The dot.com lawyer

The legal profession in recent times have witnessed unprecedented changes in practice, ethics, conduct, behavioral patterns and trends.

In this era, known as the dot.com boom, matters of personal image and style seem far more important for the young and upwardly-mobile lawyer than it is for older practitioners.

Looking at recent trends for female lawyers, we find the female commercial lawyer following basically two trends: she keeps a business casual wardrobe for a day-to-day office appearance, and a more sophisticated and polished look for decision-making, managerial and executive meetings.

For those who haven’t followed the trend in the industry, “the business casual style is the look for the dot-com era – an era where legal professionals are gradually losing the ‘uptight and stiff traditional lawyer-look, for a classy, trendy, yet professional style. The drab sober style of the ‘traditional’ lawyer is fast wearing out; particularly in the world of corporate commercial law.

A young Managing Partner at one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial law firms, Yemi Laoye confirms this development. “The trend has moved towards a business casual style, and this seems to have become the norm,” he affirms.

Indeed, the legal professional look has moved radically from what it was some 20 years ago – drab, sober, almost-boring; to exciting, classy, brilliant and sometimes even daring.

The dot.com era came with varying degrees of informality to corporate commercial practice; penetrating the privacy of even the most conventional old-line law offices.

Here in Lagos, Nigeria – home to top 20 and most successful law firms, young, vibrant legal professionals step into power-broking meetings looking the part of success and diversity. Their sense of style, have been described as the ‘Gen Y style’ – A style that allows the trendiest pantsuits and sleeveless sheaths, while Suit labels range from Chanel to Gucci, Dior, Prada and Armani. Shoes range from High-heeled Jimmy Choos, to peep-toe Christian Louboutin heels. The trend is diverse, zesty and strong; usually a statement to the client of competence, ability, courage and audacity.

For these style-savvy lawyers found in most of the foremost commercial law firms, who themselves have embraced the openness of the market, style is an important nonverbal communicator. As a female cutting-edge lawyer rightly put it, “there’s no reason to sacrifice your personal style for practicality. I can function at my optimum in a nice skirt suit and four-inch Louboutin heels,”  she states emphatically.

THEODORA KIO-LAWSON