| sebastian_dangerfield |
01-08-2004 12:42 PM |
Poster Boys
Quote:
Originally posted by robustpuppy
I was at a meeting the other day with fifteen male lawyers and financial analysts. Not one bangable guy in the bunch, and a fashion disaster. Ten of them were wearing button down shirts with their suits. Eight of those shirts were oxfords. Three of them were wearing loafers with suits, two penny, one tassel. Of twelve remaining pairs of shoes with actual laces, only 3 pair had leather soles. Several ties did not appear to be made of silk. I don't think there were any clip-ons.
Only two men got it all right (and one of them was a govt. fin. analyst). One of them actually wore a suit that was neither gray nor navy. I didn't like his cufflinks, but otherwise he did very well. The number should have been higher, as five of the men were from top tier NY based biglaw firms. They might have been dressing down, however, to fit in with the guvvies.
The women were even worse. I was the best-dressed one there, and that's saying a lot, as I was wearing my least favorite suit. I bought it in law school, and it's ... I can barely write this ... triacetate. You can't tell if you're not close up, as it's well made, but I know the truth. My shoes were killer, though.
|
Law is a wonderful field if you're half attractive and have a shred of charisma and style. You feel sooooooo much better about yourself when you sit through meetings. I used to feel inadequate because I was rarely as prepared as everyone else, but now I just take over the fuckin conversation, because everybody's such a disaster that if you look put together, people assume you're in charge. Its really fucked up. We do meeting with prospective clients where other lawyers show up looking like high school guidance counselors. I've had to bite my tongue from saying "Goddamnit, how did you get through Dartmouth/Penn/etc... without learning how to dress like a human!"
If you look like shit, you'll be thought of as shit. I won't cower from any lawyer in a cheap suit, no matter how much smarter he is. But if you're smart and you've got your act together, I will be careful, because you've given me a sign I should be concerned.
The "dress down and play the simple man" gig does not work, even in the outlying counties. You can have all the law on the planet on your side, but if you're a zero, I'm going to win the judge because I'll make him smile. Of course, the real secret is listening. I have yet to see a lawyer who doesn't listen to the judge win jack shit. The fastest way to pick any pocket is to keep your fucking mouth shut until its time to speak. Hence, I must always blather on this board because I'm chock full if shit i don't get to say all day... That, and I'm a pompous blowhard, who's mainly correct. |
