Have you already secured an interview at a law firm? Congratulations!
Remember, how you present yourself at the interview is a huge element of your interview preparation. Your attire makes a huge impact on the recruiters and can either set a positive or negative note for the rest of the interview. The work atmosphere at a law firm is largely formal and law firms expect you to dress accordingly.
In this article, Team YLCC brings you guidance on the ultimate dress code for a law firm interview. Read on!
CLOTHING
MEN
For men, the ideal attire is a formal shirt with formal trousers. As far as colour is concerned, one may choose to wear neutral colours such as off-white, grey, black or white shirt and brown, grey, beige, white, black or navy blue trousers. A well fitting formal blazer and a tie will complete the look.
The Suit
A neutral colour is a given but rather than sticking to the black/grey/charcoal uniform of legal interns the world over, try a navy blue suit. It’s not too much of a style innovation to ruffle any feathers, but it is a slight break from the norm and is as acceptable in a legal office as it is in any boardroom.
However, we will caution you to avoid anything slimmer than a regular fit. Tight fitting clothes are not particularly popular in this traditionalistic industry.
The Shirt
This is where we would usually suggest an alternative to the classic white business shirt but in such a conventional industry it’s best to stick to the rules. After all, the law is the law. So it’s a white business shirt tailored to a regular fit with buttoned cuffs. We’d like to think the interviewer will remember you because of your personality and competence rather than a nice pair of university cuff links, so no need to accessorise.
WOMEN
Compared to men, women have excellent alternatives in terms of variety of clothing and colour schemes in formal dress codes. You may opt for formal pants or skirts with a blazer. Light shades formal shirts are likely to make a better impact than colours like black or grey.
FOOTWEAR
MEN
Contrary to popular perception, the interview panel or anybody in general is likely to notice the kind of shoes you are wearing. Shoes complete the attire and that is why the wrong choice of footwear can completely mess up our entire outfit. For men, the ideal option is to wear formal shoes (leather is preferable) in the usual colours of brown or black. It is important to avoid wearing boots or sandals.
WOMEN
As far as women’s footwear is concerned, they can choose from practically any colour as long as it does not look loud. Wear any neutral color footwear that matches your formal outfit. Women who have never tried heels should wear them to an interview against their comfort quotient in an attempt to appear like Rachel Zane from Suits. Also plumps, ankle booties, wedges, and cone heels should be avoided.
ACCESSORIES
WOMEN
Women can wear minimal jewelry for their law firm interview. They can go for hoops without glitters or regular silver chains. They can also wear a nice watch to get a classy and confident look.
MEN
Since men do not have too many options in the realm of jewellery, wearing watches or rings is minimal and acceotable. Accessories, however, should be formal and properly fitting.
Another important premise to be kept in mind while choosing accessories is they should not make unnecessary sounds or become a hindrance to you during your law firm interview. Your focus should be on the discussion, and any distraction can be harmful, as well as create a bad impression on the recruiters.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS:
Make sure your overall look is clean
According to Bain and Gray, 59% of interviewers found that stains and dirty marks were taken into consideration when deciding on a candidate. Law firms will want to trust that you can represent them appropriately to clients. Forgetting to button parts of your shirt or clean the stains off will probably not send a message that you’re particularly organised to the client.
Anything ‘extra’ is still a No-no
Some law firms are definitely more conservative than others, whilst some will prioritise being different over boring. However, this should be reflected in your answers and not your clothing. Do not make the mistake of putting on bright red socks or a crazy tie just to stand out from the others that are being interviewed. Put on a conservative suit and spice up the interview with your personality instead.
YLCC would like to thank Sachet Labroo for his valuable insights in this article.
