Practice Pointer: Time to Grow a Beard

Our nation's first goth president (more on this later). President Lincoln knew the power of the beard.

Lawyers are always looking for an advantage.

Here is one:   Grow a beard.  It is just that simple.

Tom Bartlett of the Chronicle of Higher Education reports that

A recent study in the Journal of Marketing Communications found that men with beards were deemed more credible than those who were clean-shaven.  The study showed participants pictures of men endorsing certain products. In some photos, the men were clean-shaven. In others, the same men had beards. Participants thought the men with beards had greater expertise and were significantly more trustworthy when they were endorsing products like cell phones and toothpaste.

So, if you are a male attorney, grow a beard.  Or, if you have a male witness, have him grow a beard.   Just look at Judge Easterbrook, Judge Ito, and Perry Mason.  But see Judge Bork.   This is the stuff jury consultants will charge you big bucks for; remember you heard it here for free.

Although not addressed in the study, Siouxsie does not recommend going the bearded-lady route.

~ by siouxsielaw on April 22, 2010.