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Practicing How to Dress and Present Yourself for a Formal Professional Life

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published November 12, 2012

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

How to dress and present yourself for a formal professional life

The way you dress conveys competence and your awareness of social protocols of the legal profession. However, even though almost all law students know well that dress is important, many fail to bridge the psychological gap between informal dress trends used in college campuses and the formal, almost stifling dress code, expected in professional circles.

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Lack of comfort with formal attire can subtly influence levels of ease felt during an interview or professional interaction where formal dress is a must, and can affect positive outcomes. Fact is, dress influences career, and it is good to start practicing using formal dresses early rather than late, despite opinions to the contrary.

Law practice is all about the establishment – it is about upholding the present system or about trying to alter and improve it; dressing unprofessionally presents discomfort or apathy towards established systems and lowers the chances of success of a lawyer. Dressing formally, and being comfortable in formal professional attire, visibly demonstrates a pro-establishment attitude; it is something you need to get comfortable with right while at college, and before beginning to face job interviews.

General tips on dressing properly for law students

Of course, by now you know we are not talking about how you dress at college canteens, but how you should practice, and what you should watch out for, with respect to professional interactions and professional circles.

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Cufflinks and tiepins are awesome. A matching set of sober cufflinks and tiepin can help to establish a sense of style and impress people with ease. It is easy to be carried away with shine and glitter; when choosing cufflinks and tiepins, take care to ensure that they convey style without being too flashy.
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Avoid wrinkled dresses; casual dresses in formal places make you stand out in the wrong way
Well ironed and steamed dresses are approved by professional people and during professional interactions
In court, of course you’d be following dress codes, but in out-of-court settings, dressing professionally is very important and you should always try to match the occasion and go with the crowd – wearing a three-piece suit, where everybody is in tennis shorts and on a picnic is not recommended
Never forget using collar stays when putting on a shirt
Wear undergarments and undershirts – they absorb sweat and are professional
Dress sober – dark shades in trousers and coats, light shades in shirts, and simple ties are good – always check the contrast to avoid looking informal or garish
For women in the beginning of their careers, it may be – and we stress ‘may be’ – good to avoid flashy heels or other eye-catching dress styles, so that people concentrate more on your capabilities and come to appreciate them
It’s good not to chance open-toe shoes or skirts shorter than knee-length for women right at the beginning of their careers – however for exceptional people, really, anything goes
Again for women at the beginning of their careers, it is safe to be conservative in every item of your dress from the pantyhose to your shirt – you want people to focus on your work capabilities early – once your capabilities are recognized, you can afford to dress the way you like, for by then the relevant people won’t bother about how you dress

The importance of dressing to suit the occasion cannot be overemphasized. In a crowd, royalty is set apart from commoners, sometimes by dress alone. From the military to the courts, professional bodies have well-established dress codes, because dress matters – it sends signals to the brain, and it is a mark of acquaintance with the established ways of doing things and shows a person’s respect for sophrosyne.

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About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

Immigration law
Workers’ compensation
Insurance defense
Family law
Trusts & estates
Municipal law
And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.

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