Wardrobe tips are a funny thing: Often times, when you tell someone how to dress, you tick them off.

But there’s no denying that the wardrobe, at least around law offices and the courts, has gotten a bit less formal over the last decade or two. With that in mind, Robert Half Legal, a staffing agency, asked 350 lawyers who work with “the largest law firms and companies in the United States and Canada” whether we should all step our game up.

Or more specifically: “In general, would you prefer legal professionals dress more formally or casually in the office?”

Half Say Yes (to Some Degree)

Though 73 percent of respondents said that they have a “business casual” dress policy at work, more respondents than not would prefer a little more formality.

(Yes it adds up to 101 percent, but that’s because of rounding.)

Much more formally

8%

Somewhat more formally

42%

Neither more formally nor more casually

22%

Somewhat more casually

21%

Much more casually

3%

Don’t know/No answer

5%

Of course, the skeptic in me immediately has to point to the sample itself: 350 lawyers from big firms and companies. One would imagine that at places like IBM and Cravath, they’d expect formal attire.

But what about small law, mid-sized firms, public interest agencies, prosecutors and defense attorneys? You know, the bulk of all practicing lawyers? We’d be interested to hear from you, so we present the exact same question, in handy Internet poll form:

Unsolicited Advice

However, if you are looking to raise your standards a bit, personally or office-wide, here are a few handy tips we’ve provided in the past to get you started:

  • Does Your Small Firm or Solo Practice Need a Dress Code? 3 Tips
  • BigLaw Wardrobe on a SmallLaw Budget: Online Shopping
  • Building Your Professional Wardrobe on the Cheap
  • Can a Lawyer Wear Leopard Print to Work?
  • Legal Industry’s Fashion Crisis: $20,000 Watches or Clients with Spoons?
  • How to Give Advice, and Not Belittle, Women Attorneys
  • His and Hers Tips for Summer Associate Dressing

Related Resources:

  • This Lawyer is Orange and Has a Lambo. Do You Want to Be Him? (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates)
  • Law Suits: 3 Tips for Finding a Suit That Fits (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates)
  • Lessons From Robin Thicke: Deposition Don’ts (FindLaw’s Strategist)
  • Should Lawyers Ever Represent Relatives? (FindLaw’s Strategist)

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