Dress for success: What to wear in law school

Updated 17 May 2024

With the grind of exams at the end of the year, few students have fashion at the top of their mind. But, in the day-to-day of law school, styles vary as much as the students.

Like how someone dresses for the gym or office, what a law student picks from their closet to head to class — whether it’s sweatpants and a hoodie or a suit by Hugo Boss — is no accident.

Here, we’ll discuss some options for law students who are still looking for their style of law school clothes. We also talked to three students from the University of New Brunswick, each with their own distinct fashion sense and rationale behind their style choices.

Day-to-day attire for law school

We learn in law school that there are general rules and exceptions in law — and this can apply to law school clothes. Think of it this way: the general rule is that law students always go business casual when dressing for classes.

However, there are exceptions to when the business-casual-style can be ditched and go with the other styles.

Unlike the hard-and-fast rules in law, there’s nothing set in stone when it comes to law school clothes (save from some instances which we’ll learn later).

Business casual

So how business is business casual, or how casual should it be? Well, it will be much more on your style’s call, and how comfortable you are with it. There are certain combinations that you can also try when you’re still finding your own style of law school clothes.

For the men

Business casual among the men can be a mix of the following:

Top

• long-sleeved button-down (can be paired with a coat over it)
• collared shirt (can be paired with a sweater over it)
• polo shirt
• sweater

Bottom

• dress slacks
• pants 
• chinos
• khakis

Shoes

• leather shoes
• monk strap
• loafers

A male law student at an outdoor cafe wearing a law school attire of grey button-down shirt, sleeves folded at the elbows

For the ladies

While business casual for the boys can be straightforward, it’s trickier when it comes to the ladies.

You may go down the shirt-pants-heels path, or the blouse-skirt-flats mix, or a combination of these:

Top

• dress
• shirt
• tucked-in blouse
• polo
• plus, a blazer over these tops

Bottom

• pants
• slacks
• skirts (pencil, tube, or straight cut)

Shoes

• heels or pumps (3 to 4-inch)
• flats
• loafers

Three young women huddled around laptop, each wearing an attire for law school: a black top and skirt; a blazer over a top and pants; a turtleneck top over pencil cut skirt

When applying for law schools

Dressing for law school applications is when it’s appropriate to dress more formally, compared to when just attending your undergrad classes.

Although business casual is still the go-to, it’s still safe to be do coat (for men) or blazer combinations (for women), such as when doing campus interviews.

During classes

You can choose more relaxed clothes that are still a bit formal when attending your day-to-day classes. Aside from the climate and weather (which will depend on where you’re at), you may also want to consider dressing appropriately for your law professors.

Once you get the hang of your classes and your school’s environment, dressing more casually can also be an option.

Here are some other suggestions for the ladies who want a more comfortable casual style when attending law school classes:

For employment purposes

Bringing back your formal combinations is a must when:

• applying for firms to article with
• attending networking events
• interviewing for summer internships jobs

You can never go wrong with a classic coat and tie for men, or blazer-and-skirt combinations for women.

What are examples of law school clothes?

Three University of New Brunswick graduates shared their dress-for-success approach, including their considerations in choosing their law school clothes.

Chic casual

When Bryinne McCoy of Grand Falls-Windsor, NL stepped into Ludlow Hall on the first day of school, she changed up her approach to style.

What was once her go-to casual wardrobe during her four years as a political science undergrad at Memorial University in Newfoundland was promptly pushed to the back of her closet.

“On the whole, people dress well,” McCoy says of her fellow law school students. “When everyone dresses well, it makes you want to look good, too.”

So, T-shirts gave way to “significantly more dresses and blouses” and, after reading and case briefing, McCoy began dedicating more time planning the next day’s outfit to look “put together.” She even bought her first pair of heels in 1L.

McCoy says the cross-section of students — with many from larger cities — inspired her to take more fashion risks.

“Having friends from Toronto and Calgary who knew what was ‘in’ definitely helped to shape my current wardrobe,” she says. “Seeing their outfits and different pieces that I normally wouldn’t see at home helped me branch out and broaden my style.”

Landing a coveted summer job in 1L and 2L with McInnes Cooper in St. John’s, McCoy found her wardrobe took another shift. “After dressing office-appropriate for four months, it was nearly impossible to go back to a daily, undergrad-level casual,” she says.

McCoy gravitated towards “dual-purpose” clothing that works for the office and social events. Blouses and tops that she paired with a skirt and heels in the boardroom were paired with jeans and flats for the classroom.

And the effort and change also helped McCoy’s performance. “I try to take a more ‘look good, feel good’ approach to what to wear to school in hopes that it makes me more productive,” she says.

Comfort first

“My day-to-day style is based almost solely on comfort,” says Geoff Kowalski of Freetown, P.E.I.

“Sweatpants have been my go-to class attire for years now just because it makes it more bearable to be in school for hours. I’m concerned less about what I look like to others and more about how I feel sitting and moving around.”

Denim is as dressy as Kowalski will take his style. Khakis are a non-starter. Shirts only come untucked.

“I wear jeans probably once a month and it’s only because I haven’t done laundry in a while,” he says.

But don’t confuse comfort and slob. The sweats are high quality. “My mom buys me a new pair every Christmas,” he says.

And Kowalski admits he sometimes hang dries his Lululemon pants and has been known to use his steamer. It may be cozy, but for Kowalski, it’s also crease-free.

The approach to clothing runs head to toe.

“My Birkenstock sandals are also in play for about eight months of the year because not only are they incredibly comfortable, it’s so convenient to slip them on and off,” he says.

Mid-lecture, Kowalski will slip out of the sandals for even more comfort. Slippers have also made an appearance at school.

As a flanker on UNB’s varsity rugby team, Kowalski frequently leaves the field bruised and battered, which further informs his clothing choices.

“A post-rugby game can be quite painful, so being comfortable and loose in recovery is definitely ideal,” he says.

To succeed in law school, Kowalski knows the formula to putting his best Birkenstock-clad foot forward.

“I actually really enjoy putting on a suit and tie, and it makes me feel great when I look in the mirror,” he says. “But as much as I like looking my best, I just don’t feel my best wearing a pair of jeans and a cardigan every single day.”

Suit up

“I have always been a formal dresser, for as long as I can remember,” says Mark Mancini for choosing Hugo Boss over Hurley. “It is just how I feel most comfortable.”

It’s not uncommon for Mancini, whose fashion role model is Don Draper of Mad Men, to reach for one of his five suits when dressing for school and accessorize with fresh cufflinks, multi-coloured socks, and a pocket square. His hair is styled in a sharp part. His dress shoes are polished.

Well dressed. Well tailored. Well styled. Perhaps it’s a look that is typical of Bay Street but less so on UNB’s campus. Mancini admits that reactions from peers are mixed.

“I do get some compliments in addition to puzzled looks from my classmates,” he says. “Overall, I analogize it like this: a lot of people are comfortable in sweatpants, whereas I am comfortable with a collared shirt.”

Dressing down for Mancini usually takes the form of dress pants and a collared shirt, tucked in. He just recently added jeans — dark wash only — to his wardrobe. “It’s something I picked up from people at school,” he says of the new denims.

Constrained by geography and budget, Mancini is creative in mastering his classic, tailored style. With limited fashion retail in Fredericton, he buys online and when travelling.

While he prefers custom suits, to work within his student budget, Mancini will also buy off the rack and then tailor to fit his trim physique.

There is purpose to Mancini’s apparel. “I feel like I am on top of my own personal game when I invest time in preparation before the day,” he says.

“In today’s world, I think quiet confidence, not outright arrogance, is vitally important, and dressing well helps me to achieve that quiet confidence.”

It’s apparently working. In his 1L, Mancini’s quiet confidence helped him reach the top of his class and cross the stage multiple times at the law school’s scholarship and awards ceremony.

What are some tips when choosing what to wear in law school?

Other than knowing how to do combinations of law school clothes, below are other tips to finally complete your outfit:

Colours also matter

Having the perfect colours that match from top to bottom is also a must. You do not want to be too flashy or distracting because of clashing pairings.

Aside from neutral shades of white, black, and grey, below are some suggestions on the shades to look for when buying law school clothes:

Just be careful when matching colours in your outfits. For example, stronger shades of red or blue can be for shoes, while lighter ones can be for your blazers and coats.

Mix and match

If wearing business casual has become too boring, try mixing things up. Get out of your set internal rules on what to wear and try something new.

You may be surprised that your blazer looks good on your jeans and when paired with strong pumps. For men, switching different patterns or prints may also be effective.

Accessories and bags also matter

Don’t forget your accessories which will improve your look, such as a watch for the men, and matching jewellery for women. Consider also your type of bag, whether these are leather handbags or backpacks. They should carry all your law school materials while complementing your look.

What not to wear

There are big no-no’s when it comes to law school clothes. Rule of thumb is if it’s too much, you may want to reconsider.

Some examples of these are:

• clothes that are too revealing
• skirts that are way above the knee
• heels or pumps that are too high
• sleeveless shirts without a coat or blazer
• open footwear, such as sandals and slippers

Vibe check first

Lastly, choosing your outfit can also boil down into one thing: mood. Sometimes, trusting your gut can help you decide what to wear.

The vibes you get in your classes can also be a guide. Is the class, including your professor and classmates, too formal? Or is it a more relaxed class?

It wouldn’t hurt to check your school’s dress code. When going to an interview with a firm, try to research how their lawyers dress up so that you’ll blend in easily.

Seasons can also affect that vibe check. Prepare law school clothes that are suitable all year-round.

Start dressing for success with your law school clothes

Learning law is stressful enough, and it’s important that your law school clothes can help you in getting you through these years.

Choosing the best clothes will help you look and feel more confident in class and make a good impression. As such, it really is a combination of your own style, plus dressing appropriately for the event (whether it’s a class, a formal interview, or a school event).

While you’re keeping yourself busy with your books and cases to read, don’t forget to dress for success!

Apart from this guide on law school clothes, you’ll find more resources for law students on our Legal Education page.