Your attire should contribute to your professionalism.  Although employers may have different dress codes, err on the conservative side when interviewing.

Women

• Skirt suits are still considered the most conservative, although women wear pants suits as well.
• Black, navy and gray are the most conservative colors, but tans and other subtle shades are also acceptable.  Solids are preferable to patterns.
• The skirt should be no more than two inches above the knee.
• Wear a white or cream blouse (sometimes called a “shell”) with either short or long sleeves. Tank tops and camisoles are too casual. The blouse should either have a collar or a round neck. Avoid low-cut shirts.
• Wear a white or cream blouse (sometimes called a “shell”) with either short or long sleeves. Tank tops and camisoles are too casual. The blouse should either have a collar or a round neck. Avoid low-cut shirts.

• Shoes should be simple pumps in a dark color with a medium-sized (1-1/2″to 2″) heel. Stay away from high heels, ankle boots, elaborate bows, buckles etc.
• Pantyhose should not have any runs or snags and should be a neutral tone. Keep away from snazzy designs and textures.
• Simple earrings, necklace, bracelet, and basic watch are appropriate. Don’t wear hoop or dangling earrings, nose rings, or multiple rings or bracelets.
• Long hair/curly hair does not have to be pulled back unless it will be in your face or distract you, then pull it up.
• Go easy on the makeup and use a light hand in applying perfume. Don’t forget your deodorant.
• Nails should not be too long and if polished, should be in a neutral shade.
• Carry a briefcase or folder that contains your interview materials. If you carry a briefcase, don’t carry a purse.

Men

• Suit should be a well-tailored pin-striped or plain wool single-breasted suit in navy or gray.
• The pant cuff should fall lightly over your shoes-no “high waters” that show off your socks.
• Select a tasteful tie made of silk. Do not wear large prints, cartoon characters or anything else that is flashy or vulgar. The width of your tie should be between 2-3/4″ and 3-1/2″ and should extend to your trouser belt. Don’t wear a bow tie.
• Wear a plain, light-colored long-sleeved shirt. White or light blue are acceptable. Shirt should not have french cuffs.
• Shoes should be polished with socks that complement the suit. Shoes should match your belt.
• For jewelry, don’t wear anything more than a simple watch and wedding band. Leave your earring/nose ring at home.
• Hair should be neatly cut and professionally styled. Although it is not recommended, if you have long hair, pull it back into a neat ponytail. Beards and mustaches should be trimmed.
• Use a good deodorant and go light on any cologne or aftershave.
• Carry a briefcase or folder that contains your interview materials.

UPDATE:  The article apparently can only be accessed by NLJ “premium subscribers.”  We have a hard copy of the 7/12/10 National Law Journal in the CDO, which you can review.  Also, the online publication JD Journal has a page with a series of links to the websites of the 20 law firm on the list from which you can piece together the substance of the NLJ article.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

You can read a summary of the report here.  You can read the whole thing here.   

Among other things, the report concludes that there has been “no meaningful growth” in the legal marketplace so far this year.  Accordingly, firms are continuing their aggressive cost cutting.

Moreover, a slowdown in the rate of productivity [hours per attorney] growth may “suggest[] that the legal industry may be facing a prolonged period of slow growth.”  The report continues: “If so, firms will face increasing pressure to balance hiring decisions against the shifting patterns of demand.”

We’ve blogged about the Peer Monitor system before, but to refresh you , it is a service that allows law firms to access their peers’ financial data (in the aggregate) in exchange for supplying their own data to the system for others to access (on a normalized and aggregated basis).  There are 35 Am Law 100 firms, 35 Am Law 200 firms and 30 NLJ 250 firms in the system.  You can find more information about the Peer Monitor system here.

The author, Bill Henderson, is a law professor at the University whose scholarship focuses on the empirical analysis of legal labor markets and the development of human capital for legal service providers.

He takes the position that the legal industry is, in fact, beginning to undergo a “fundamental reordering” that will have profound effects not only on law firms, but law schools as well.        

You can read a summary of the report here.  You can read the whole thing here.   

Among other things, the report concludes that, on average, demand for legal services (measured by billable hours) for the first quarter of 2010 was flat.  Also, while demand in the Silicon Valley market increased by 1%, it decreased by 5% in SF and LA. 

We’ve blogged about the Peer Monitor system before, but to refresh you , it is a service that allows law firms to access their peers’ financial data (in the aggregate) in exchange for supplying their own data to the system for others to access (on a normalized and aggregated basis).  There are 35 Am Law 100 firms, 35 Am Law 200 firms and 30 NLJ 250 firms in the system.  You can find more information about the Peer Monitor system here.

For the Recorder 25 list, click here.

You can access the podcast at Thomson Reuter’s Legal Current blog here.  (Hat tip: legal industry consultant Hildebrandt’s blog).    

FYI — We’ve blogged about the extremely helpful Peer Monitor Index before here and here.  The Peer Monitor system is essentially a service that allows law firms to access their peers’ financial data (in the aggregate) in exchange for supplying their own data to the system for others to access (on a normalized and aggregated basis).  There are 35 Am Law 100 firms, 35 Am Law 200 firms and 30 NLJ 250 firms in the system.