There isn't much in the legal world that hasn't been surveyed and subjected to analysis, and we can now tick off the corporate colours used by law firms. A study by US professional services consultancy Partners & Simons found that 58% of 200 large US firms use blue as their main colour. It is, apparently, a safe 'low-arousal' colour - which is perhaps odd given how sexy many corporate lawyers believe their work to be. It is also the respectable colour of royalty and is known to have a calming effect, making it good for those end-of-deal bills perhaps.


Blue has its dangers, however. Back in 2003, City firm DLA changed the shade of blue of its logo in part, we were led to believe, because the darker version was associated with death in Hong Kong.



According to the survey, red was the next most popular choice, at 19% - it is associated with action and excitement. You might want your clients to think you are dynamic, but are they going to want a rollercoaster experience from receiving legal advice? Just 8%, unsurprisingly, went for grey, while green sneaked in at 2%. Partners & Simons suggests this may be because green is the colour of money in the US and firms may be nervous about coming across as too greedy - heaven forfend. The study was intended to show firms that there's plenty of room to differentiate themselves with offbeat colours and even multiple tints. But is the legal world ready for shocking pink?