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Hi Teamliquid,
I am currently a student in Uni doing a dual degree in business and law.
My issue is, I have been saving up enough money for a full sleeve tattoo for about 3 years now, since high school and to be honest never thought twice about not getting a tattoo. However, I am planning on becoming a lawyer once I leaven uni. Do you guys think that wearing long sleeves (which is all that is worn) is enough to conceal the tattoo from my professional life?
*Note: Please refrain from the "don't get a tattoo, you will regret it" rhetoric, I have one tattoo on my foot already and I do not regret it at all.
So, what do you guys think?
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I think that'd be pretty epic TBH. Some jerk ass guy is giving you the mumbo jumbo, just roll up your sleeve and scream 'oh yeah? well I AM the law!" at him while bicep pumping.
Sure to go down well in any court short of federal.
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How to test:
Put some paint over the location where your tattoo is supposed to be tattooed, and make it the same size aswell Next wear your lawyer uniform or whatever. Look in the mirror and strike all manner of lawyer like poses and see if the above paint can be seen. Make your decision on what you see.
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Canada11343 Posts
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On June 17 2013 16:34 Thereisnosaurus wrote: I think that'd be pretty epic TBH. Some jerk ass guy is giving you the mumbo jumbo, just roll up your sleeve and scream 'oh yeah? well I AM the law!" at him while bicep pumping.
Sure to go down well in any court short of federal.
Haha! Ya... I'll be the best lawyer in all the land!
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I don't know about once you become a lawyer, but definitely don't get one now. If you don't actually score a law job and have to work somewhere else, you're boned
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I'm a lawyer. Personally, I wouldn't care, however:
It's not a professional look. If you're sure you can keep it well hidden whilst working in your professional capacity and you really, really want it, then go ahead. But do not be surprised if it closes doors to you should people become aware. Your appearance matters. Probably more than it should, but that's the way the world works.
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Netherlands19133 Posts
I have worked as a lawyer for several years before starting for myself. Personally I don't see this being an issue at all. The only thing that matters is how you present yourself during your interview and afterwards to clients. When wearing a suit (I mean when were you ever planning on wearing anything else) noone's gonna notice. One of my former firms partners actually comes close to having a full body tattoo but the only time you notice is on sailing weekends.
Your appearance matters. Probably more than it should, but that's the way the world works.
Damn right it does. You're not a person but a tool to clients and they prefer theirs to look sharp.
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some dude i went to high school with has two full sleeves that come out past the wrist. you can get jobs like that, but undoubtably i think at some point it is gonna limit you. just make it a full sleeve that cuts a little higher than the wrist so you dont have to worry but still have the tat
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I can't speak toward the attitude to tattoos in other countries, but here in the U.S., tattoos are very, very common, even among professionals, but it's understood that they should be covered up when you're at work.
Speaking as a current lawyer, I had quite a few friends in law school with tattoos, and I've been working at a big corporate law firm in NYC for a couple years now and also have a bunch of coworkers with tattoos, including one who has a full sleeve. I have a back piece myself. For the most part, nobody cares that you have them as long as you can cover them up adequately (i.e. the guy with the sleeve doesn't have any visible tattoos so long as he has a shirt on, but everyone, including the partners, know that he's covered in tattoos underneath his shirt).
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On another note, I've heard of some people with full sleeve tattoos that bleed through white shirts and have to buy like extra thick/reinforced fabric to prevent the colors from showing through. Just a thought
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On June 17 2013 17:33 Nyovne wrote:I have worked as a lawyer for several years before starting for myself. Personally I don't see this being an issue at all. The only thing that matters is how you present yourself during your interview and afterwards to clients. When wearing a suit (I mean when were you ever planning on wearing anything else) noone's gonna notice. One of my former firms partners actually comes close to having a full body tattoo but the only time you notice is on sailing weekends. Show nested quote +Your appearance matters. Probably more than it should, but that's the way the world works. Damn right it does. You're not a person but a tool to clients and they prefer theirs to look sharp.
I also work for a law firm and tattoos are a weird thing. As a counsel, you will likely be wearing a suit most of the time in court and as long as the tattoo doesn't reach your hand or wrist, most other attorney’s won’t see it. In the office, you might not have may problems with it. We have one attorney who has both arms with sleeve tattoos and he is one of our best. He recently had a kid and has been milking the baby photos by showing them to the court clerks before asking for them to set trial dates. It makes sure all his hearings are where he wants them.
That being said, law is a very judgmental file and first impressions matter. Having been in court supporting our attorneys, I can say you should never have a visible tattoo. Judges can old, cranky bitches and a little thing like a tattoo or poorly tied tie can be the thing that makes them freak out and deny your motion. I have seen it first hand. And you can’t file anything to challenge it saying that the judge threw a hissy fit because someone ate his fruit loops that morning.
So in short, tattoos are great and if you can own it, you can make it work in the modern legal field. But make sure you can hide it as well, since you don’t want it to negatively effect your ability to practice law. You have to operate in the whole court and you don’t know what idiot clerk or court officer will have an issue with a tattoo.
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It's fine so long as long sleeves will cover 'em up.
I'm a public defender, and I'd actually gain credibility with my clients if I had a full length sleeve tattoo.
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Netherlands19133 Posts
On June 18 2013 04:38 PassionFruit wrote: It's fine so long as long sleeves will cover 'em up.
I'm a public defender, and I'd actually gain credibility with my clients if I had a full length sleeve tattoo. Haha nice .
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I'm going to a law school this term and I've been incredibly tempted to get a full length sleeve tattoo....this sucks...
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