Black Brogued Shoes for Court?

I work in as conservative a place as likely possible (federal court). I have a pair of black PAs and some walnut Strands, the latter I wear when not actually in court. I wear my PAs often enough that I could use another pair of black shoes but don't really want another pair of PAs.

I'm mostly interested in a pair of Fifth Aves or Strands, and my question is how formal/appropriate is a black brogued shoe like the Strand? Note that I'm just a law clerk (also quite young, if that matters), so I don't have to woo judges/juries - just looking to dress appropriately. I'm also aware that some people wear brown shoes in court, but I'd prefer to stick with black for now - not looking to draw attention.

Thanks for the help.

Court and funerals are the only places that I wear black shoes. I sometimes were a half-brogue, like the fifth avenue, to court. I don't think that I've ever drawn odd looks.

Agreed. Black wingtips would be fine, too.

If they're black, I think it is totally fine. When I was a clerk in the 2nd Cir, I would see folks (e.g., litigators) wear black brogued captoes all of the time. Wingtips too.

Awesome; thanks for the replies.

A related question: I'm starting at a NYC firm later this year, and they wear suits daily. What percentage of the lawyers, do you guess, will wear black shoes on a daily basis?

edit: Let me also say that I know the shoe/attire-for-biglaw-firm question gets asked regularly. But I'm interested in what people are actually wearing rather than what's appropriate.

Are you a clerk or a litigant? If the former, if your judge doesn't care, you shouldn't. If the latter, no one will care. I wear brown (gasp!) shoes regularly and it is no problem.

Originally Posted by Pelikan2

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Awesome; thanks for the replies.

A related question: I'm starting at a NYC firm later this year, and they wear suits daily. What percentage of the lawyers, do you guess, will wear black shoes on a daily basis?

edit: Let me also say that I know the shoe/attire-for-biglaw-firm question gets asked regularly. But I'm interested in what people are actually wearing rather than what's appropriate.

At a big firm? I'm not a litigator, but at my large firm, generally my litigator colleagues wear whatever they want, unless they have to go to court, then they keep it black and simple. In corporate, I wear whatever type of shoe I please on a daily basis.

Originally Posted by rebel222

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Court and funerals are the only places that I wear black shoes. I sometimes were a half-brogue, like the fifth avenue, to court. I don't think that I've ever drawn odd looks.

The Fifth Avenue is not a half-brogue. It is a punchcap. The Strand is a half-brogue.

In any court I've been in, any decent lace-up business shoe would look fine. Presumably, the participants in criminal and civil cases have more important matters at hand than scoping out footgear.

Originally Posted by JLibourel

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The Fifth Avenue is not a half-brogue. It is a punchcap. The Strand is a half-brogue.

In any court I've been in, any decent lace-up business shoe would look fine. Presumably, the participants in criminal and civil cases have more important matters at hand than scoping out footgear.

Opps. That's what I meant. . . punch cap.

No one is paying close attention to your shoes. As long as they are leather, you'll be fine. I have worn black half-brogues and brown shoes to state and federal court, with no one batting an eye.

I have worn all kinds of shoes to federal court here in New Orleans. The only place I have drawn the line is with Spectators. Longwings are quite frequently worn.

Mike