In the mind of clients and potential clients, you are likely the attorney in which you appear.  If you are dressed for success, the client or potential client will likely assume the best about you.  If you are not dressed for success, the client or potential client may not assume the best about you.

Ultimately, if clients assume the best about you, this can result in you getting quality clients.  If clients do not assume the best about you, it can result in you not getting quality clients.

Fair or not, image matters in the mind of clients and potential clients.  The way you appear to clients and potential clients can have a direct effect on the success of your law practice.

When attorneys contemplate the idea of looking like a polished attorney who wears the highest quality clothing, the objection is often the cost.  They do not believe they have the funds or the money to pay for the best clothing.

The reality is that if many attorneys were to buy a new suit, shirt, tie and shoes of one of the best brands, the cost alone could exceed $1,000.  So, when a lawyer starts multiplying the cost of a whole new wardrobe, it becomes impossible.

But if a lawyer were to look patiently online through a site like eBay, an attorney could probably re-do their entire wardrobe for about $1,000.  How does a new wardrobe for a $1,000 sound?  For many attorneys, this is palatable and pays for itself in terms of the business that is gained.

Having said that, many attorneys cannot get over the idea of buying used clothing.  They’d instead rather by lower quality clothing brand new.  But at the end of the day, quality matters as it relates to clothing.  For most attorneys, you’re better to have quality used clothing than second-rate new clothing.

The clients can spot quality clothing.  Other lawyers and judges can spot quality clothing.  Quality clothing also lasts longer.

At the end of the day, having a used Mercedes or BMW is probably better than having a brand new car that isn’t remotely in the same class.  And, in the same vein, having a used Armani or Hugo Boss suit is better than having a new suit that isn’t remotely in the same class.  The same can be said for shirts, ties, handkerchiefs, cuff links, watches and other accessories — all which can be found used online.

Through sites like eBay, you can take some time and find used suits that are in your size that might require no or minimal adjustments for it to fit great.  You also can look for and spot for times when individuals are selling high quality tie collections at ridiculously low prices.  The same can be said about cuff links, handkerchiefs, etc.

If you can get over the idea of buying quality used clothing, you can easily re-do your entire wardrobe for about $1,000 — give or take a little.  That new wardrobe is going to help get your law practice moving in the right direction because image does — for better or worse — matter.

if you have any thoughts, feel free to share them below.