New York Lawyer
February 2, 2005

Q:
I have two questions.

(1) I have accepted a summer associate position at a BigLaw firm for next summer. They are the no. 1 firm in our metro area and I am very excited to go there, but I am also very nervous. I am hoping that I will fit in and do a good job. Is there anything that you think I should do to prepare before I start working there?

(2) I spoke to someone who mentioned that "they are the best dressed lawyers in town" and I am unsure of where "the best dressed" female lawyers in town get their suits? Any tips about the general clothing issue would be very helpful.

Thanks so much!

Looking Forward to the Summer

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A:

On your first question, obviously it is normal to be nervous and to figure out ways to make a good impression. You have already found out something about the firm (best dressed in town) so you can also try to find out other information about the firm culture to give you an advance sense of how they do things. Find out what counts in terms of getting ahead (hours, quality of work, socializing with partners, etc.); whether the emphasis is on formal vs. informal relationships; is it hierarchical or more egalitarian; and so forth. Anything you can find out is worthwhile. Sometimes you can ferret this information out from other lawyers in the community whom you may know, graduates of your law school who have gone to work there, or (better yet) people who formerly worked there.

This kind of asking around can help you prepare, although of course nothing will prepare you for the actual experience better than plunging in and doing it. Another thought is that if you have already been committed to a particular practice area, you can bone up on case law so that you can hit the ground running a bit better than you would otherwise.

On your second question, it's hard to know how to advise you on where to shop since I don't know what metro area you're in. This makes a difference as regional differences continue with respect to female standards of dress - for example, pant suits in court are fine in some places, frowned upon in more rural areas.

In any event, at the beginning I'd go easy on standout clothing. Establish your reputation a little bit before going out and buying fancy duds. Also, you can absorb the atmosphere, see what the dress standards are and (if you feel comfortable with them) act accordingly.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work