Dress Code

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Dress Code

The Law Department has adopted a "business casual" attire policy during normal working hours for all attorneys and for professional staff who interact with clients and other visitors to our offices. Guidelines for this policy are set forth below.
 
When reviewing these guidelines, please keep in mind that dressing in a more relaxed manner for the office is not the same as dressing for recreation or other types of non-professional activities. Also, those who feel comfortable in traditional business attire are always welcome to dress in that manner any day.

  1. Traditional business attire should be worn in all circumstances where it is customary to dress in that manner. This includes, for example, appearances in court, meetings with clients or government agencies where traditional business attire is likely to be worn, depositions (both internal and external) and meetings with third parties or adversaries.
  2. Lawyers must keep a set of traditional business attire in the office in case something comes up that requires attendance in such dress. No employee should be unavailable because he or she is not dressed appropriately, or appear dressed inappropriately because the employee did not have correct clothing available.
  3. Some suggestions of what is "business casual" are: long-sleeved, collared shirts; blouses; turtlenecks; neat woolen, corduroy, khaki or dark denim slacks; crew or v-neck sweaters; turtlenecks; blazers; skirts; dresses; dress or casual shoes.
  4. The following are not permitted under this policy: T-shirts; sweatshirts; halter tops; tank or mesh tops; denim with rips or any other types of conventional blue jeans; shorts; overalls; sneakers; flip-flops; hiking boots; baggy un-pressed slacks; stretch (spandex, etc.) pants; and sun dresses. The best test is that if you have to think about its appropriateness, it probably is inappropriate and you should not wear it to the office.
  5. Business casual means neat, professional attire that is more relaxed. Even if you are not planning to see a client, or go to court, we will have clients in the office, and we need to present a professional image and business environment. Clients and others will draw conclusions about our level of professionalism based on what they see in our reception rooms and hallways.