Dress for success in the Courtroom: A Sartorial Guidebook for Clients

Appearing in Court can provoke anxiety. This is true for clients and for attorneys, because our legal system is essentially personality driven. The personality and opinions of the parties and the judge as well as the attorneys create a new recipe for success or failure at every appearance in the Courtroom and can make it difficult to predict the outcome of your case.

For that reason, it can be helpful to know and conform your behavior to the expectations of the Judge, courtroom staff and attorneys in order to maximize your chance for success.

Look the the Court's rules of behavior in the courtroom - almost every judge has them - before you go to your hearing and make sure that you conform to them. This is not the time to express your individuality or personal world view. Your job in the Courtroom is to convince the Court to give you what you are asking for, so you need to follow the Court's rules.

The most important of these rules, the one the Judge will notice first if you do not comply, and the one that will follow you around all day, is how to dress.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Like it or not there is a lot of evidence to suggest that how you dress has a big impact on what other people think about you. And first impressions are hard to shake. A 2012 study at Northwestern University suggests that how you dress even impacts what you think of yourself. In that case subjects were more productive if they wore a lab coat or blazer.

In the Courtroom it is important for the Judge or Jury to hear what you have to say and base its decision on that, rather than the assumptions they make about you based upon your clothing. For that reason it is generally a good idea to wear conservative styles and colors to Court. Again, if they are thinking about your clothes they are not thinking about what you are saying.

MEN

For men, the safest route to good impression is a suit and tie. Black, gray and dark blue are best. Avoid tie pins, cufflinks or pocket handkerchiefs.

This is how lawyers are taught to dress for Court and as lawyers, Judges view this as appropriate courtroom attire. If you do not own a suit, opt for a blazer with a collared shirt and slacks. Some people only own jeans and t-shirts. If that is the case then go shopping. It matters that much.

WOMEN

The rules for women are similar to those for men. When I was in law school women were told to wear black or gray suits with white blouses, conservative make up and jewelry. In my experience this is a safe standard.

Again, you do not want the Judge or Jury thinking about your clothing because you don't want them forming judgments about you and your case based upon what you wear. I once heard a juror say she voted against a party because his lawyer's secretary wore a red dress to Court. A red dress in the Courtroom breaks all the rules because it is both an unusual color for Court and it draws attention.

Right or wrong, by wearing a flashy dress, this secretary invited the jury to focus on her clothes, which lead to thinking about her clothes, which lead to judging her clothes. That's a rookie mistake. Don't make it.

If you have to wear jewelry, keep it simple and minimal, bearing in mind that if they notice it, they will think about it, and if they think about it, they will judge it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

When you are getting dressed for Court keep the roadmap to doom in mind: notice --> think --> judge. Stay off this road by being as appropriate, and as boring as possible with regard to the style and colors of your clothing in the courtroom. A black suit, white shirt and conservative accessories are best for both sexes. The further you digress, the louder your invitation to think about what you are wearing, and the more likely you will be judged. Remember that the Courtroom is not the place to show your personality, express your individuality or rage against the machine. A courtroom is a place where your ability to conform will be assessed and judged. Laws are just rules, and when you go to Court a judge or jury will be asked to look at a law and decide how you measure up. Be sure when they look at your you are not wearing a a pink polka dotted bow tie.