Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

For most of our clients, their first encounter with the court system is when they are pursuing a lawsuit for a car accident or another type of personal injury. This usually means that they have never had to think about what they need to wear for a deposition or court hearing. If you need to dress for a court appearance, deposition, mediation, hearing, or any other type of legal proceeding, then you should keep in mind what type of clothing makes the best first impression on a judge, jury, and even the opposing counsel. You want to appear credible and well put together right off the bat, and the following tips we have outlined can ensure that you are confident with how you look and that you are making the best first impression so that the judge or jury will focus on your case and not how you look.

1. Wear Clothes that Fit and Look Neat: Select clothing that is clean, looks neat, and that fits you well. You don’t have to go out and buy new clothes, but the attire you choose should meet these criteria.
2. Conservative, Church-Like Clothes Are Best: Keep your clothing selections conservative. No tight dresses, stiletto heels, sleeveless blouses, jeans, or low-cut tops. Men should wear a button up shirt with an undershirt or add a sweater on top if it is cooler temps. Women should wear something with a modest neckline, a blouse that covers your waistline (raise your arms overhead to make sure that the top does not reveal your stomach), and a dress or skirt that is not too short or tight. Even if you normally do not dress conservatively, it is best to do so for court. A judge and jury may have a mindset of what is appropriate or not to wear to court, so conservative is best. You can dress however you want outside the courtroom, but we advise striving to make the best possible first impression.