Editor's note: Is what is old new again? The first piece below is by a Philadelphia lawyer who shared "10 Reasons to Wear a Suit and Tie" with The Legal Intelligencer, the Daily Report affiliate in Pennsylvania. For some historical perspective, at bottom, see the Daily Report's 1995 piece on the advent of a phenomenon called " Casual Friday."

The 1992 movie "My Cousin Vinny" ranks as one of my top five favorite lawyer movies. One of my favorite scenes is when Judge Chamberlain Haller, played by actor Fred Gwynne, leans down from the bench to upbraid Vinny for wearing a  black leather jacket in court, saying, "The next time you appear in my court, you will look lawyerly … wear a suit and tie. And that suit had better be made out of some sort of … cloth."

Court appearances, depositions and other important meetings require appropriate business formal attire. But what about at other times? Many lawyers adopted "business casual" years ago. However, here are 10 reasons you may want to bring back more formal attire that may be languishing in your closet.

• Dressing formally distinguishes you from the crowd.

How satisfying to be walking down the street and have a stranger say, "You look great. Nice suit!" Or bumping into opposing counsel and other members of the bar and always being prepared on a moment's notice to go to court or to tackle other business requiring more formality.

• Lawyers are experts in the law, and must also master the facts about their clients, their cases and their business deals.

Whether you favor suits all the time or mix in business casual, being dressed with an eye for detail projects a positive image.

• Dressing in a suit for the office separates work from home and play.

It's energizing to go home and change into more casual clothes for a jog, working out, walking the dog, etc. or just plain relaxation. But, it can get boring to wear the same casual clothes for work and play every day.

• Many people feel that they work better if they are more formally dressed, sitting up with good posture in their work space.

Try it and see if there is a difference.

• Wearing a suit to work helps promote physical fitness.

A good suit doesn't lie. If the jacket doesn't quite button like it used to, or the pants are getting short or tight around the waist, you know right away what's going on. The same can't be so easily said for slacks and a shirt, especially if it's one of those no-tuck-in models.

• Wearing a suit offers the opportunity to add good formal shirts, ties and other accessories that add zip to your appearance.

It also expands the list of nice things people can give you for your birthday and holidays.

• Suits offer many more pockets for wallets, pens, phones, keys, office passes, business cards, spare change and so forth than casual clothing.
• Local men's stores are having a tough time competing against e-tailers who sell a host of casual products.

Maintaining and adding new suits and office attire to your wardrobe will help smaller businesses and the local economy.

• Always be well groomed regardless of your choice of attire. The hirsute and unshaven look for men is popular among movie stars, athletes and celebrities, but look in the mirror. Is that a good look for you?
• Dressing for success may sound like a cliché, but there's a reason clichés exist.

When you choose to dress casually, consider adding a blazer or sport jacket to complement the slacks and long-sleeve shirt that you prefer. You will still be "casual, " but in a "lawyerly" manner that even Judge Haller would approve.

Robert Pratter, a member of Philadelphia's Cohen, Placitella & Roth, heads up the firm's complex litigation group primarily representing public entities, union pension funds and private individuals in securities, antitrust environmental actions and other complex commercial litigation. 

It's a New Day at Many Top 10 Firms: Casual

By Jonathan Ringel

The day of the pinstriped lawyer may be over—at least on Fridays.

Within the past two months, five of Atlanta's 10 largest firms have instituted "casual Friday" dress policies, and at least one more is seriously considering the move.

Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Alston & Bird; Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy; Kilpatrick & Cody; and Arnall Golden & Gregory allow some form of casual attire on Fridays. Troutman Sanders is "seriously considering it," according to its managing partner, Robert W. Webb Jr.

Sutherland, Asbill's William H. Bradley was managing partner two months ago when the firm started-on a six-month experimental basis-allowing lawyers and staff to dress down.

"I like it," he says. "I wish we could go to one day a week where we had to wear a tie."

Sutherland's current managing partner, James L. Henderson III, is less enthusiastic. "I'm lukewarm," he says.

On one hand, he says, khaki pants and an oxford shirt are indeed more comfortable than a suit and tie. "But casual clothes promote an attitude of casualness—it's less intense," says Henderson.

Besides, Henderson adds, "I'm usually meeting with someone and end up not getting the benefits."

Cathy A. Benton, Alston & Bird's director of human resources, says her firm started flirting with the policy last summer when casual clothes were allowed once a month. The policy was extended past the summer, says Benton, and "once the partners' committee got hold of it, it got beyond me."

Two months ago, Benton says, firm managing partner L. Neil Williams Jr. said, "Let's do it every Friday."

"[Williams] said, 'Let's not be real restricting,' " says Benton, but she and firm administrator Ken Britt came up with a few guidelines to keep dress in check.

"We allow jeans, tennis shoes and T-shirts," she says, "but no ripped jeans, no shorts and no sweat pants."

Williams could not be reached for comment.

Kilpatrick & Cody managing partner William A. Burnham says when his firm formalized its casual Friday policy earlier this month, some of the lawyers and staff misinterpreted the move as allowing clothing one might wear if going to the office on the weekend.

"There's casual and there's casual," says Burnham, who says he solved the problem with a message asking his lawyers and staff to forgo the ripped jeans and shorts appropriate with "Saturday casual" and to dress up a little more.

This week, Powell, Goldstein and Arnall Golden have announced that the firms will allow casual Fridays during the summer months.

"It seemed like it was worth doing," says Arnall Golden managing partner Allen I. Hirsch. He says the firm's policy does not allow jeans, shorts or shirts without collars or with writing on them.

Like most of the other firms that have adopted casual Friday policies, Hirsch says that the firm will place signs on receptionists' desk explaining to visitors the firm's casual look on Fridays.