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Is This Thing On?

Ok, sorry for the lack of content, I had to go make some money.

Now that I got that pesky lawyering out of the way, let's have some fun. This story about "abysmal associate attire" had me thinking. Which firm has the best-dressed associates? The worst? I can remember some atrocious outfits, but nothing quite as bad as yoga pants and Ugg boots:

The generational divide is playing out in law firm fashion wars, with younger lawyers favoring business casual and even yoga pants and older lawyers tending to wear more traditional business attire.

Some associates are resisting suggestions to improve their attire, with career ramifications, the Wall Street Journal reports. Other firms are taking steps to teach their associates about dressing well.

Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft reportedly sent a note to employees asking them to change out of their snow boots after some associates wore their Ugg boots all day long, according to the story. Winston & Strawn went further, inviting a personal shopper to talk to associates about dressing for work and an etiquette counselor to talk about grooming as well as the rules of social interaction.

Where this becomes problematic is for firms that have lawyers who have well-cultivated "genius eccentricities." We all have them -- lawyers who are self-consciously "eggheads," and who flout conventional dress and even grooming habits. Brickell would be half-empty without 'em.

Full post as published by South Florida Lawyers on February 01, 2008 (boomark / email).