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‘What’s the verdict on ear piercings for men in City law firm offices?

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By Legal Cheek on

25

About to start TC


In our latest Career Conundrum, a soon-to-be trainee solicitor asks whether it’s acceptable for men to wear earrings in the office.

“I recently saw your last CC asking for general advice at the start of a TC, and it made me think about my own conundrum. I’m about to start my own TC at a reasonably sized city/international firm. I also have two small earrings which I rarely if ever take out. What’s the verdict on facial/ear piercings for men in City firm offices? Thanks for any advice/clarity.”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at tips@legalcheek.com.

25 Comments

US guy

Small ear piercings = fine. Other than at the most traditional of firms I don’t think anyone will bat an eyelid.

Face piercings = somewhat more controversial, and it really depends on how discreet it is. Potential for mixed responses – most people won’t care but some will consider them inappropriate.

Reply Report comment
(8)(4)

Alex R.

As someone with three piercings in one ear, a reverse scaffold piercing in the other, and a nose stud working in a large, international firm. It has never been commented on or impacted my job, whether seeing Clients or in Court.

If it doesn’t impact your ability to work, it shouldn’t be remotely relevant. Piercings and tattoos are very commonplace and I don’t think people should limit individuality, particularly where it doesn’t change how they work.

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(14)(18)

Pete

I am a bit surprised especially regarding the nose stud. Not offended, but would have thought 1 in each ear would be ok minimum.

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(0)(0)

Ex-Partner

I would never higher you with ugly piercings.

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(1)(1)

boring

Why is this even being asked in 2025 🙄

Reply Report comment
(8)(20)

Plain as day

I agree. Clients know and firms know that piercings on men, and tattoos on anyone, are the leper’s bell of the terminally stupid. It’s helpful to be able to make such a quick, easy and accurate assessment.

They’re so obviously wrong for legal practice that there’s really nothing to ask about.

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(2)(2)

Real World Calling

If you have to ask the question, you know the answer is don’t do it.

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(40)(6)

Woke pierced man

Clearly no justified objection to small ear piercings on anyone these days.

It’s almost certain to be sex discrimination to have an issue as anyone who had an issue is unlikely to be able to show they had ever raised an issue with ear piercings a woman.

I’m a 7PQE cis man and have two lobe piercings. Have had some odd looks but no issues.

The City is way more liberal these days but there are still plenty of dicks about. It shouldn’t be this way, but I’d still consider removing my piercings for an interview. I’d put them back in once I started.

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(14)(6)

Non-Woke Partner

“I’d put them back in once I started”.

Still in probation. Instantly binned.

Reply Report comment
(1)(1)

anon

I work in a large international firm and have a ring in my left ear – never received any comments on it

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(2)(2)

Twanger

It’s all about impression.

If you’re happy making that impression, then good luck to you.

After all, it is all about you…

Reply Report comment
(16)(3)

Wise old bird

No-one’s going to raise it with you directly as an “issue” – you’re right that raising an issue re earrings would almost certainly be sex discrimination, so no-one would go there.
But that doesn’t mean that other, more senior lawyers in the firm won’t be privately unimpressed, and may think less of you. Of course your work is unaffected but career prospects depend on a lot more than just your work – there’s judgment and self-awareness too. Professionalism often requires the suppression of some aspects of personality, to ensure you get on with the widest possible range of clients – bland presentation is the name of the game. Same in the courts – the judges want to focus on what barristers or advocates are saying, and don’t want to be distracted by loud colours, or jewellery or strange hair cuts.
I’d save the earrings for the weekends.

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(1)(1)

Probono

Don’t worry, nobody’s going to comment on your piercing, they will just quietly skip you for the promotion.

Reply Report comment
(32)(4)

Klaxon

Bruh, any pwopa City lad knows the only piercing you should care about is a proper Prince Albert on your gargantuan member.

Make sure to let everyone in the office know, especially the secretaries and your supervising partner. You’ll make top of equity in c. 24 months.

Reply Report comment
(17)(5)

Lord Cheese

It’s also team dependent (as with everything). I’ve saw a couple lawyers at top London firms with nose rings in teams which are more casual. Ultimately, don’t worry about small stud ear piercings.

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(3)(3)

Alan

If you were to work at my firm turning up in that manner you would be barred from entering the building and contract ripped up on the spot. Clients want lawyers not fashionistas.

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(13)(5)

Realist

If you want to fail, crack on. You won’t be respected for it – you’ll be regarded as the ‘odd outsider’ who lacks the social intelligence to recognise and conform to cultural norms.

Partners won’t say anything, but since decisions now shape the direction and trajectory for your lifetime, it will adversely impact you for forever.

You’re not just being penalised for not being the same as other people, you’re being penalised for lacking the humility and social skills to conform. That’s what I did: I shan’t ‘out’ myself with details, suffice to say that I identified the dominant culture and I conformed to it. And I did that in every new job over the years.

Some tips:

*** My career race is in the home stretch, here’s what I know – What advice would those near the end of their work lives give those just starting out? ***

“So much of career success is knowing how to behave at work. The usual advice is, “Just be yourself.” But this only applies if you’re a member of the dominant demographic in your workplace: a working-class man on a building site, a middle-class woman in a teachers’ staff room, a young white man in a tech start-up. Anyone else needs to learn the dominant group’s codes of dress, humour, eating etc and put them on like a costume every morning.”

My career race is in the home stretch, here’s what I know – What advice would those near the end of their work lives give those just starting out?, Simon Kuper, Financial Times, 18 April 2024, https://archive.is/20240421041657/https://www.ft.com/content/ff58f701-fadf-43bb-a5e7-e4ebcf2bf6a9#selection-2005.40-2005.483

———-

***Please do not bring your ‘whole self’ to work ***

It is fatuous to encourage people to behave in the office just as they do at home…Companies want workers who are industrious and easy to manage. Workers, for that matter, are generally looking for companionable, civil colleagues who get on with the job at hand… I have worked with a lot of innovative, clever people who never cared to talk much about their personal lives. I was perfectly happy to think they behaved differently at home than at work. I suspect they felt the same about me.

https://archive.is/20250308052415/https://www.ft.com/content/595d035a-ee72-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57#selection-2223.25-2223.205

ACCENT:

Legal Cheek, “*** Don’t risk ‘dying a martyr’ for your home town accent, warns barrister who rose from poverty, 28 January 2020 ***
https://archive.is/fxQN2

UK’s hierarchy of accents: ‘I thought mine made me sound stupid’, https://archive.is/2025.01.21-000603/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyjdyj729ro

Five year olds ‘link accents with intelligence’, BBC News, 23 April 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15vxw9qwkyo

Regional accent stereotype concern raised by study, 17 Jan 25, https://archive.is/2025.01.18-173458/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpql98d1er9o

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(12)(6)

Klaxon

That’s a pretty impressive pile of sh*t to coil out at 3.30pm on a Friday arvo.

Well done fresher, bravo indeed.

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(0)(0)

Pete

I would have thought a single ear ring or stud should be sufficient but a nose stud is going a bit too far in my opinion.

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(1)(0)

Joe

I’ve got a mullet, moustache and a small round ear piercing and I’ve never faced any issues. Silver circle firm.

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(3)(3)

Anonymous

Not yet, but you’ll never be partner I’ll tell you that for free

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(0)(0)

Former SC document usher

You must work in the funds team. Haven’t faced any issues because you’re literally the only associate left.

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(1)(0)

Anon

What about for women?

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(0)(0)

US Partner

I have nipple piercings – I’m open about their existence but no one seems to give a monkey’s.

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(1)(0)

Anonymous

Not yet, but you’ll never be partner I’ll tell you that for free

Reply Report comment
(0)(0)

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