Business casual is the new norm for attorneys

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A solo practitioner who rarely appears in court, Derek Hawkins seldom finds himself suiting up for work.

His specialties in business transactions and intellectual property make it much more likely that his dealings with the public will occur at his office in Milwaukee, where he has maintained his practice for about two years.

Hawkins said his dress and his office decor and trappings are all directed toward one main goal: Putting clients at ease.

“It’s not that I have ping-pong tables and masseuses,” Hawkins said. “It’s a relaxed atmosphere, and the clients like that. We’re trying to keep things consistent.”

With “business formal” attire no longer de rigueur for legal practitioners, many lawyers are no doubt basking in their new-found freedom. But, as with most gains, there is a tradeoff.

Lawyers who could once get by with simply knowing how to look presentable in a suit now must be much more attuned to questions of appropriateness. Above all, they must know how to distinguish occasions that allow for business casual from those that still require business formal. And they must know how to carry off both styles well.

At Hawkins’ office, business casual is the norm. Far from an aberration that would be acceptable only at a small firm, this practice puts Hawkins in line with many of the biggest law firms in the state. Quarles & Brady, for instance, has guidelines calling for business-casual attire.

That said, a suit and a tie are usually still required when attorneys meet clients or are in litigation, said Jim Friedman, a business attorney and partner at Quarles. The one exception to the rule comes on Fridays, when attorneys can wear jeans if they help raise money for charity. Quarles picks a different charitable group each week.

It’s all a far cry from the rules Friedman encountered early in his career.

“When I first started practicing law, male lawyers wore coats and ties almost all the time,” he said. “That was 44 years ago.”

Terese Halfmann, an associate attorney at Hupy and Abraham who has been practicing for 30 years, said the changes have been even more striking for women. When she started out, she said, women seen out in any sort of professional capacity could be counted to be wearing pants and a solid white blouse. It was almost a uniform.

“We used to wear a tie substitute … a scarf-like bow,” she said. “It was sort of like you walked around like a female version of a male.”

Know your clients

While business casual may be the rule in general, there are always exceptions — especially when clients’ preferences are taken into account.

Some clients, because of the nature of their business, might be offended if their lawyer shows up in a suit, Hawkins said. The tech industry, for instance, prides itself on its avoidance of any hint of stuffiness in its workplaces.

Business formal, on the other hand, is a given when you are meeting a client from the banking industry.

“You really want to identify the clients that you serve,” Hawkins said. “Certain clients will have certain expectations.”

Halfmann, a personal-injury attorney who specializes in negligence cases involving nursing homes, adheres to Hupy and Abraham’s business casual policy. Her goals are generally to be comfortable, yet to still look like a lawyer and, foremost, to keep her clients in mind.

“I don’t like to intimidate clients because I’m working for them, and I don’t want to make them uncomfortable,” Halfmann said.

When meeting a client at a nursing home or hospital, she makes it a point to dress as a relative might.

“I try to blend in,” she said. “I don’t want to threaten anyone or make anyone nervous.”

Order in the court

When appearing in court, Kristen Scheuerman, a personal-injury lawyer and partner at Herrling Clark in Appleton, likes to keep it simple.

“My rule of thumb is to always play it safe and stick to conservative attire when in a courtroom or before a jury,” she said.

Halfmann agreed. Her standard practice is to don a business suit, little if any jewelry and nylons if she is wearing a skirt or dress. Those choices, she readily acknowledged, might not be for everyone.

“You still have to respect the court and come in looking business-like,” she said.

Halfmann said it is also important for attorneys to make sure there is nothing in their attire that would take attention away from important legal matters at hand. Women, she said, probably have more to worry about here than men.

“We are judged more by juries and courtroom personnel, including the judges,” Halfmann said. “Nothing about you should distract them from what you are saying.”

Comfort is also important, particularly at trial. Scheuerman’s best advice is to never to wear a brand-new pair of shoes to court if you don’t know how to walk in them and they keep you from moving around the courtroom.

“You should be comfortable because you’ll be under a lot of stress,” Halfmann said. “You don’t want to worry about that.”

All in the details

For Jason Abraham, an owner of Hupy and Abraham, the key is to always put some thought into your appearance. Make choices for deliberate, defensible reasons rather than simply out of habit.

“You only get one chance to make an impression,” Abraham said. “Being a trial attorney, that’s important to what I do. That first impression is so important.”

One simple piece of advice that is too often overlooked is to make sure your attire fits properly, said both Abraham and Halfmann. Clothing should be neither loose fitting nor tight.

“You should look in the mirror and see if anything about the way you look might distract someone,” Halfmann said.

Friedman agreed, also noting that basic upkeep is important.

“Everyone has a budget limitation on what they can spend,” he said. “There’s lots of places to buy clothing that is nice, and if you take care of them and make sure they are pressed and clean, you can always look very presentable.”

Shoes should also be clean and polished. For Scheuerman, comfort is king.

“The number one thing is you have to be comfortable in your own skin,” she said, “Don’t try to dress outside your own comfort zone. If you’re comfortable, that translates to confidence.”

And don’t be afraid to ask for advice either from someone who has been around the firm longer than you have or from an employee at a clothing store.

“It doesn’t matter where you go,” said Abraham. “Find what looks good on you. Put thought into it.” Follow @erikastrebel