- Quickdraw McLaw
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It’s just plain hot out there and it has one of our readers asking a very important question: What is appropriate court attire for all those hot lawyers out there?
We get some guidance from the Rules:
EDCR Rule 7.72. Courtroom conduct and attire. Proceedings in court should be conducted with dignity and decorum. All persons appearing in open court must be properly attired as befits the dignity of the court. All male attorneys must wear full length trousers, coat and tie; female attorneys must wear suitable dresses or pantsuits.
Seriously? Do you really need to wear a jacket to court? Does this apply to both sexes? What exactly is a suitable dress when it’s 115 degrees? What about footwear? Are open toe sandal heels okay? Are Birkenstocks ever appropriate? Where do you draw the line between appropriate and inappropriate?
What about when you don’t leave the office on days like this? Does your firm have a summer dress code or a special dress code for heat waves?
I am in the minority but I think open toe shoes are never okay for court. I know with summer rules the jackets aren't enforced.
Our firm is small enough that common sense is fine for a dress code. Have never spoken to staff about it because they always dress just fine. In honor of this post I'm going to wear shorts to work today.
Interesting aside, no mention of shoes in the rule. Must explain the older male attorneys I've seen wearing sneakers.
What do you think about the termination of Jon Ralston? Do you think it had anything to do with this? http://www.snopes.com/did-sanders-supporters-throw-chairs-at-nevada-democratic-convention/
He seems to have burned a lot of bridges with former employers, leaving him with not many options for a media outlet to pick him up. Where do you think he lands? I'm a big fan and I worry that he will be relegated to a blog and a podcast.
Jon has a relevantly small (but loyal) following that just will not gin up enough ratings for a television show to stay alive. He needs to rethink his format if that is really what he wants to do.
Jon is all about Jon. So while he promoted that his show was about you tuning in to see his guest, what you largely got was Jon shrilly speaking. Not very likeable. Not very PBS. And no (contrary to what Sanders supporters might want to believe, it had nothing to do with the Convention story).
Jon is a fascinating character. He is brilliant and accomplished, and yet incredibly petty and insecure.
His attack on the criminal defense bar for OUR (yes, I'm biased) opposition to the confrontation clause eroding legislation was petty. In tone and in substance. His attack on Bernie Sanders and his supporters, while maybe deserved, was petty. He's petty. I'm now much more likely to donate to KNPR during their next fundraising drive.
When I first started practice here, most lawyers had downtown offices and walked to court, so "summer rules" were in play, and men did not have to wear jackets, but most still did, after carrying them to court. Women's shoe heels got stuck in melting asphalt crossing the street in front of the courthouse, but they still wore appropriate shoes (i.e. not hooker shoes or essentially flip flops). As an old fart, I am stunned by the questionable wear that women attorneys show up in. I don't think suits are required — professional dresses look just as good, but some of them look like they just got off the night shift. When it is that bad it definitely detracts from the strength of their arguments. I am surprised their firms let them appear like that.
I am a female attorney, and I never wear anything less than a suit to court. It might be a dress with a suit jacket, but it looks professional. I'm surprised when the first thing they say isn't "I'm sorry for the way I'm dressed…." 4 inch animal print shoes? uh NO! If I ever seen a man in less than a full suit, the first words he says to the Judge is "I'm sorry….."
I am a female attorney and I hate the way most females dress…cover your toes, your legs, your gross old titties, and put on a jacket (a jacket that's not a bright color). Is it that difficult??! I don't care how effing hot it is, I'm always wearing black tights and I'm covered up like a Duggar. Save your ho wear for the club. As a criminal defense attorney I would never risk alienating a judge, DA or jury member over my clothing.
Said female criminal attorney is describing Kristina Wildeveld to a T and I appreciate that because she really needs to dress age appropriate… I agree with her overall statement though, dress at a level that the court and your client respects you, you're not a flipping hobo so stop dressing like one. And shave all hipster beards, no jury will take you seriously when it looks like your face banged Chim Chim from Speed Racer.
Claggett is well groomed. Dresses nice. Man, he is sexy. I would ride that white pony all night long. Dry humping, or not.
LMAO.
Yes to the above re old titties. They aren't pretty to anyone. Put them away. I have no problem with open toe shoes, even dressy sandals (sans rhinestones, geez!)as long as there isn't a weird pedicure. Green polish? Really? And no flat sandals. It isn't the fricken' beach.
I work for a national firm and we recently went the way of Google – business casual provided attorneys keep a suit in their office for court/client meetings (previously, we only had business casual in the summer). For the most part, all of our attorneys and staff respect the business casual dress code. I appreciate working for a progressive firm that recognizes times are changing.
In and out of the office are completely different things.
Thigh high boots all year round.
Only appropriate at Eglet Prince…
I like that hot redhead with the tattoo sleeve on the Eglet website. Danielle………YOU ARE HOT!
You can look, but you cannot touch.
I'd touch her 🙂 Love the drinking in the group picture of the Eglet Prince home page internet picture.
I see many wannabe websites popping up. Nagvhi with his 115 degrees hot "hostesses."
Here, we can get your own phone booth, and get some tissues so you can clean up after yourself after your party of one.
I park across the street from the courthouse and I just want to let you female attorneys know that I appreciate the hell out of your inappropriate attire.
Amen to that!
I appreciate it when I see certain female PI attorneys who dress sexy but aren't.
Other than minors, is there much precedent for keeping victims identities secret? I get the "encourages victims to come forward" angle, but I can't shake the notion that this is a case of a priveleged person getting special treatment. Public embarassment is one of the risks of this behavior…I don't like that he's getting away without it.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/las-vegas-man-wants-probation-extortion-case-involving-sex-tapes
I can say for a fact that some Judges prefer that female attorneys keep their arms covered in court, and business attire (but not necessarily suit jackets) for male attorneys. But that is about it.
Yes, that would be the Mormon judges, who are sexist pigs. You can keep your nasty retorts to yourself, because I could give a fuck.
Same judges who will rule against women for wearing pant suits.
I am going to show some shoulder to Hafen, and see if I get placed in the tank.
You want to see a scary sight, seeing Gina Bonjovi without sleeves on in a spray tan.
Yeah, voting for Annette Levy. Go, Levy!
I have to say women's shoes are getting ridiculous… just because it has a heel doesn't mean it's for court. You can have personality in your shoes, but try not to let your shoes be the first thing someone sees on you.
And for crying out loud, can women please stop complimenting each others shoes as part of our general conversation. It's belittles us.
I don't know, a decent pair of Louboutin's truly completes an outfit. Just sayin.
3:14 wears ugly shoes, perhaps orthopedic shoes for clubbed feet, and never compliments anyone for anything, probably never receives compliments either. It isn't belittling to compliment someone on their shoes, it's nice. I know lots of female attorneys that wear great shoes, and dress extremely professionally.
Do those nice, expensive shoes make up for the hammer toes? Because as a man, no matter how "cute" you think the shoes are, when they come off is when the judgment starts.
Just go get you some Bill Cosby socks. Protects you from hundreds of rape convictions.
Two lawyers meet up for a ECC, shake hands and say "Hi, I'm Susan, Nice to meet you." "Hi, I'm Jane, nice to meet you as well. Oh, cute shoes." "Your shoes are soooo cute also" And they both proceed to giggle.
I have seen that happen so many times. It's just embarrassing that we reduce ourselves to, "oh, cute shoes." How about something less patronizing like "nice day isn't it."
10:25 has never had to figure out how to find time to go shopping, let alone find tolerable shoes… orthopedic shoes for clubbed feet. Poster must be Mary Perry.
For the rest of us upright walking "ladies," a "cute shoes" compliment is not patronizing, it's nice, and it softens the inherent catty nature of female interaction. So buzz off back to your velcro leather clubbed feet solitude, and leave women that still care about femininity to encourage their adversaries and take away some of the contention involved in litigation by being kind and complimentary.
A cute shoe compliment in everyday life is nice. I agree, and contrary to 10:35's statement, I have received them. But in the business world, it's just a ruse to put women in their place by reminding us that we are just simple-minded women ("Your shoes are, like, soooo cute, hehehehe."). And unfortunately, women do it to themselves.
In the business world, do men routinely compliment each others ties? No. Because someone's fashion choices generally shouldn't be discussed during a business type meeting. The fact that it's a standard practice for women makes it patronizing.
I'm appalled at what some attorneys wear to court. Yes it's hot out – so carry your jacket into court and put it on when you get into the AC. Open toed shoes are for the club, not court. So are the trashy, body-con dresses. I'm of the opinion if your outfit distracts attention from your argument, you aren't dressed appropriately.
Bernie, you will get elected next time. You can always borrow Hafen's ties from his coat closet. You can always get rid of that mothball smell.
Who is on the So. Nevada Disciplinary board?
Two pricks, Dobberstein and Dennis Kennedy.
Birtsch ? Marek Bute, Jeffrey Posin
Jen Sarafina, Bob Schumacher
Chris Lalli and Carol Zucker Kamer
All scumbags, thank you. You allowed my attorney to rip me off for several thousands of dollars. Hope you get ripped off.
Nothing to see here…move….along….
Are you kidding me, Dennis Kennedy is quality. He would never support a fellow attorney who ripped somebody off. Never happen.
Um, Dennis Kennedy and his boys are a bunch of asses. Nothing worth 1k an hour out of that place.
I have a problem with a DA being on the board, Chris Lalli, they do not have clients and have no idea what an attorney who has to deal with clients goes through. His whole job is based on finding a guilty party and the idea that he can be open minded is somewhat laughable.
Dennis Kennedy is amazing. Again, this blog is full of haters that can't just swallow the fact that they aren't worth $1K an hour and he is. He is a good, ethical, and professional attorney. I would easily qualify him as one of the best attorneys in town. I am not Dennis Kennedy. He is leaps and bounds above most of us, and deserves all the success in the world.
Can confirm – 9:57 is not DK. DK is a decent attorney, but is not the most technologically included. The only way he could find this website is if it was listed in a phonebook.
9:57 is one of his piss poor associates, I mean partners, who are a joke. I am worth $1k an hour, I just chose not to rip people off like Bailey Kennedy does, and charge that much.
This page today is some of the best shit I have seen on the blog. Lot of it is so true. Laughing.
Is it necessary for women to basically show their boobs in court? Sometimes it is the ATTORNEY, not the client. Where is the Sunday "best" anymore? Is it just "Sunday Breast" now? I don't think many judges appreciate all the slutiness…I am not sure if that is a word. It is hot out but you don't have to dress like you are going to Studio 54 back in the day.
Who shows boobs? Men should make sure chest hair is covered up.
As much as I would like to see non "old titties" in court, that shit doesn't work anymore. The two last misogynists have retired and while there MAY be one holdout, its not worth the effort.
Ummm… There are more men with boobs in court than women. Hit the gym instead of spending all your time shit talking the lady lawyers. Gross. Also, no one is fooled by your combover.
#StopToeShaming
Proposed topic: Do you ever direct your staff to telephone another attorney to ask for a hearing continuance?
It's something I've always though an attorney should do for themselves.
Nope, I call the attorney directly, although some of them are so cocky they won't take the call or return a call.