Do people REALLY not know this?

This is an honest question -- but I'm curious to know...

I am an attorney at a very large firm in NYC. We have summer interns here this summer who are between their second and third year of law school. They all have to handle a pro bono matter this summer, and I am supervising 2 on one... Today, we are meeting with our client. I just passed one of the girls working on this in the hall and she's wearing pants and a sweater set. Uh... we're meeting a CLIENT - this means we wear a SUIT.

I know when I interned years ago, that was made clear to us during orientation, not to mention it's sort of professional common sense in our profession. I guess it's my fault for not telling them this yesterday... but I'm somewhat shocked that these people don't know to wear a suit to client meetings. I don't care if it is a pro bono client or the CEO of a major corporation.

Perhaps I was expecting too much. Ugh, I should have told them.

Now... more importantly, I need a tactful way to tell her (possibly more than one person) that they MUST wear a suit when we meet with clients. I want to be nice about it since I didn't tell them this yesterday... thoughts?

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

wow, that is pretty shocking. at least she could have worn a button down blouse with trousers and heels

I would just flat out tell her "I think your outfit is very nice, but it is a bit too casual when meeting with clients".

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

The only thing I can think of is maybe they thought summer casual also meant for meetings?

I'd just say something like while sweaters or blouses are OK when we don't have meetings, we dress up whenever meeting with clients. Actually, my brother always leaves a suit in his office (he's also a lawyer in NYC), maybe suggest they leave one in the office should a meeting come up?

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

I would just tell her sorry I didn't remind you yesterday but when we meet with clients we have to wear suits.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

I really think the whole "business casual" dress code for most companies really ruined the whole professionalism of this country.

I would never think of seeing a client without wearing a suit

Way back when, when I worked for Chase Manhattan BAnk in the late '80's, there was no suck think as business casual...it was a suit for both men and woman everyday. There was an unwritten rule that woman couldnt even wear pants. and men had to wear thier suit jacket when attending a meeting or going to the cafeteria. Talk about ridgid huh??

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

I think a lot of interns or entry level employees feel that if they aren't getting the same as a lawyer , etc, they don't have to dress the same.

My friend had this same issue in a consulting firm, with an entry level assistant, but that was even after she told her to wear a suit to client visits.

If it is just this girl tell her, " I shoudl have mentioned this yesteday, but when we meet with clients, you should wear a suit. Please keep that in mind next time"

Or you could tell all the interns together or in a memom/email, so as to not embarrass anyone.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Uh... they get paid the SAME amount as a first year associate at our firm for the summer (six figure salary), have no billable hours requirement, are taken out to lunch on the firm 5 days a week, and have FREE summer events and after parties 2-3 nights a week. They are treated like gold. They should act and dress appropriately.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

It is shocking that it isn't common knowledge when meeting clients of any stature you wear dress business professional - not casual.

I would just call a quick meeting. Apologize for not "reminding" them, however, when meeting with clients suits are necessary and not optional.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Most people know this without having to be told. However, there are people that are clueless.

I wouldn't make a big deal out of it because I wouldn't want her to feel self-conscious to the point where it may affect her work, but I would say something to the effec " I just want to let you know if I forgot to mention, whenever we are with clients, the dress code is business formal"

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Posted by Lisa

I really think the whole "business casual" dress code for most companies really ruined the whole professionalism of this country.

I would never think of seeing a client without wearing a suit

Way back when, when I worked for Chase Manhattan BAnk in the late '80's, there was no suck think as business casual...it was a suit for both men and woman everyday. There was an unwritten rule that woman couldnt even wear pants. and men had to wear thier suit jacket when attending a meeting or going to the cafeteria. Talk about ridgid huh??

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Posted by Lisa

and men had to wear thier suit jacket when attending a meeting or going to the cafeteria. Talk about ridgid huh??

Message edited 6/19/2007 9:26:23 AM.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Posted by Phyl

Posted by Lisa

I really think the whole "business casual" dress code for most companies really ruined the whole professionalism of this country.

I would never think of seeing a client without wearing a suit

Way back when, when I worked for Chase Manhattan BAnk in the late '80's, there was no suck think as business casual...it was a suit for both men and woman everyday. There was an unwritten rule that woman couldnt even wear pants. and men had to wear thier suit jacket when attending a meeting or going to the cafeteria. Talk about ridgid huh??

I still remember the days it was unheard of to wear a dress w/o hose!

Message edited 6/19/2007 9:27:12 AM.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

a lot of people really are... clueless. i'll be nice
the first day of my job, we were told to wear business attire. this means for the men: pants, jacket, shirt and tie. for the ladies: a pants suit. it was spelled out for us in a letter, just like that. STILL, guys showed up in jeans

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Posted by Wendy

Posted by Phyl

Posted by Lisa

I really think the whole "business casual" dress code for most companies really ruined the whole professionalism of this country.

I would never think of seeing a client without wearing a suit

Way back when, when I worked for Chase Manhattan BAnk in the late '80's, there was no suck think as business casual...it was a suit for both men and woman everyday. There was an unwritten rule that woman couldnt even wear pants. and men had to wear thier suit jacket when attending a meeting or going to the cafeteria. Talk about ridgid huh??

I still remember the days it was unheard of to wear a dress w/o hose!

We still talk about the woman in our office who was the first to wear a pants suit!!!!!

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

I wouldn't apologize in the memo that you didn't remind them. They are adults. They should have taken note when you suggested leaving a suit in the office & without question asked you what the dress code is when meeting clients if they had any questions.

How do you work in a Manhattan law firm & not realize you need to dress appropriately when you see clients? Surely the girl must have seen people wearing suits since she's started.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Posted by Lisa

Posted by Wendy

Posted by Phyl

Posted by Lisa

I really think the whole "business casual" dress code for most companies really ruined the whole professionalism of this country.

I would never think of seeing a client without wearing a suit

Way back when, when I worked for Chase Manhattan BAnk in the late '80's, there was no suck think as business casual...it was a suit for both men and woman everyday. There was an unwritten rule that woman couldnt even wear pants. and men had to wear thier suit jacket when attending a meeting or going to the cafeteria. Talk about ridgid huh??

I still remember the days it was unheard of to wear a dress w/o hose!

We still talk about the woman in our office who was the first to wear a pants suit!!!!!

I still remember the woman who wore pants once in a blue moon in the office...we would all look at her like WOW...you are a rebel!!

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Wow. Shocking.
I've always, always overdressed, I guess because my mother, as a working woman, always told me that, as a woman, if I want to be taken seriously in the professional world, than I have to dress that way.

I'm just shocked though, because most law students know that they should dress in a suit, no matter what, at a large firm. I know in my law school our professors and the career center hammered it down our throats!

I would simply tell them that, while the office is casual for the summer, they should always wear a suit for client meetings.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

i'm an attorney too and we have clients that will kick us out of meetings if we wear suits to meeting - it can be hard to determine exactly when to wear a suit especially in the beginning - i just think a nice note will help

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Some people you tell things once too and others need to be told over and over...she may be book smart but lack common sense.

tell her if she can't remember to wear a suit when you are meeting with a cliet to keep one in the office or car at all times.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

Message edited 6/19/2007 9:58:54 AM.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

I used to hire the admin staff at a law firm and some of them would come to interviews wearing a sparkly top with silk pants.

I don't think people think.

I agree with most though, remind her again..can she borrow your extra suit for the day?

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?

I think some people do need to be specifically told things like this. I think some of us assume that we all learned the same things about working and professionalism, when really, I think it is modelled for us by people we work for.

If she worked in very casual environments before this, she may not even have a suit. However, she is making enough now to buy a couple for client meetings. I would send the email and probably would tell them that they won't be permitted to sit in on client meetings if they aren't dressed appropriately.

Re: Do people REALLY not know this?