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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…
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Summer Fashion Dos and Dont’s for Male Attorneys
I hate fashion advice that the status quo issues down to women. As if we’re too stupid to recognize what is appropriate or not. Or worse, sexualizing our clothing to diminish our capacity. Yes, her heels are high, but let’s not call them “prostitute shoes,” because, sorry to break it to you, but even sex workers can wear flats. So let’s not impugn women’s characters just because of their clothing. Thankfully, when faced with this sexist advice, women push back. I had been sitting on this post for a while, but was energized by Yvette Martinez’s response to an article encouraging women attorneys to “jazz up” their fashion for court.…
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From Day to Night: Makeup for Networking Events
One thing I hate is lugging makeup with me back and forth to work. I keep some cosmetics at work (mostly lip balms and lotions), but I don’t take a full case of makeup to do touchups throughout the day. I just figure that by 5 o’clock everyone looks just as drained—and again, the culture of my work doesn’t really call for a full face of makeup throughout the day. However, whenever I have events in the evening, I always do my best to prepare so that my face looks bright-eyed and polished; especially when it’s a networking event with private attorneys. I mean, let’s be real, other legal aid…
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Gift Guide for College Pre-Law Graduates
Happy Cinco de Cuatro! Lately, I’ve been starting my days in a much happier tone, and I think that’s because now that it’s getting warmer, I’m actually getting a sliver of real sunlight streaming into my office window. Like actual sun. I felt it streaming in the other day and was like, what is this?! Now I’m happy to actually feel sunbeams for a couple of minutes every day #itsthelittlethings. But speaking of things that make me happy: graduations! My family is celebrating a graduate in a couple of weeks and I’m so excited for her! Unique personalized gifts designed with some of our best memories are something I’m considering…
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Gift Guide for Law School Graduates
Graduation ceremonies are around the corner! It’s always so exciting–the Bar is already looming overhead, which can make things tense, but earning a J.D. (and wow, do we earn it!) is an incredible accomplishment! I still remember my graduation very fondly and was so blown away and grateful by how proud my family and friends were of me. And because my love language is gifts–I was also very happy to receive presents as well. Quite a few items, like my card holder, continue to be things I reach for all the time. If you are planning to give a gift to a law grad, the best options are almost always…
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Style Matters: Shoes for the Law Office
Caveats before we begin: My shoe opinion is colored by two experiences: shadowing an attorney in my best “business-y” clothes as a high school student and becoming embarrassed by the fact that because the heels were a little too chunky (early 2000’s y’all) that they made loud noises on the stairs, and that I couldn’t walk as fast as him, which was annoying. My slower walk wasn’t because I was a novice to heels (hello, I rocked Rocket Dog and Steve Madden platforms all the time–again, early 2000s), but rather the fact that generally most people cannot walk as fast in heels as a someone wearing non-heeled shoes. Second, an…
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Culture Conflict: Looking Latina
At Latinas Uprising, we talk a lot about forms of assimilation and how to “look” like an attorney. These discussions aren’t done because we believe that we should erase all forms of individuality or culture from our appearance; rather they are provided as a way to give guidance for those that haven’t had the chance to interact with the legal profession and want to learn how to be accepted by the legal community. Ultimately, the goal is to help people learn what it takes to be accepted as an attorney, but also encourage empowerment so that you are the one that decides what your appearance will entail, regardless of what the status…
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A Saga: Finding Professional Winter Shoes
I have always disliked the patronizing focus on what women wear to work. I think it’s weird. The grand majority of us know how to (and do) wear appropriate clothing. But there is still a weird standard set upon women, especially in the legal field, that is much higher and seems to question every little thing that we decide to wear. Google “peep-toe shoes and work” and you’ll see debate after debate on their appropriateness. Shoes. As if there are not more substantial, important things that we should worry about, but this is a great reminder that there are rules of professional etiquette that we do have to learn…
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Get the Look: Affordable & Professional Handbags
When I was in school, lugging a ton of books back and forth, I went through at least seven bags in three years. Seven! I felt like Goldilocks because each bag was either too flimsy, too small, too casual, or too expensive. At that time (2010), the large Le Pliage bag from Longchamp was everywhere. It seemed like all the girls had this bag and it was perfect. It was sturdy, large, professional, no glaring logos, and came with an array of colors. It also cost $145. Yikes. Nope, not for me. It’s not an outrageously priced bag, but back then we were in the midst of a recession…
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When to Take a Compliment and When to Take a Hint
When you first entered the world of law, did everything feel normal and natural? For most, it takes time getting used to working in this profession, partially because we have to learn how to navigate the ins-and-outs of appropriate professional etiquette and customs. All systems of power create these procedures and social norms as a way to distinguish themselves from others. The legal community is no different in that it has imposed high standards of professionalism and business etiquette. If you didn’t grow up with parents or a close network that also abides by these standards then often it’s going to take a lot of trial and error before you feel like…