Law Student & the Power Suit: Picking the Right Business Suit for Law School

So no one gets too happy at the thought of a new school year, but for those that are starting law school this year it can actually feel a little exciting! Plus, it’s the start of school supplies season and that’s always a good thing (I seriously have a planner problem, in that I constantly am buying new planners)!

Aside from the general items you’ll need for the academic year (a post for another day), there is one item that you should consider purchasing now so that you’re ready to participate in all the professional events schools tend to set-up at the beginning of the year: your basic suit. Having the right professional look is not about being fashionable, but looking the part of an attorney. The thing is, suit-shopping is tricky and shouldn’t be rushed. Actually, I remember rushing to Express on Michigan Ave with a few new law school friends at the beginning of the year because the school had set up a professional dinner for our section and some of us didn’t have the right outfits. I tagged along and was able to discretely pick up a job application because I already knew a few weeks in that I was going to desperately need to work (another post for another day).

If you plan ahead your suit will help you look and feel the part of a student lawyer Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when shopping:

One. Does it fit? Like, duh, but you’d be surprised at how too loose/too tight/ too long/too short situations come into play with suits. You don’t want to have pants that are so long you walk on them. And skirts shouldn’t be so short that you have to be super careful in how you sit. Neither should be super tight or super loose. Your goal should be a nice fitted, conservative style. Likewise, the jacket should not be too tight around the arms and you should be able to comfortably button it close (though larger-busts may find that challenging).

Two. Is the color neutral? Look, I like vibrant colors and fun fashion, but you should aim to have at least one suit that is Very Business Appropriate. And that’s because it’ll make it more versatile and you’ll get more use out of it. Wear your black suit to an alumni luncheon one day and to a court observation the next and no one will know it’s the same suit—not the case with something more colorful or textured. Black is probably the best option, but Navy and Charcoal are also great selections.

Three. Are the shoes right? I recommend buying shoes and suits at the same time (well because I wear pants instead of skirts, so I like to make sure the length of the pant works with the shoe). If you don’t want to wear heels, then just aim for simple, pointy-toed flats– without any embellishments (honestly I don’t understand why they put bows on grown ass women’s shoes). Those will look subtle and professional. If you do opt for heels, your heel height shouldn’t be higher than 2.5, maybe three inches, if you’re not particularly tall. Again, the name of the game is understated and professional. Having an awkward gait or heavy footsteps because your heel is too high will be very noticeable and that’s not something you want people to associate with you. Simple shoes you can walk in comfortably should be your end-goal.

Four. Does this show my personality? Ok so I just talked a whole mess about how everyone should wear the most basic and boring suit ever, and that’s because generally the law is so conservative that there’s not much room for fashion-forward attire. But that doesn’t mean you can’t show a little bit of your personality. If it’s in your budget consider a statement piece you can wear to networking events or opt for colorful suit shells rather than basic black or white.

Of course, there will be many other shopping opportunities that will allow for more freedom in what you select, but when it comes to your basic suit you want to portray Power and Professionalism and that, unfortunately, will really only happen if you abide by the current standard (as old-fashioned as it may be).