Regardless of personality, partners expect your best work all of the time and are sometimes known to give work that is less than professionally fulfilling. By and large, jokes one associate, we re not the sharpest dressers at Debevoise, although there are some exceptions. The firm instituted a casual Friday policy for the first time in 1998, confusing lawyers used to dressing to the nines every day. No one knows quite what to wear the men all look identical in their khakis and polo shirts and the women are trying hard to find what is appropriate. Upon experimentation, Debevoise lawyers determined that they could dress casually and get away with wearing whatever the heck they want, down to sweatpants.
Some people are upset at the dearth of casual days during the rest of the year.
To the chagrin of the laid-back contingent there is very strong resistance, not just among the partners, but also among the associates, to changing this policy.