It’s April, and that means the Call to the Bar ceremony is only two months away for those of you who are articling. This also means you need to start thinking about either renting or purchasing robes for the ceremony.
For those of you who are not going to litigate in the foreseeable future, the obvious choice is to rent robes. I do not need to give you any tips except to tell you to arrange this ASAP to avoid the last minute rush.
For those of you who are going to need those robes as a lawyer, a few tips:
Robes and waistcoats
There is not much to be said about selecting your robe and waistcoat. In fact, there isn’t really a choice to be had; you just have your measurements taken, and voila! However, I do have one tip for caring for these garments: always hang them up when not in use. This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many lawyers leave these scrunched up in those velvet, Santa Claus–like bags we carry them in. If you hang your robe and waistcoat, you will barely ever need to dry clean or press them; the wool they are made with holds its shape extremely well. If you don’t hang them, you will look like a crinkled mess. And no, this does not make you appear more “experienced” — unless you have grey hair and a QC designation, you are not fooling anyone.
Shirts and tabs
If your firm or your pocketbook will allow, buy five shirts and two pairs of tabs and a tab case. Tabs do not get dirty easily, especially when stored properly, because they do not touch your skin, but having a spare pair just in case is key. Having a shirt for every weekday will make life much easier on those long trials. Make sure the person who fits you leaves a millimetre or so in the neck for comfort; it’s difficult to make submissions when you can barely breathe. Also, for those new calls taking off for the summer, remember not to leave those shirts in the plastic bags they come in, as this can cause discolouration over time.
Skirts and pants
Let’s face it, the skirts and pants that come with these things are not as nice looking as the ones you wear in your everyday office life. But you see, therein lies their beauty. I purchased two skirts with my robes, and since they are not the most stylish, I never touch them unless I am robing up. And that is the great thing: I am never without a clean, pressed skirt when I am off to court. Again, if your firm or pocketbook will allow it, pick up two pairs of pants and/or skirts.
Donna Wilson is a Toronto-based commercial litigator at Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP. Her style and beauty column appears every second Wednesday.
Photo by Shiny Things