New York Lawyer
April 22, 2004

Q:
I'm a very young female attorney. I'm 23 to be exact; I started school quite young. My dentist has just told me that I need to wear braces.

I'm devastated.

My clients and colleagues won't take me seriously for sure! I have already found it difficult because of my age without the braces.

I don't know what to do. Any advice? Thanks.

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A:

At least be happy this isn�t 20 or 30 years ago, when braces were worn pretty strictly by teenagers and therefore adults wearing braces were completely weird. Now plenty of adults wear braces, so it�s not unheard of by any means.

However, because you are younger than the vast majority of lawyers, this is a bit more of a challenge. Remember that there are ways you can counteract your young appearance and demeanor, so use these tips to make sure that people look beyond your dentistry:

Be careful about your dress. Don�t overdo casual business dress; in fact, for now it would be better to stick to more formal wear, so it�s clear you�re an attorney. You don�t need to be severe in your dress, but make sure it�s dressed up and stylist. Also, add a touch of personality to show some confidence, such as scarves, nice jewelry, colorful blouses, and so forth. Your hairstyle can also influence how young you appear; an Alice in Wonderland look might work against you.

Don�t come on too strong in trying to establish your credentials. That�s always a sure sign of a young person who�s trying to counteract suspicion about their abilities and experience. Assuming you�ve done your homework, you can feel confident that you know as much as the next first year associate. Don�t overdo it, thereby alienating people, by being officious or overly aggressive.

Do make it clear that you�re dedicated and that you know your stuff. While you don�t want to come on too strong, you do need to overcome initial skepticism. Make apparent that you are dedicated to your job and know what you�re talking about. So pay attention to your assignments, learn what you need to know thoroughly, and speak knowledgeably, so that when people mention that you look awfully young, others can respond that they have worked with you, and that you�re well qualified and work hard.

Start making connections soon; you�ll need them to help overcome questions. Make sure to start building bonds around the office and in the bar generally.

Ask your young looking friends, either within your workplace or -- better yet -- elsewhere, what they do about this problem. This is a common dilemma and you�ll find that many people have small but important tactics for overcoming doubts related to their youth.

And most important of all: Don�t bemoan your youth. All too soon, you�ll be wanting it back -- but at least you�ll age with straight white teeth.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work