button-downs and some decent captoes. I work in a "business casual" place where people try to pass off black sweat pants, hoodies and sneakers as "their nice clothes" and get away with it. I won't wear anything less than my above-mentioned attire. I find I get taken much more seriously by management. So yeah... Even if you get heckled by the slobs, you'll have an easier time getting ahead.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 15
5/28/09 at 5:59pm
Slightly O/T. Arrive earlier to work each morning than your boss does. They like that.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 15
5/28/09 at 9:17pm
You can't go wrong with wearing a suit while you probably can go wrong dressing casual on your first day.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 15
5/28/09 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DonkeyKong View Post
Hi everyone,

So I am starting as a summer associate at the largest law firm in my mid-sized city next week. I'm a first year law student, so for those following the legal market you know I'm a pretty lucky cat (almost NO first years are getting paid and many have trouble finding free work).

Here's my slight dilemma - I've been told by my interviewer that one of the benefits of the place is its "casual" attire policy. She said "some" people wear suits everyday (and then rolled her eyes) but that most just wear polos and khakis.

Job offers are being rescinded left and right and the fact that I even have a chance to get one after graduation from this place is huge - so I want to make a good impression. I'd prefer dressing up everyday (shirt and tie) but am not sure if it'd be appropriate. I don't want to be the prick that out-dresses everyone, but maybe it wouldn't look so bad if stood out (and would make use of my new Allen Edmonds). Additionally, the firm is at the top of a building downtown and I've never taken a tour - so I don't know how everyone else actually dresses - which leaves me stumped as to what I should wear on my first day.

So what do you think? I promise when I make partner I change the casual dress policy

Wear a suit your first few days and see how others dress. Emulate those you wish to aspire to.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 15
5/28/09 at 10:27pm
As basically one of your peers, I second the recommendation to wear a suit with a tie rolled up in the chest pocket the first day. Get there early; the office manager and a few partners are likely to get their early and everyone else will schlep in later. Keep your eyes open, particularly the other associates. Dress at the same level they do (suits or sport coats or open collared shirts, etc). Eventually you'll settle into some routine. Don't wear your coat in the office if no one else does. Don't overdress the other associates (at a meaningful level). If it appears to be a solidly business casual place, and you have the benefit of your own office, maybe keep a blazer and tie on the back of the door.

If they gave you the number for the office manager (for setting up your employment forms and such) give them a call and just ask. Particularly if it is a man. From your post it doesn't sound like you did a call-back interview at their office, or you could have scoped out what they were wearing then.

Best of luck. May the force be with you.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 15
5/29/09 at 8:00am
it's better to overdress than to underdress, and if anyone gives you an evil glare, they'll immediately forgive you because you're the new guy.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 15
5/29/09 at 10:06am
It's not better to overdress ALL the time. He'll come off as clueless or pompous. Sure, for the first couple of days as he gains his bearings but he should quickly get an idea of what other folks at the firm are doing. Now he doesn't have to completely copy them but he'll look like an ass if he's wearing full suit with tie every day and associates, partners and other interns are not.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 15
5/29/09 at 10:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jodum5 View Post
It's not better to overdress ALL the time. He'll come off as clueless or pompous. Sure, for the first couple of days as he gains his bearings but he should quickly get an idea of what other folks at the firm are doing. Now he doesn't have to completely copy them but he'll look like an ass if he's wearing full suit with tie every day and associates, partners and other interns are not.
It's too late for him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DonkeyKong View Post
So what do you think? I promise when I make partner I change the casual dress policy
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 15
5/29/09 at 1:25pm
Any advice for summer associate outings like ball games and concerts? And what does casual really mean in this type of setting?
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 15
5/29/09 at 1:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mershanks View Post
Any advice for summer associate outings like ball games and concerts? And what does casual really mean in this type of setting?


I would assume you wear khakis and a collared shirt and you'd be fine... Make sure the look really is casual though (but look sharp), so that if people do come in jeans, you still fit in.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 15
5/29/09 at 1:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cavalier View Post
I would assume you wear khakis and a collared shirt and you'd be fine... Make sure the look really is casual though (but look sharp), so that if people do come in jeans, you still fit in.
Yes, khakis, collared sport shirt, and decent casual shoes.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 15
5/29/09 at 1:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jodum5 View Post
It's not better to overdress ALL the time. He'll come off as clueless or pompous. Sure, for the first couple of days as he gains his bearings but he should quickly get an idea of what other folks at the firm are doing. Now he doesn't have to completely copy them but he'll look like an ass if he's wearing full suit with tie every day and associates, partners and other interns are not.
+1
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 15
5/29/09 at 3:06pm
-1 for the straw man.

obviously, when someone asks if he should overdress or underdress on the first day of work and someone tells him it's better to overdress than to underdress, he means it's better to overdress than to underdress on the first day of work, not the for the rest of his career.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Social Life, Food & Drink, Travel › Advice on casual dress policy at job this summer