- Quickdraw McLaw
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Based on one of the comments yesterday, how many hours a day do you spending doing various parts of your job? Is it is eight hours in front of a screen? Two hours on the phone? Three hours in court for a status check? What percentage of your day is spent staring out the window while you strategize or listen to a Zoom deposition? What is the most physical part of your job?
Nowadays, 100% of my time is in front of a screen. I'm a litigator and have been to an actual courthouse one time since March 2020. I'm not doing 14 hour days on any kind of regular basis and especially not since the pandemic. Depends on the day, but some portion of my time is spent on the phone while I still have stuff up on the screen in front of me. There is almost zero physical aspect to this work at the moment. I pretty much don't wear suits anymore. I think I got into the full ensemble a few times last year, but I have definitely done a couple hearings with just adding the shirt, tie, and jacket over my t-shirt and shorts. We're starting our third year of this pandemic. Is this the new normal?
At one point in early 2021 I had to stop and think about it before I tied my tie. I prefer the jacket and tie over gym shorts ensemble, but you do have to be conscious of the camera angle when standing up to get a cup of coffee or quiet the dogs.
Can we, as a profession, all agree that business casual is the new norm even for court? We are still remote and the dread of wearing dress pants again is too much to think about some days. Has the pandemic influenced office and courtroom attire?
Office, yes. Courtroom, no.
No need for a full suit at the office if you know you're not going to court unless you know one of your clients is the type to be put off seeing you in anything but a Tod Wilkinson special. Yes, we've become a less formal society, but wear business casual to court at your own risk.
I agree with 2:11. Business casual at court doesn't sit well with me. Plus judges are finicky about that kinda thing. When you're an attorney, your clothes are the last thing the judge should take note of. Put on a suit.
Agree on that one. I never wear a suit for my occasional visits to he office. But for court, always. I've seen some pretty casual outfits on BlueJeans, and it doesn't sit well with me.
If you forgot your tie, Judge Conrad Hafen always had a selection you could choose from if you wanted your case heard.
It's always interesting to me the judges' disdain for more casual clothes, considering their level of causal attire under the robe. I think attorney's need to look professional, but that does not always require a jacket and tie. I think this is especially true in the summer. There is just no need to require layers of clothes when it's 110 outside.
But then again, they didn't ask for my input…
Circa 2004, Nick Delvecchio back in chambers wearing $8 Russell Cotton Sweats, Tshirt and Teva Sandals under his robe. I didnt respect him before……after. I still didnt respect him.
1:37-his casual attire is really low on the long list of valid reasons NOT to respect him
1:25 here. I of course wear a suit to court, even while on Bluejeans (though with black, yet casual, pants). Just wishful thinking maybe it could change, like if we all collectively agreed. 🙂
There are different definitions of business casual. As long as one looks professional, IMO the quality of your briefs and arguments and being prepared with an appropriate background i.e. not your unmade bed with piles of laundry, is more important than the quality of your threads.
I don't think you need a "quality" suit. I think some of the commenters are just pointing out that there's an expectation of an attorney's appearance. You can dress professional without spending a lot on a designer suit.
The quality of one's briefs is especially important if one is appearing via BlueJeans sans trousers.
I own some very fine suits. The best. I have not worn them in almost two years. It is liberating. Very liberating.
HOLY COW! New Administrative Order issued this morning that all trials of over 1 week are being continued at least a month because there is a COVID outbreak in the courthouse. I hate to say Schadenfreude at Hardesty's ridiculous AO last week but how did they not see this coming?
Also no more in person appearances except for trial.
But as of last week we are going to stack 50 trials a stack every stack and triple book departments effective immediately. I heard Department 31 was shut down entirely due to an outbreak. I had a senior judge earlier this week handling motion calendar for multiple departments so that the trial judge could proceed with trial– except the senior deferred all of the rulings until the trial judge is back.
Anyone pushing this 50 trial per week nonsense should be ashamed of themselves.
Here is the Administrative Order 22-02.
https://eighthjdcourt.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/administrativeorder22_02.pdf
settle down ya'll, some of us have jobs!