As a male does my long hair hinder my public image as a professional lawyer?

Question

I am a law student and I have seen attorneys with long hair. I believe the style or look one posses is irrelevant to how one practices his trade, craft, or profession. However, I do believe there are many unspoken words and I would like to know if upon becoming an attorney I should lose the long hair (it resembles like Depp's hair in Blow) which is at shoulder length. I'm asking an honest opinion from those who are in the legal field.

Thank you

Answer 1

As a professional myself, I would say that as an upstart, it would be bad for your first impressions. In Law, as in many other fieldss, you are judged by first and second impression. Long hair is unprofessional. Now later, after you have a reutation and you are a stud lawyer, why not? But not at the beginning.

Answer 2

It depends on whether you are going out on your own or if you are hoping to become part of a firm, possibly a partner, or work as a DA or PD. The less stroke you have, the more respect you need to demonstrate to get what you want. Some judges may hold your appearance against you. Some clients may do likewise. Senior partners may see your hair as a liability. In short, it will have an effect on your success. That being said, a good number of lawyers have long hair. Most are women but the point is that it is common place. My feeling is that you have to make this decision for yourself and deal with what may come. As for myself, it is all about the money. This is a job and a well paying job. It is up to you haw well paying it may become. Great performance is the goal, but; how far are you willing to sacrifice for your client is the question. Is a hair cut to much to do to make your client believe you are giving it your all? I think not. You're already going to have to do the wardrobe. Might as well go all the way and do the hair style as well.

Answer 3

I'm not a lawyer, but I have a couple family members who are. From what I know about courtrooms, you're wrong about your look & style being irrelevant to your chosen craft. Even over the table with other lawyers, they're going to aim right at what they think is your image. The long hair can work in certain circumstances, but just like anything else that might seem "different" to the average person (on a jury, e.g.), you have to know the image it gives you and how to use it to your advantage. Lawyers with what we might call "quirks" quickly get reputations because it's a profession with so much support staff who gossips -- and even the lawyers gossip themselves. It's like being a baseball pitcher. If you have the means to create some intimidation, you've got a couple of points in your favor already.

But if you're not ready to take advantage of how you look, or you don't quite know how to take advantage of it, I suggest not keeping it that length. Ask your friends how it affects them. It's going to have some affect. They may not be honest, though, telling you what you want to hear and whatnot, so be prepared for that. My amateur opinion is that how you look affects how the other side is going to come at you; so it's better to be prepared than to just go into a situation not knowing what to expect.

Answer 4

I was once on a jury. The lawyer had a pony tail, and a bad corduroy suit. Looked like a hippy or something. He asked us if we would give special consideration to a police officer in a uniform. All I could think was that I felt sorry for his client for having such a loser lawyer. His client was up for drug charges, and at least the client knew enough to dress well. I think you would be crazy to have way out of the normal appearance in a courtroom, of any kind.

Also, even if you aren't doing courtroom law, I wouldn't use a lawyer with weird hair, or clothes. A lawyer is continually meeting new people and making first impressions. If the first impression is bad, then he is done. If he is so attached to long hair, then I would question his judgment, and go to someone else.

Answer 5

I am not a lawyer but have portrayed one on television and met too many others.

You seem surprisingly naive for a future lawyer.

Your long hair will mark you as an outsider to the status quo.

If you are a prosecutor, or a corporate lawyer, or potential future judge, this will impede but may not fatally wound your career.

If you are an environmental lawyer, public defender or ambulance chaser, it won't matter.
It also won't matter if you are at the top of your field, although that is an unlikely-hood right out of law school.

All humans judge by appearance, even if they say they don't, they do at least on an unconscious level.

You should use this knowledge in the pursuit of your career.

Be brutally honest with yourself regarding how others view you and cultivate your strengths. If you are handsome, do not hide this. If you are particularly intelligent, highlight this, remind others subtlety. If you are unattractive, cultivate a sympathetic or intimidating appearance as suits your true self.

Answer 6

I think that most have given you good info. And you are right, eventually your reputation will be based on your practice, not your looks - BUT

I can tell you that judges and your opposing counsel will form an opinion of you based upon your appearance first. It may not be right, but it is the way it is.

There are several very successful attorneys who do wear longer hair pulled back in court, but I do not know any that started their practice that way since the 60's.

It all will depend upon the type of law you plan on practicing and what kind of clientele you are aiming to get.

My suggestion based on over 15 years here? Cut it. But not TOO short. There are many styles today that still look professional but still give you that "not just a cookie cutter look".

Hope this helps, email me if you have any more questions.

Answer 7

I'm not in the "legal" field but professionally speaking, I think if you pull it into a sleek ponytail, it might not be so bad. As to if i would higher a lawyer with long hair, that's a different question. Depends on how handsome you are to begin with. Haha. really though, just put yourself in someone else's shoes and wonder. how serious will people take you? it's just hair... but on a man, that is a little different than the norm ya know? ultimately you should do what you are comfy with, if that's keeping the hair, see how it goes. if you have no clientele, see if chopping the mane will make a difference: :) good luck

Answer 8

I'm not sure where you live, but I would look through the bar association journal, the advertisements, and see what the lawyers that practice the area of law you want to practice "hair-do's" are like...

Personally, I think longer hair on a man is sexy, but it doesn't win a court battle if the Judge thinks you're a punk with long hair. Have to earn the right through years of hard work to get away with anything like that with a Judge.

Answer 9

First impressions mean a lot. Some people may not be bothered by the long hair but I think that the majority of people would be put off by it. If people are going to pay big bucks for someone to represent them, the lawyer should look nothing less than 100% professional.

Answer 10

I would LOVE to say it doesn't matter, because I like to consider myself to be open minded. Personally, I would listen to what you had to say first, BUT honestly I would then worry if everyone else Is taking you seriously, or judging you by first impressions. If it's my "well being" on the line, I wouldn't want to take any chances that someone in the jury has already formed an opinion based on my lawyers appearance.......sorry... I'd cut it until I gained a good reputation. P.S. I love Johnny Depp and long hair!

Answer 11

Many clients are not going to go to you if you have long hair and look shall we say casual. You should also consider what effect your appearance will have on a jury. Will they respect you more if you look serious and professional or will they be more impressed with a fashion look? What effect would it have on the Judge and on your opponent? Will they be less inclined to take you seriously? My view is that you should be inconspicuous in the courtroom unless you are speaking. If you are neutral in appearance you are less likely to antagonize anyone. Ultimately your duty is to do the best for your client. Your dress and hair length should reflect that concern. I remember Mick Jagger once commented that when he saw his lawyers or accountants he expected that they wore suits and had neat hair because he anything else made him uneasy as to their professionalism. And that coming from the old old man of Rock and Roll who - becuase of his job - usually looks and is expected to look like a scruff.