If the suit fits, wear it

Traditional suit tailors around the country will be heaving a sigh of relief this week as research from both sides of the Atlantic sounds the death knell for the nineties phenomenon of dressing down.Solicitors have been slower than other professionals to embrace the idea of scruffs in polo shirts and chinos.

And now researchers have found concrete evidence of a strong dislike for the casual dress concept among lawyers.Of course, ultimately what matters most about a lawyer is not what he or she wears, but the quality and timeliness of the legal advice provided and the standards of service to clients.Nonetheless, style of dress can be another aspect of client care.

Understanding the needs of ones clients is the key to success.

Instilling confidence and making clients comfortable and at ease are potentially as important as the subtlety and nimbleness of ones legal mind.

On the one hand, dressing down might help disperse the legal professions stuffy image.

Some clients from certain backgrounds and in certain fields of work might be perfectly comfortable with a casually-attired lawyer.

Others might interpret the casual look as a sign of shoddiness and, rightly or wrongly, assume that approach would translate through to the advisers work.Making tailors happy is not the issue; understanding the perceptions and needs of clients certainly is.