LAW SOCIETY OF KENYA

Lavington, Opposite Valley Arcade

ADVOCATES DRESS CODE

This dress code, prepared by the Council, is intended to give guidance to Advocates
concerning matters of dressing for purposes of appearance in Court in Kenya.

The Code is not exhaustive treatise and must be supplemented with commonsense. Any
questions arising from this Code whether in Court or not, should be referred to the
Council of the Law Society of Kenya for directions.

1. Except as otherwise indicated, these guidelines shall apply in respect of dressing for
appearance in the subordinate courts as well as the High Court and Court of Appeal.
2. All dress must be modest and of a nature that lends itself to the dignity of the legal
professional. All manner of flamboyance and garishness should be avoided.
3. Advocates should maintain a neat appearance and should avoid appearing unkempt
and untidy.
4. Advocates, and in particular female Advocates, should refrain from wearing revealing
clothing. Common sense and modesty should be applied in this regard.
5. Male advocates must wear ties at all times .Subject to paragraph 21, Advocates should
not remove jackets in open court or chambers except with the permission of the
presiding judge or magistrate and this permission should be freely given when it is
obviously hot and stuffy.
6. Female advocates should not wear sleeveless shirts or dresses.
7. Male advocates should not wear kanzus, kofias, fedoras or other hats
8. Advocates whose faith require them to wear head gear may wear the same so long as
the colour of the head gear is charcoal, black, white, grey, navy blue and other
darkish colours.
9. Shorts, culottes and jeans are not allowed whether they are suits or not.
10. Jackets and Blazers for male advocates must be black, charcoal, grey, navy blue or
other darkish colours. These must be pinstriped or plaid in a combination of these
colours together with white or cream.

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11. Waist coats and sleeveless jumpers must be black, charcoal grey navy blue or other
darkish colours. These must be pinstriped or plaid in a combination of these colours
together with white or cream.
12. Trousers must be black, charcoal, grey, navy blue or other darkish colours. These may
pinstriped or plaid.
13. Ties must be muted colours and should not be flamboyant. Common sense should be
applied in this regard. Cravats are not allowed.
14. Shoes for both male and female advocates should be black, grey, navy blue or
brown. Shoes that expose the toes are not allowed, unless the advocate is suffering
from an ailment that requires that he or she wears sandals.
15. Whereas male advocates are encouraged to wear full suits, it is permissible to wear
plain coloured trousers with a pinstriped plaid jacket or blazer or vice versa as long as
the trousers or blazer are in the permitted colours.
16. Blouses must be white, cream, black charcoal, grey, navy blue or similar colours and
may be printed materials of a combination of these colours together with cream and
white.
17. Skirts must be black, charcoal, grey, navy blue or other darkish colours and must be at
least knee length. These may pinstriped or plaid or printed material in a combination
of these colours with white or cream.
18. Jackets and cardigans for female advocates must be black, charcoal, grey, navy blue
or other darkish colours and may be pinstriped, plaid or patterned in a combination
of these colours with white or cream.
19. Neck scarves may be worn by female advocates and must of muted colours and
should not be flamboyant. Common sense should be applied in this regard.
20. Trouser suits may be worn by female advocate and they must be full suits, blazers and
jackets must be long and must fall well below the hips to ensure modesty.
21. (1) In addition to the foregoing the following mode of dress shall apply in respect of
appearance before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court when sitting in open
courts:
a) Wigs shall be optional;
b) Collars which must be plain white, must be worn; and
c) Gowns, which must be plain black, must be worn.
(2) For avoidance of doubt, the requirements of this paragraph shall apply to
advocates who opt to wear saris and bui buis.
(3) The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply when the High Court or Court
of Appeal or the Supreme Court is not sitting in open court, provided that any
advocate appearing before any other court or Tribunal wearing the Advocates
shirt must wear a collar.

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22. Women are allowed to braid or plait their hair as long as the braiding style lends itself
to the dignity of the profession. Braids must be neat and must be held back from the
face with a hair band or ribbon or hair grip when appearing before a magistrate or
judge whether in chambers or open court. Braids should not be intertwined with
coloured thread and braided hairstyles should not be so untamed and flamboyant as
to bring the profession into disrepute.
23. For avoidance of doubt advocates shall not dress down on any day when appearing
before any court or tribunal.

NB: Any Advocate who appears in court dressed contrary to this code commits a
professional misconduct.

Dated at Nairobi this 21st Day of January 2013

Eric Mutua Apollo Mboya