By Leanna Katz (2L)
On Tuesday, September 16, the Career Development Office (CDO) hosted a Professional Image Seminar with Executive Image Consultant Janelle Long. Approximately fifty students listened as she offered advice on how to dress “professionally,” and what to wear in situations ranging from court appearances to interviews to cocktail parties.
The advice caused some students to feel left out.
Third-year student Sarah Danial, spoke up partway through the seminar. “I have never felt so excluded in my time at this law school,” Danial said.
Her comment followed the speaker’s suggestion that women should wear skirts that hit just above the knee. Danial does not wear skirts above the knee because of her beliefs as a feminist and her faith as a Muslim.
“Ms. Long talked about coordinating accessories like pocket squares and ties. I would have liked to see her talk about what style kippah or hijab is acceptable to wear in court. This would reflect the diversity that we want to see in the legal profession.”
The seminar was intended to provide students with a sense of the legal environments in which they may work. But the pictures students saw were only of people who are white, thin, and able-bodied, without cultural or religious considerations influencing their wardrobe choices.
If the program met its goal of conveying what the legal profession looks like, this gives rise to even greater concerns about the lack of diversity in the legal profession.
“At U of T we have programs aimed at increasing diversity like See Yourself Here, LAWS, and the LSAT prep program for low-income students. If we truly believe in diversity, we need to make sure this is reflected when we talking about what the legal profession looks like,” Danial said.
After Danial voiced her concerns, Long apologized and stated, “the most important thing is to follow your heart and do what you are comfortable with.” But this comment did not seem consonant with the underlying premise of the talk: that there is a certain way to dress to fit in the legal profession.
Emily Orchard, the Director of the CDO, responded to the criticism. “The program, which was offered for the second time this year, is delivered in response to student requests for a program of this sort which is aimed at providing attendees with a sense of the very conservative nature of many of the legal environments in which students will interview and may ultimately work,” Orchard said. “The suggestion is not that students must follow the tips given or that the Faculty or CDO encourages or expects students to dress in particular ways.”
The presentation was well received by second-year student Eleanor Vaughan. “Ms. Long was not giving us commandments, but suggestions. I’m sympathetic to the concerns raised, but the majority of students attended because they want information for going through the OCI process and working on Bay Street,” she said.
Vaughan also pointed out, “The Professional Image Program can help law school be more inclusive, especially for students who have never worked in an office or whose parents do not wear professional attire to work, the program can help create a more level playing field.”
Orchard emphasized that the CDO aims to offer programs that will benefit students and would appreciate input about how programs can be improved.
Janelle Long will be offering more advice at a CDO event on October 21, where students can learn the “ins and outs of dining etiquette,” including “acceptable topics for conversation” and “manners with servers.”
