tattoo or not to (tattoo)

That is the question. Scott of Simple Justice writes about this LA Times article (via Carolyn Elefant) regarding the impact of body art and expression in today’s workplace.

Once associated with drunken sailors, felons and Hells Angels, tattoos have gone nearly mainstream, putting employers in a bind. How to write rules that won’t alienate un-hip customers on the one hand or eliminate talented workers on the other?

Different standards have emerged. A pink rose discreetly inked on an ankle might pass muster at a hospital but not a day-care center; an eyebrow stud will be viewed as charming at one store and a blemish at another.

Law firms are also taking notice:

Many law firms also prefer conventional looks, as Nicole Wool discovered. Six years ago, on her second day as an associate with an L.A. entertainment firm, one of the older partners took her aside and told her to take out her tongue stud.

“I felt so embarrassed,” recalled Wool, 32, who now works for Dr. Tattoff, a chain of tattoo removal studios. “It made me feel like I’d done something bad.”

Being of the more conservative persuasion, Scott writes:

Sexy or rebellious? Well that’s a message I want to send as a lawyer, and receive as a client. After all, who cares if my lawyer is a dope, as long as he’s sexy. There is a message here, but not the one intended by the nice fellow with a half dozen piercings. It says “I’m self-indulgent and immature.” Put aside the sorry reality that there’s nothing worse than some old tattoo on some saggy old body part that nobody will ever be able to look at without retching at some point in the future. It’s like wearing bell bottom pants in the ’60s, but never being able to take them off. Your judgment will forever be showing. Your poor judgment.

I have to say I agree. While I personally am not against these forms of self-expression, I don’t think they have a place in the courtroom. Whether we like it or not, we are treated differently by people based on how they perceive us. In our line of work, it is imperative that we are seen in the best light possible. Most of the times, we are in Court on behalf of someone else and if we are to be presenting someone else’s case to a judge, a jury or a prosecutor, then it behooves us to put our best foot forward. We engage in a profession – a serious profession, and must treat it as such.

As my generation would say: Cover that sh*t up.

Previous coverage: A while back, I considered whether we have a “look”.

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