When you think of dressing up, you may picture a costume from a famous movie, a character from Marvel or a celebrity at a film premiere. However, there are many ways of dressing something up that you maybe hadn’t thought of.
Take the recent court case of minibus driver Andrzej Wojcicki for example. The lawyer representing him, one Alan Blacker AKA Lord Harley, has recently been criticised for his attire to court, whereby he sews personal accolades onto his robes. Judge David Wynn even went so far as to say he looked like “something out of Harry Potter.”
Blacker wears these volunteering awards with pride, as you would think he has every right to do so. But the need to wear them in court was questioned by Judge David Wynn Morgan, who defended his argument with the example of Judge Tasker Watkins, who had won a Victoria Cross for his services during the Battle of Normandy, yet did not wear these to court.
Unfortunately for Lord Harley, the media spotlight has continued to shine on him for other reasons. His full title, Dr The Right Honourable The Lord Harley of Counsel of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, is now being questioned due to reports claiming he is not a barrister, but a solicitor-advocate. Furthermore, Keith Dunn of the Order of St Johns in Wales told the Mirror: “St John in Wales would like to confirm that Lord Harley (Alan Blacker) is not a member of the Order of St John and his name does not appear on the roles of the Priory for Wales or England and he is therefore not a member of our Order.” This begs the question as to why someone would practice under such a title if they are not entitled to do so, particularly a person of Lord Harley’s academic stature, while also bringing in to sharp focus the need to always create a good first impression!
It also brings in to focus the need to have a good LinkedIn profile, regardless of what field you are in. Lord Harley as it turns out may be dressing up in more ways than one as his LinkedIn profile is so awash with achievements, abbreviations and “helpful” contact details that it risks sinking under the weight of acronyms.
When viewing Harley’s profile, you have no choice but to immerse yourself into a world of self-promotion. For example. 99% of LinkedIn profile titles are a persons name because, well, that’s your name…. Does Lord Harley take the same approach? Not exactly… Instead the greeting we receive is “Dr. The Rt. Hon. The Lord Harley of Counsel KStJ. Dr Phil”. Quite the spiel of titles which may well not have the effect desired. His choice to wear his awards to court in order presumably, to appear highly qualified to the jury, has been widely highlighted and his profile account appears to be another way of achieving just this, but in the digital world.
His LinkedIn profile doesn’t stop there, as Legal Cheek point out it also includes spectacular testimonials, more honours and awards that you could say without pausing for breath several times, an extensive contact section and even some patents for good measure.
“Dress to Impress” is an often recited saying, and one with merit, but this story should be a reminder that all good things are best in moderation.