When you picture a law student, what do you see?

Whatever she wears in your mind, her style is intentional. Her look confirms that she is a law student and that she belongs in law school.

Think carefully about what you pictured. There are probably specific aspects that are important to you based on your background. For me, I picture someone wearing obviously high-quality clothes – a well-fitted outfit in an expensive fabric. I grew up on a farm, and while my clothes were nice enough, new, and clean, they were not the latest style or highest quality. By the time I was in law school, I was still working on putting together a professional outfit, and my biggest fear was looking like I just fell off the turnip truck.

So, I paid attention to the clothes that made me feel like someone who belonged in law school: a while blazer with black accents, a red shift dress, another dress with a striking blue and green pattern. They were the clothes that made me feel confident but that also netted compliments from my peers. I knew which outfits made me feel powerful, and I clung to them when I needed a boost. When taking the bar, for example, I wore the blue and green dress to remind myself that I belonged in a seat at that table.

As you develop your style, know that what makes you feel most powerful will most likely be whatever helps you battle your own insecurities. Once you are able to get past them, there’s no stopping what you’ll be able to achieve.