What to Wear to a Law Clerk Interview

In general, you are wrong on the side of formality. No one will look down on a suit during an interview with a law firm, even if it`s not absolutely necessary. (Tech companies are exceptions to this rule, but most law firms are still relatively conservative places.) There are two main types of interviews: behavioral and situational. A behavioral interview is typically used to screen potential employees, while a situational interview is used to determine if a candidate has the skills to perform a particular job. In a profession where your clothes don`t speak for you, but your job does, wearing stylish and trendy clothes can seem reversible. The same goes for colors, which are two bright and eye-catching colors. As they say, when they do it in Rome, they do it like the Romans. The same applies if you wear in law firms what law firms wear. Dress for an interview with a law firm is business attire.

This means suits and ties for men and conservative dresses or trouser suits for women. Your clothes should be clean and ironed, and they should fit well to give a professional look. If you`re not sure what looks good for you, look at the outfits of professionals who are successful in your field or people who hold similar positions. You can also ask your friends and family members who work locally for advice on what looks good to them. For a conservative employer, Kate suggests staying away from trendy styles like skinny pants, but Amanda says she “wore cigarette pants a little shortened” at her meeting with the government, which obviously went well. However, she suggests that you avoid jogging pants, no matter how beautiful the material: “You`ll make your interviewer feel very, very old.” When in doubt, choose a classic and straight cut (Mejia pants are a safe bet) for your interview outfit. If you decide to dress a little, don`t go too far. You don`t want to show up for an interview in Casual Friday outfit! Make sure you`re at least a little fancier than your interviewer, and you should be fine. As for the “what to wear” part, the rules for men and women are similar: always sin on the conservative side. With a few exceptions, your number one clothing choice for a legal interview should be a suit. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed on such an occasion.

Here are some tips to remember as you prepare for the big day: For men, professional clothing includes a suit, tie, and polished shoes. A suit can be worn in different colors such as navy blue, gray or black, depending on the type of job offer you are applying for. You can also wear a sports coat with pants or pants instead of a full suit if you don`t have one at home. In my quest to re-enter the workforce, I learned that finding interview outfits for lawyers was a major source of stress. I was constantly asking my lawyer friends via text chains if it was okay to wear those earrings or heels or that suit. After all, lawyers are a conservative and petty group formed to be focused on details and rules; I maintain that my fear was justified. With this system, it can be easy to keep track of what the different companies you wear have seen. For example, you may choose to wear a skirt suit during initial on-campus interviews and pants during an encore. Or you can choose to wear your gray suit and striped suit first for encores. Follow the Steve Jobs method for dressing and reduce the number of things you need to think about before a job interview! If you don`t worry about which shoes go with which suit, you can spend that time researching companies and planning your maintenance approach. The interview is one of the most important parts of the hiring process, so it`s important to prepare for it. Research the company you`re interviewing with and make sure you dress professionally.

You probably don`t need to carry a tube. Personally, I would say that no one (except Kate Middleton, of course) wears bare tights anymore, especially in the summer, but shaves their legs. In winter, it`s okay to wear transparent or semi-transparent black tights (I like Top Tights Commando Sheer Control). Nina, a corporate lawyer in the financial sector, agrees with me, but Amanda and Kate both warn that the tip may be advised in some white shoe companies, as some older lawyers may find bare legs inappropriate. Arial thinks that the hose does not hurt, but is not necessary in the summer. Under no circumstances should you wear patterned tights or fishing nets. Here are our top tips to follow for your next interview with a law firm. No one likes people who are late.

It makes you look bad as a person. So always reach half an hour before your interview to calm down and relax your mind. During this time, you can look around, talk to a few people, and get acquainted with the surroundings. In this extra time, you can check your documents and any last-minute errors. Put on a conservative costume and instead spice up the interview with your personality. The most important thing to remember is to think “professional” and “neat”, not “pretty” and “creative” when dressing for a job interview. The good news is that you have some freedom when choosing between skirts, suits, and pants. Emily thinks pantsuits are the best because you don`t have to worry about the pipe (another hot topic discussed below).

She also believes that pantsuits are also less likely to be too tight (note: this is because she has never seen me in a pantsuit). Meanwhile, Amanda — a federal prosecutor — says the costumes “read like mature and polished,” which can be helpful if you`re young or young. Kate, an in-house lawyer in the notoriously conservative mutual fund industry, puts it this way: “Skirt suit > suit > trouser suit because some older people still think women shouldn`t wear pants.” (Good heartache.) Use tact during the interview to answer questions directly and honestly. Your self-confidence says more about yourself than almost anything else. Never apologize for flaws; Instead, expect confident answers to potentially uncomfortable questions. Interviews are also not the appropriate place to complain, as interviewers assume that your negative attitude will persist during your employment. Don`t bring a normal everyday handbag to a job interview. Instead, wear a leather (or leather-looking) carrying bag or a women`s briefcase. “It should match your portfolio and include printed copies of your resume,” says Kate.

Arial thinks designers or credits are just as good, but logo prints (and outrageous logos in general) are meager. That being said, Nina thinks she`s already been called back because a partner liked her red leather bag, so there might be room here to show style. T3. Can you wear casual clothes in small law firms? As a general rule, you should normally wear business attire. In the event that you are interviewing a public benefit organization or even a start-up, a full prosecution is not necessarily necessary. However, it is always better to play it safe. So, if you`re not sure, Business Formal is the way to go. While the formal dress code for businesses can be quite simple, there are some variations that might make you wonder if you`re following this dress code exactly. For example, a formal business suit for a more liberal company in the North may be extremely inappropriate for an interview at a small Conservative business in the South. Therefore, if you dress the room appropriately, you will fit into the corporate culture of your potential employer. That`s why a suit should be your favorite outfit, unless you`re asked to wear something stylish and casual.

A well-fitting suit will contain everything positive: dark, conservative, chic, appropriate and most importantly professional. So dress up for the interview and crush it! After leaving the interview, take a moment to take notes about the interview, your reaction, what was said, and your impression of the interviewer(s) and the company. These notes will help you prepare if you are invited for a second visit. One option is to use the “dress code” when making appointments.