Dressing the Part is Half the Battle

Every lawyer knows they need to be prepared for court. But preparation isn’t just about knowing the law or memorizing the facts of the case. In Brazil, it also means knowing what to wear.

What a lawyer wears matters. Judges expect formality, whether the hearing is in person or online. And in Brazil’s highest courts, there are rules about what can and can’t be worn.

At the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the rule is straightforward. The court’s published guidance requires formal business attire during plenary sessions. For men, that means a suit and tie. For women, it means professional attire, including a blazer. Jeans, sneakers, sandals, and other casual clothing aren’t permitted.

At the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), the rule is less clear. A detailed dress code adopted in 2024 was later suspended following concerns about gender discrimination. So today, there isn’t a written rule in place. Nevertheless, STJ judges still expect lawyers to dress for the seriousness of the proceedings.

This isn’t just theoretical. In 2021, an STJ justice asked that a lawyer be removed from a virtual hearing because he wasn’t wearing a tie. More recently, the STJ overturned a criminal conviction after a lawyer was prevented from presenting oral arguments during a virtual hearing simply for not wearing a robe.

The lesson is simple. A missing tie or robe may seem like a small detail, but it can quickly become a distraction. Being prepared for court in Brazil doesn’t just mean being ready to argue the case. It also means being dressed to do so.