5 Outfits Totally Legal To Wear When Seeing A Lawyer
Legal issues are never fun to deal with and can be nerve-wracking regardless of what your issue may be. If you have never met with a lawyer, you may be wondering what the most appropriate attire is for such a meeting and what things you should avoid.
Generally, it is recommended that you dress in business casual attire when consulting with a lawyer. Wearing appropriate attire can mean the difference between being taken seriously and not. Your purpose for meeting with a lawyer can also influence the way you choose to present yourself.
If you have an upcoming consultation with a lawyer and would like to take the guesswork out of what to wear, continue reading this article for some helpful suggestions.
Should You Dress Up to Meet a Lawyer?
Truly, it should not matter what you wear to meet a lawyer as long as you have the money to pay them. After all, you are the one hiring them.
Having said that, if you wish to be taken seriously and not have people look at you like you are crazy for wearing your pajamas to a professional setting, it may behoove you to check out the suggestions for outfits that are appropriate to wear when meeting with a lawyer. Wondering how do I decide what to wear today? Make sure you know who you are meeting.
In most cases, an attorney will not say anything about what you are wearing unless it comes down to you having to appear in front of a judge.
If or when a court appearance is necessary, most lawyers will advise you to:
- Be sure your hair is neat and combed
- Dress professionally
- Shave or trim any facial hair
The next section will give brief descriptions of the different levels of attire.
5 Legal Outfits to Wear When Seeing a Lawyer
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the type of outfit you choose to wear when meeting with a lawyer for the first time may depend upon the issue you are having trouble with.
If persé, you need a will or a contract written, then you may not need to dress as formally as you would if you are being accused of a crime or pressing charges against someone else who has committed a crime against you.
Different situations call for different outfits. Continue reading for a more thorough description of styles and examples of clothing considered to be appropriate for meeting with a lawyer.
Defining Style for Choosing Appropriate Attire
This section will give brief descriptions of different styles of clothing and will highlight which are appropriate for meeting with a lawyer. This list is in order from the least formal option to the most formal for very serious matters.
1. Casual Friday Finds Its Way To The Attorney's Office
A casual style is pretty self-explanatory. It is basically anything that looks and feels comfortable and is not formal in appearance.
These are the types of outfits you would typically wear to:
- Do everyday errands
- Visit good friends and family
- Participate in other fun activities
In some situations, it may be appropriate to wear a casual outfit when meeting a lawyer if you are simply having them do some paperwork or write a contract.
Examples of women’s business casual clothing are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear |
|---|---|---|
| • Blouses • Sweaters • Tank tops • T-Shirts | • Cropped pants • Jeans • Mini skirts • Shorts | • Low heels • Open-toe shoes • Sandles or flip-flops • Sneakers |
Examples of men’s business casual clothing are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear |
|---|---|---|
| • Button-down shirts • Sweater • Tank tops • T-Shirts | • Jeans • Khakis • Shorts | • Loafers • Sandles or flip-flops • Sneakers |
2. Smart Casual
When trying to accomplish a smart casual look, you are simply taking your casual outfits to the next step by jazzing them up a little bit. This is another style that can be worn for simple things such as paperwork or having a contract written.
Ladies, you can easily accomplish this slight style change by adding accessories such as a:
- Handbag
- Jewelry
- Scarf
Additionally, you can spice up your casual look by wearing a dress/skirt or adding a nice blazer as an outer layer. Try adding some high heels or cute flats for a little extra style.
Gentlemen, if you are going for a smart-casual look, simply add a polo shirt, sports jacket, or tie to your ensemble. Try wearing some dress shoes or clean sneakers and adding a nice belt for a finished look.
3. Business Casual Is Generally A Safe Option
This is what to wear when you are not sure what to wear. It is the halfway point between totally casual and completely formal.
Meeting a lawyer, job interviews, and church functions are some examples of where you can wear this type of outfit. Wondering what to wear when meeting a recruiter? Business casual is always a good option.
Examples of women’s business casual clothing are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear/Accessories |
|---|---|---|
| • Blazers • Blouses • Button-down shirts • Sweaters | • Khakis • Pencil skirts • Trousers | • Belts • Boots • Flats • Heels • Jewelry • Loafers • Scarves |
The following link is a great example of a business casual outfit for women. It can be dressed up or down, and multiple accessories can be added to match your personality.
Examples of men’s business casual clothing are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear/Accessories |
|---|---|---|
| • Button-down shirts • Polo shirts • Sports jackets • Suit jacket | • Khakis • Slacks • Trousers | • Belt • Boots • Dress shoes • Loafers • Tie |
If you are looking for a clean look that can be appropriate for multiple situations, try wearing an outfit similar to the one on this link.
4. Business Professional Steps Your Look Up A Bit
When you need to have a traditional conservative look, business professional is the route to take. Typically those working in more formal professionals such as bankers, accountants, and lawyers will wear this style of clothing.
If you have a formal court hearing, your lawyer may recommend that you wear something in this category so you can be taken seriously by the judge and jury. The clothing in this category should be tailored to fit you so you have a clean, professional look that people will notice.
Examples of women’s business professional clothing are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear/Accessories |
|---|---|---|
| • Blazer • Blouse • Button-down shirt • Fitted dress | • Skirts • Slacks | • Belts • Flats • Loafers • Low heels • Simple jewelry |
For a professional look that says you mean business try a skirt suit or something similar to this outfit.
Examples of men’s business professional clothing are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear/Accessories |
|---|---|---|
| • Button-down dress shirt with neutral colors and clean lines • Dark gray or navy blue suit jacket | • Dark gray or navy blue suit trousers | • Belt • Dress shoes • Loafers • Simple tie |
If you want to look sharp for your first meeting or an appearance before the judge, try wearing this suit. Not only will you turn heads, but people will take you seriously with the professional image you are portraying.
5. Gender Neutral Options
For those who do not wish to be labeled or identify as a specific gender, there are clothing options that are professional and neat that anyone can wear.
Examples of non-binary clothing options are:
| Tops | Bottoms | Footwear/Accessories |
|---|---|---|
| • Blazers • Button-down shirts • Sports jackets • Sweaters | • Khakis • Pantsuits • Slacks • Trousers | • Belt • Dress shoes • Loafers |
With so many options, it can be difficult to choose what to wear. Keep it simple with a nice pantsuit like the one on this link. The great thing about a basic pantsuit is it can be dressed up or down according to your needs or mood that day.
The next section will discuss how to prepare for your initial consultation with a lawyer.
How Do I Prepare for My First Meeting With a Lawyer?
You have your clothing ready, but now you may be wondering what to expect and how else you can prepare for your first meeting with a lawyer.
There are multiple ways to prepare for an initial consultation with a lawyer. Being properly prepared can make the difference between winning and losing your case. Having as much information ready upon your initial meeting can help to expedite your case.
To learn more about how to prepare for your initial consultation with a lawyer, continue reading for some helpful tips.
Preparing for a Consultation with a Lawyer
If you have never had to meet with a lawyer, you may not know what to expect upon your first encounter. Along with looking nice and professional, the following three things will help you to be on top of your game and get your case handled properly.
Accurate Information
Before going into the lawyer’s office all willy-nilly, get your information straight. Be sure you know your facts and exactly what you want to say and accomplish by meeting with a lawyer.
If your lawyer doesn’t have a good understanding of the situation and the facts, you don’t have a very good chance of a favorable decision.
Personal Information
Have all of your personal information and identification available for the lawyer to make copies for their records.
Supportive Evidence
If you have any evidence or paperwork that will be beneficial to your case, be sure to bring it with you upon your first meeting. The more evidence you can provide, the better chances of you winning your case.
Take Notes
Bring a notebook and pen along when you meet your lawyer for the first time. Sometimes dealing with a stressful situation can cause us to be forgetful; writing down what you have discussed and what needs to be done, and by when, can be helpful later when you are trying to remember what the heck happened.
The next section will discuss what not to say when meeting with a lawyer.
What Should You Not Say to a Lawyer?
Here are a few things to avoid when meeting a lawyer if you want them to take you seriously.
- If you have appointments that are pertinent to your case, be sure to keep them. Your lawyer does not want to hear that you are not complying with appointments or missing meetings with them. They may not keep you as a client.
- When meeting with your lawyer, be sure to bring all necessary documents and evidence. A lawyer hates to hear that their clients have forgotten items that are needed in order to win the case.
- Don’t try to get a lower price by telling a lawyer that the attorney’s office down the road is willing to charge less. You may find that they will send you to that office rather than take your case.
Neat Appearances Give Better First Impressions
Hopefully, the tips in this article will help you dress for success and be better prepared for any upcoming legal matters that you may be handling. Just remember to keep it simple and clean and have your facts straight before your initial meeting.
Maybe you aren’t specifically meeting a lawyer, but instead you have jury duty. We’ve still got you covered with our article on what do I wear for jury duty.
