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

Jester

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.

Bruce B

I work for a financial planning firm. One of the top money earners, who makes in excess of 100k a year, wears shorts and hawiian shirts and ball caps. He's been doing this 15 years. He didn't start out dressing like this, he earned it through his competency.

You may have wait a few years and earn the right to wear long hair.

Boogers

Lawyers with long hair....very unprofessional. Get it cut if you want to be taken seriously.

CowboyBill

An honest opinion: people will hate you because you are a lawyer; people and animals will hate you because you are a ponytail lawyer.
Example: what is the perfect weight for a lawyer?
answer: eight ozs. -- including the urn.

Mephistopheles

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.

Dutch58

Ever heard of Tony Serra?

c g

I dont see why your hair would matter if you are brilliant. Just keep it neat and clean, maybe even tuck it under your collar . You are to look professional and keep the professional appeal in the court room, but who is to say that you cant do that while at the same time having longer hair? It is your work that will speak for itself.

suziestarz1

I'm not a fan of long hair on a man. However, if you DO choose to go with it, I suggest pulling it back in a pony tail. Unless you want to look like Fabio.
Pulling it back is slightly more classy.

tinkfreak

no. my lawyer's hair is half as long as mine and mine is down to my knees.

aka DarthDad

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.

ElOsoBravo

Unless you propose to pass yourself as a flamboyant defense lawyer, the answer is Yes. Perceptions make up so much of the craft, as you know.

123..WAIT!

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!

Grandma

cut it off. no one likes long hair on men. ish

terraform_mars

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.

sealife8

appearance is key. lose the hair. if you're well established you could probably get away with it, but not just starting out.

dudette

I am not in the legal field, but I have hired a few attorneys for legal services and advice. My personal opinion is that I am hiring a lawyer. I am more interested in his legal capabilities and demeanor than I am about the length of his hair (or lack of it).

thrill88

I would think it would. Younger people might not be bothered by it, however, I think some older folks might. If you feel strongly about keeping your hair though, then do it. It certainly wouldn't affect your ability. Another thing to consider,though, is how a judge might perceive you in the courtroom.

rb_cubed

As a former employer, but not in the legal profession, I would suggest you lose the long hair. I don't think it looks professional, nor would it inspire confidence in your clients. "Who is this long haired hippie" "What image is he trying to pull off?"

boogiewunker

If you are going into the courtroom, I would trim the hair. Why possibly cause enmity of a judge solely based on your appearance.

If you don't plan to be in the courtroom, I would not worry about it.

chairman_of_the_bored_04

Of course it does. You may be a great lawyer, but if you've got to convince a jury, WHY would you risk the chance that your appearance would offend a juror, or client just so you can maintain your vanity? Seems foolish to me. Plus, few law firms are going to accept it if you're representing their firm.

Make it easy on yourself, lose the locks...

grim reaper

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.

jacqueline

Yes, it does hinder your credibility. While we know that you may have superior knowledge in your field, your appearance (or unkept appearance) takes away from your credibility factor.

Ingrid

make it your Trademark...look at Kubi( the lawyer) and other...U also can put it in a ponytail

IHateElizabethVargas

You're right that your hair is an irrelevant measure of your capabilities, but unfortunately that's not how society perceives things. In any professional job image is important, whether or not it should be. You could choose to keep your hair long as a statement of your individuality, but be prepared to be negatively judged by clients, managers and colleagues....and this will affect your bottom line....your wallet. I'm not saying that it's fair, but that's how the world works.

Kelli

Of course it does, especially in a field of that degree.

INS

I would say if you run your own practice then keep the hair. My buddy from law school was searching for 4-5 months straight, until he got a hair cut, then a firm finally hired him. I think it does effect how your employers see you, but I'm not sure your clients will care.

chynna30_2000

I too have seen lawyers with long hair, but would not wish to hire them. Unfortunately, we are judged by our appearance whether or not we like it. When you meet people and they find out you are a lawyer, they will expect certain things. What if your doctor wore gloves to prevent the spread of disease, but had long, dirty fingernails that you could see beneath the gloves? He might be a medical genius, but you would question his ability based on what you saw of his fingernails. Anyway, that may be a stretch, but you get my drift. If you want people to take you seriously and see you a certain way, you do have to sometimes make some concessions to convention. It is also part of growing up. Good luck!

Jayna

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.

Justsyd

I think you should keep it pulled back while you're at work.

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