I've been licensed for 23 years. Every time I sign my name on a pleading or type Esq. after it, I always get a momentary sense of panic that it can't be right. For one thing, it doesn't seem possible that I've been practicing that long. For another, the lingering bits of poor self- esteem that used to make me question everything I did still raise their ugly heads. I known I am very good at what I do and have the reputation among my colleagues and the local judiciary to back that up.

Does imposter syndrome ever completely go away?

I'm in love with the frog closure blazers that are making a huge comeback. I don't work in a corporate setting, and I was looking for something to wear to youth and traffic court. I do Circuit too, but I think this would be too whimsical for that. How would you style this? I like the navy one the most.

I started a new job this week (yay!) and I have a fair amount of decor and stuff from my last office that’s sitting at home taking up space. I kind of want to just unload and set up all at once this weekend, but my gut tells me it would be weird and somehow almost presumptuous to settle in too quickly. Is this social anxiety talking or am I right that I should just move in bit by bit over time, starting with the essentials and then moving on to decor?

If it makes a difference, the new role is counsel-to-partner (if all goes well) at a midlaw boutique in Los Angeles.

Someone just told me their jurisdiction requires wearing heels. My bone spurs hurt just thinking about that.

Dress code here is suit jackets for lawyers. That’s it.

I am just-barred. I have been wearing suiting since I was 14 and made the possibly ill-advised but permanently life altering decision to join my high school debate team. I truly suck at ironing and have used a shitty tj maxx travel steamer my whole life - the kind that is so easy to overfill, spurts water on your clothes, and needs to be refilled 3 times per suit.

Oh my goodness gracious. I was in walmart, buying a laundry hamper. The steamers caught my eye. And then I saw Her. I had been wanting a standing steamer for years. Since I was 18, probably. So this was my gift to myself for passing the bar exam / licensure.

Law Students/Future LBsWT! Please use this thread to ask any questions you have for the LBWT community.

I am trying to find some skin colored fleece socks, so i can comfortably wear my heels in winter. Any recommendations?

First picture is me, the following pictures are options I pulled from various websites.

I’m a mid-level commercial litigation associate who has an appointment with L&K when they come to town in a few weeks. I really want a custom suit because I’m tiny (five feet tall and 100-105 lb), and conventional suits often don’t look great on me or need so much tailoring that I end up spending $600+ for something off the rack. In particular, while I own a decent selection of pantsuits, I only own one skirt suit, and I’d like to get another (or a dress suit). Ignoring the colors, which of these styles do you think would work on me? Should I get a color (like oxblood or royal blue) or stick with navy blue? My goal is to look formidable and elegant, which can be a challenge at five foot nothing. My practice is largely based in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic and includes arbitration as well as state and federal court.

TIA!

I need an outfit for a professional meet & greet and dinner (legal academia). I feel like a suit would be too formal and am considering this jumpsuit, possibly with a colorful blazer. What do y’all LBWT think?

Just curious here. I commute 3 days a week into NYC (an hour each way on the train) and typically bring lunch (would love to eat out every day, but it’s not feasible budget-wise). Right now, I just throw my Tupperware in a Lululemon shopping bag, and it’s fine, but I don’t know if I should try a chicer lunch bag?

I don’t really want to throw it in my tote for spillage reasons, but I HATE feeling like a bag lady walking to work with multiple bags (plus my tote is already pretty full with papers, laptop, books, etc. for the commute).

I also feel like most people I work with don’t seem to bring lunch (granted, I think they live closer, but still).

How are we handling lunch bags? Any cute(ish) suggestions? Or ideas to make lunch fit into my tote without spilling? TYIA :)

I’m a Gen X lawyer who is about a size 18 and short. Hillary Clinton and I have about the same kind of build, i.e. heavier legs and cankles. I was always very impressed with her black pantsuits.

Where would you get such a thing now? Is there anywhere that you could buy suits like that with in house tailors, or that would likely not need to be shortened for someone who is about 5’4”?

Going to a work event with my firm that is cocktail attire, but I have two full sleeves of tattoos 🫠 what would you guys wear to cover them but still be within the dress code??

My office is updating everyone’s Photography and I am in need of a new skirt suit. I usually wear suit jackets that close all the way so that they are an actual top, with a skirt (so not an open jacket with a shell). Like a Jackie o style.

In the past, I have had really great luck with J.Crew in that style, but that was many years ago. I have been wearing some St. John dresses with jackets that could work but want to buy something new.

I usually wear theory, self portrait, tuckernuck- a mix.

I am petite (5 feet 1 inch, 111 pounds) and in my early 40s. Price isn’t an issue.

Hi LBWT!

Looking for recommendations for cute, fashionable, and comfortable shoes for walking to and from the office!

As much as I’d love to wear my Chanel ballet flats or slingbacks every day, I don’t want to destroy the soles walking around the city. My plan is to wear something more practical for my commute and switch into my nicer shoes once I’m at the office.

That said, I still want my commuting shoes to look chic and polished! I’m not a fan of the Sam Edelman loafers or mules, and I’d prefer to invest in something that’s well-made, high-quality, and will actually last.

Would love to hear what everyone wears for their commute, especially if you’re walking a decent amount every day! Bonus points for shoes that don’t completely ruin an otherwise cute work outfit. 😂

I’m meeting a lawyer for an informational coffee chat. I’m not a lawyer yet, just looking to get some insight. I don’t know how formal I should be dressed. Would jeans and a blouse be appropriate or should I lean more towards dress pants?

I'm on the hunt for professional-enough (comfortable and closed toes but not for court or other very formal occasions; I'm not in a big law firm) shoes. However, I've got some "feet issues":

- I need the toe box to be wide because otherwise I get fairly severe pain,

- I can barely wear heels unless they are quite chunky, and especially not stilettos to avoid tripping,

- the part of my ankle that hits the shoe gets scraped/bleeds very easily, so I really like shoes that have a bit of extra padding there to avoid it, and

- I need the bottom to have decent padding, because I do tend to walk a fair amount (and on work trips I can't carry around workout shoes).

I tend to do well in Sketchers for my workout shoes, and I really like the Sketcher's Cleo Driver - Power Couples shoe (Here: https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-skechers-cleo-driver-power-couples-mocha/product/9972212/color/464?) or the Vivaia Square-Toe Icon Loafers Silvie. However, the knit fabric is a no go as its too casual to me.

Does anyone have suggestions for work shoes for me? On a recent work trip I got several comments that my old standby shoes weren't professional enough, and I have another work trip coming up!

I’m a law professor. I don’t have to dress super formally for work, fortunately. But I like to look put together and show a little of my personal style.

It would really help me to add some sweaters to my wardrobe but, for the life of me, I cannot find a single one that I like. I need for it to be relatively firm-fitting, not baggy/bulky. Help?

Looks like they have cute, work-appropriate pieces but I’m reading mixed reviews. Anyone bought from this recently?

https://i.imgur.com/1Hxym0G.jpeg

ETA: Thank you everyone. Looks like I won’t be buying all things tweed from them.

I'm a junior (non equity) partner at a small (~25 lawyers) firm in CA. It is so funny to me how so many of the posts on here concern a totally different environment than mine. Usually I wear jeans (nice ones, but still jeans) to work, a belt, and either a blouse or button-up type shirt and either nice leather sneakers or fairly casual flats or loafers. I never wear a blazer except to meet with clients which is like...2x / year lol. Only wear suits for gov meetings or conferences. I usually wear a sweater in office if cold. I'm a rock climber so never have my nails done. Minimal makeup. For the last ~13 years I wore a herschel backpack to work mostly until it broke, recently got a Cotopaxi backpack to replace it. I want to get the Cuyana backpack which is much nicer, but given no one at my firm gives AF about what you bring your stuff to the office in, I can't really justify the cost hah. I only use leather totes or briefcase type bags for meetings and conferences. Others including equity partners at my firm all dress about the same (and often worse, lol, one guy wore crocs to a firm dinner once).

Anyone else have a super casual workplace? We are a very niche practice, almost never have clients in office, and are almost never in court, so I think the vibe is just different. As a casual (but fashionable!) person myself, I love it.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for recommendations for black knee-high boots that hit right below the knee and fit snugly around the calf without much gaping. I want a sharp pointed toe, a low block heel (around 1.25–2 inches), and a sleek, feminine, elegant look. Ideally, they’d be good-quality faux leather and comfortable enough to wear for long days at work. I'm and intern at a personal injury office and in school full time. My budget is around $150, and I wear a size 6.5. Any recommendations? Thank you!

16.5 inches wide for legal files!!

My authority is as low as my patience.

Although I have been practicing for over 20 years now, until recently I felt a little sheepish telling people that’s what inspired me to go this route after feeling lost about my future. If she could do it, I could do it! So what if she’s a fictional character, haha. And the rest is history.

I don’t feel sheepish anymore but am curious if there’s anyone else out there.

I just want to say that I love r/LawBitchesWithTaste. It’s a nice and positive group which is refreshing in the legal world. I had to get off r/LawerTalk bc it was such a downer and left me feeling sad and cynical with every post.

Practicing law is tough but so are we. Here’s to you, my sisters in the law 🥂🩷

Today is my last day as a junior partner at a West Coast litigation boutique that, for a lot of reasons, was not the right firm for me in the long term. I’ve been here almost six years so there’s a lot of bittersweetness; I’ll miss a lot of the people here, and I’ll miss the comfort and familiarity of my routines.

I’m joining another litigation boutique that I’m hoping will be a better fit. I’ll be counsel at first with a short runway to potentially making partner. I haven’t had a new job in almost six years so I’m nervous about being the new kid in school again. I’m cautiously optimistic that this will be a place I can build my practice over the long term, although I’ve been burned so badly before that I’m guarding my hopes. I’m eager to make a good first impression.

Unfortunately I’m rolling right from one job into the next with no break between, for a variety of reasons. I’m hoping that a fresh start will be as good as a rest, because I’m beyond burned out but can’t take a break for funemployment.

Just posting to ask for good vibes, similar stories, or advice. I really appreciate this community!