As if the challenge of beginning your new law career were not enough, a remarkable percentage of young lawyers are also getting married, starting a family, and/ or buying a house. Transitioning from free-spirited student to relentlessly dedicated corporate cog can be surprisingly tough for some folks.

It's not always easy being a new lawyer.

So show your favorite new lawyer some love with a great gift to get them started on the right foot.  May we recommend a year long vacation sailing around the world?

It will take you approximately 12 seconds to realize that being a Lawyer is not at all like it’s depicted on television

But if you don’t like that suggestion, here are some more ideas:

• Kindle Fire
  Amazon’s Kindle eReader has been nothing short of a revolution for lawyers and other professionals who need to spend a lot of time reading. Previously, we only had two options: 1) print out the hundreds of pages you need to read each day and slaughter countless tress. 2) Read on the computer screen, and slaughter your 20/20 vision. Nearly every attorney I know complains about the negative impact monitor reading has had on their vision. Now there’s finally a third way: load PDFs or text documents onto a Kindle and reading suddenly becomes pleasurable again. Amazon’s eInk technology really is the next best thing to paper, but without killing trees or lugging a 50 pound file box everywhere you go.

• 
  Desktop Bonsai Tree/ Zen Garden
  Studies have shown that plants have a calming, health-boosting effect. And anything that has a calming effect is good for a new lawyer. Try this mini desktop Bonsai Tree for an affordable but thoughtful gift idea for any busy professional.

• Law School Diploma Frame
  Every new lawyer needs a high-quality matted mahogany frame to hang their law school diploma on the wall. It may seem egocentric, but there’s no denying that framed diplomas add an air of academic sophistication to an office, and new lawyers can use all the boosts they can get!

• Wardrobe Upgrade
  Lawyers need to look the part, and this usually means an arsenal of new shirts, suits, and ties. My personal favorite is Thomas Pink, which offers extremely high quality, professional styling, but without breaking the bank. Other places to check out include Brooks Brothers and Ann Taylor. If they need professional styling advice in addition to the actual clothing, try A Gentleman Gets Dressed Up for men, and Corporette for women.

• Designer Wallet or Handbag
  Sooner or later everyone succumbs to the pressure. The rationalization usually goes something like this: “Hey, I work really hard; I deserve to treat myself to a little something. Besides, I can afford this now, and EVERYBODY else has one…” And so is it justified to spend thousands of dollars on a fancy-schmancy handbag in some 5th Avenue boutique. My suggestion: you can’t fight it. Instead, head them off at the pass and get them a nice designer handbag or wallet online at Endless.com for a fraction of the cost!

If you’re still looking for more great gift ideas for new lawyers, I’ve also prepared a page on gift ideas for new lawyers starting their law career.

Enjoy!

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The perfect law school graduation gift idea appropriately honors the occasion.

Woo-hoo! Law school graduation is FINALLY here! If your friend or loved one is about to graduate from law school, it’s an important and joyous occasion that deserves to be celebrated with the perfect law school graduation gifts.

Scroll down to skip the advice and get straight to the gift ideas!

There are several themes you could go with here:

• Gifts to help them get ready for their law career. Think clothing accessories like jewellery, cuff links, watches, and gift certificates to stores that sell business dress clothing. Also, other fancy symbols of success like a nice leather briefcase or handbag, an upscale pen, executive portfolio, or desk accessories like clocks, desk pads, or organizers. (See specific gift ideas including purchase options below…)
• Presents to help them prepare for the Bar Exam: don’t forget that the first thing to come after graduation is Bar Review. That means stress-relievers, energy boosters, and any thing that offers a tiny respite of fun or relaxation will be very welcome gifts. Ditto for things that make their day-to-day life easier so they can concentrate on studying, like meal delivery gift certificates, house cleaning, or even just a promise to help more with household chores.
• Finally, a third graduation gift idea for law students would be things that will allow them to take a break between law school/ Bar Exam and starting their law career. For many fresh law graduates, those couple of months after they take the Bar Exam are the “last hurrah”, and their best chance to take a really great vacation or tackle a big personal goal before they get caught up in the law firm lifestyle (eg, no life). Consider vacation gift certificates, travel books, fun reading, tickets to sporting events or big concerts, DVDs, or maybe some games they wouldn’t treat themselves to otherwise.

The Gift Ideas

Ok already, let’s get to the ideas!

Law School Graduation Gifts to Prepare them for their Career

So, the law student in your life is headed for a career as a lawyer! While that’s certainly an exciting step, it also represents a huge change in lifestyle from 3 years as a college student in law school, to a traditional and still largely somewhat formal office environment as a new lawyer in a law firm. Law is one of those professions where image matters, and for both men and women that means dressing like a successful lawyer (even if they may still be on a law student budget!). If you’re choosing a law school graduation gift, you can help make this transition much easier for them by helping to equip them with some of the things they’re going to need now that they’re finishing university. Believe me, any of these gifts would be very much appreciated by new law school grads!

Leather Legal Briefcase
For most the goal of law school is to get a high-powered legal job. There’s something about the glint of shiny leather by your side that exudes authority and says, “Now this is someone who has their act together!” — at least more so than that old Jansport backpack with the strap that’s about to fall off. So make the right impression and ace that interview!

A Nice Business Watch
Nothing says fashion sense like accessories, and a nice watch is perhaps the ultimate “status” accessory. It lets clients (and the opposition) know that you’re an attorney who has achieved a certain amount of success. If you are wondering what kind of watch is most appropriate for the formal but not-too-showy environment of a law firm, I have some recommendations for formal men’s watches and women’s watches.

Cuff Links
Nice cuff links are another one of those small details that separate the “I just graduated from law school and barely know what I’m doing here” boys from the “I’m a lawyer and here to do serious business” men. Few law students have cuff links, so you really can’t go wrong with a law school graduation gift like this.

A Nice Fountain Pen
I realize that too many people the idea of spending $200 on a pen you can get one for $0.79 that does the same thing might seem a bit ridiculous. But again, law is a profession where image matters – are you going to hand your client a 79 cent plastic Bic to sign a $20 million contract? Clients expect their attorneys to act like someone who is worth $400 an hour, and part of that image is using a nice pen. Amazon has many options, or if you don’t like paying full price you can often find great clearance deals at Executive Essentials. They even offer free engraving to make your gift personalized!

Dressy Elegant Earrings
Most women at the firm dress up their outfits with understated, dressy but elegant jewellery. Think small simple pearl or diamond stud earrings, not massive rapper-style bling bling or gaudy colors. Elegant jewellery can be both a practical and beautiful gift for a law school graduate or new lawyer. Some suggestions:

• AAA Quality Round 7.5-8mm Akoya SaltWater cultured White Pearl Earrings with 18K White Gold Mount
• Certified 10k Gold, Princess-Cut, Diamond Stud Earrings (1 cttw, J-K Color, I2-I3 Clarity)
• More Pearl Earrings

Diamond.com is currently having a sale which could be a good opportunity to stock up on graduation gifts for all your friends:

Pearl Necklace
Again, like most female law associates I don’t wear a lot of flashy jewellery around the office. But we are dressed up to some extent every single day, with many occasions for more formal dress. On these occasions I find myself reaching again and again for a simple but beautiful pearl necklace that I received as a gift shortly after my own graduation from law school. It just may be the perfect jewellery gift for a new graduate!

Tumi Business Tote
A nice leather business tote or briefcase is a must have for new lawyers, and let’s admit it – not something many of us could afford during law school. I like simple but high quality options like this Tumi Business Tote.

Coach Leather Tote
Many female lawyers carry nice handbags to the office and other events. It’s a more feminine alternative to the traditional leather lawyer’s briefcase. Coach is one of the more popular brands.

Gift Certificate to a Nice Shoe Store
Stocking up on dress shoes for the office and interviews is going to be one of the law student’s first tasks after graduation (post Bar Exam of course). You can make this task a lot easier on them by getting them a gift certificate as a graduation present. I’ve had a lot of luck buying from ShoeBuy.com, which offers free shipping for returns as well as orders, and generally better prices than Zappos. Here are two coupon codes for ShoeBuy.com you may want to try:

• $5 off any order of $50 or more at Shoebuy.com plus Free Shipping! Simply enter ‘BUY5′ at checkout to redeem.
• 10% Off Any Purchase at Shoebuy.com plus Free Shipping. Enter ‘SHOEBUY’ to redeem at checkout.

Graduation Gift Ideas to Help them Relax During the Bar Exam and at Work

The only downside of law school graduation (well, besides walking away with six figures in debt), is that for the typical law student the next stop is Bar Review and the Bar Exam. Bar Review is a hellish six-week course designed to prepare law graduates for the Bar Exam– it’s not fun, it’s highly stressful, and it takes up most of your summer following law school, right when all your other college graduate friends are out traveling or having fun. Because of the importance of the Bar Exam in a lawyers’ life, anything that can help them get through the Bar Review or pass the Bar Exam is bound to be an appreciated gift. Here are some ideas:

Nintendo Wii or Wii Games
Sure, video games waste a lot of time. But the Wii is a different kind of video gaming system, which in my opinion makes it very well suited to busy professionals: most of the games aren’t some kind of massive adventure that will suck you in for weeks. Instead, they’re party games that will have you moving around, laughing, interacting with friends. In other words, the perfect stress relief for bar exam studiers or first year law associates.

Coffee Gift Basket
Here’s another one that I received as a law school graduation present, and absolutely loved. If your favorite law student likes coffee, chances are he or she will be consuming a LOT of it while studying for the bar. This gift basket was a cute and delicious way to stock up my supply, and I love that the mugs are huge – law student sized!

Espresso Machine
Did I mention that keeping properly caffeinated is a major priority for most law students? (And Bar Exam studiers, and new lawyers?) It’s time to graduate from that crappy drip Folger’s stuff that you’ve been drinking and get a real espresso machine – get ready for a major energy boost! PS: if they’re not quite ready for Euro-style yet, you could also consider a high quality coffee machine.

Apple iPad
These are probably going to be the graduation gift par excellence this year, especially for the type of person who loves reading, gadgets, and games. But let’s be honest: the main reason everyone is getting one is so that they can be the first kid on their block with the latest and greatest electronic status symbol.

Bar Review Survival Kit
I go into this one on more detail on my bar exam gifts page, but one of the coolest law school graduation gifts I got was a “Bar Review Survival Kit” with a bunch of fun stress-relieving/ energy boosting toys, snacks, relaxing music, etc. Anything you can do to make the Bar Review period easier for your law school graduate would be a tremendous gift! Consider gift certificates for meals, house cleaning, massage, etc.

Still need more ideas for a Present for Law School Graduation?

Whew, if that’s not enough ideas, you can try browsing some of the other categories on this website, or you can try
Amazon’s Suggested Gifts for Recent Grads.

Or, feel free to leave your own gift ideas suggestions in the comments area below!

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Law students need love too!

Looking for the perfect gift for the law student in your life?

Welcome to the Internet’s biggest and most comprehensive ultimate gift guide to the absolute best gift ideas for law students! Law school is a unique (and uniquely challenging) experience. My colleagues in Law School– ever the poets– have described the experience as “soul-crushing”, “the most challenging thing you’ll ever do”, and “the perfect cure for optimism”. In short, law students are going through a challenging time, and they could use a little love and support!

The right gift can really make a big difference in your law student’s life: it helps them know that they are loved and supported, can make their life a little bit easier, and add a little fun to the daily routine of dry texts and cold-hearted analysis.

Please consider this list something of a work in progress– whenever I stumble across a new gift idea or a link to a useful list, I’ll add it to this page. So check back soon, because in less time than it takes to explain adverse possession, this page will be transformed into a treasure-trove of tips that will turn you into a genuine gift-giving goddess (or god, as the case may be).

Gifts for Law Students

BUDGET GIFTS

• Book: Scott Turow’s One L
  The night before his first exam at Harvard Law School, Scott Turow was so riddled with anxiety he tried every trick in the book to calm himself down: a glass of Whisky, sleeping pills, sex with his wife (twice) — yet nothing was a match for the terror of law school exams. Only someone who has been there can truly understand Law School, and Turow manages to explore the ins and outs of a law student’s life in a way that is equal parts enlightening and entertaining. No law student should be without this book!
• Book: What Can You Do With a Law Degree?
  At some point in Law School, every Law Student experiences a crisis: “Am I really cut out to be a lawyer?” they ask themselves. Watching the student loans pile up, and discovering that practicing law is not at all like it’s depicted on TV, many will begin to wonder if they’ve made an extremely costly mistake. Trust me, it happens to everyone! BUY THEM THIS BOOK! In fact, buy it for them before they experience an identity crisis, and it will make the law school experience so much less terrifying knowing that there are many paths one can take with a law degree, some of which may be just as glamorous as those TV lawyers make them out to be!
• Book: The Nine
  Every law student secretly dreams of one day arguing before the Supreme Court — it just doesn’t get any higher than this in the legal profession. For the perfect reminder of why law school is worth all that hard work, give them a behind closed doors view of the most powerful courtroom in the nation that anyone with even a vague interest in the law will find difficult to put down.
• Foot Massager
  Don’t want to give them yet another book? Here’s an idea that’s a bit more indulgent, yet healthy and practical at the same time. Law school requires spending a ridiculous amount of time hunched over a book at a desk. If you can help them find a little bit of relief they might just consider you a saint!
• Black’s Law Dictionary
  A good legal dictionary is a must, and Black’s is the best of the best. Trust me, buy this for them and they’ll be thinking of you often.

More ideas for great gifts on a student’s budget (under $50).

MID-RANGE GIFT IDEAS

If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, there’s a lot you can do to make a law student’s life a little bit easier.

• Amazon Kindle Book Reader
  Amazon’s new Kindle is the kind of innovation that makes you wonder how people ever got by without it. Imagine: instead of lugging around 40 pound backpacks with 10 different books, you can carry hundreds of books on the Kindle for the size and weight of a typical magazine. Instead of spending hours flipping through books page by page to find that great quote you remember reading, you can do a keyword search and instantly pull up all of the references. Instead of trudging back to the library or bookstore to buy yet another book you need to reference, you can instantly download it, any time of day or night. And when your eyes are so tired the text begins to blur, you can just sit back and let the Kindle read to you. Wow! Now this is what Law School should be like!
• A SUPER Comfortable Reading Chair
  Ahh, the classic cozy reading chair! I spent my first year of law school hunched over textbooks at a desk. Then one day I purchased the perfect cozy reading chair, and I’ve never looked back since! Curling up with a textbook and a blanket makes the hours oh so much more comfortable and enjoyable, I can’t even begin to describe it. Best money I’ve ever spent!
• Leather Legal Briefcase
  There comes a time in every young lawyer’s life when they need to make the switch from the ratty old canvas backpack to a shiny new leather briefcase. For me, this switch finally occurred when it came time to interview for summer internships after 1L year. There’s something about the glint of shiny leather by your side that exudes authority and says, “Now this is someone who has their act together!” — at least more so than that old Jansport backpack with the strap that’s about to fall off.

See more ideas for great gifts for students costing under $500.

HIGH-END GIFT IDEAS

• MacBook Pro
  Q: What does a Law Student’s life revolve around? A: Laptop, Library, Sleep. Unfortunately, there’s usually only time enough for the first two. If you really want to make a dramatic improvement in a law student’s life, consider giving them a really sweet laptop– one that will make all that time they’re spending on the computer seem, well, damn near enjoyable. My personal pick is the MacBook pro: a true object of desire on campus. Here’s a link to a sale currently going on at Amazon.com.

Find more gift ideas for law students when money is no object.

Still haven’t found that perfect gift? Here are some of my favorite lists of gift ideas for lawyers and law students from elsewhere on the web:

• The Frugal Lawyer’s list tops out at only $25 (as the name might imply), but still includes some very practical items which are sure to be welcomed by any law student.
• PT-Legal Mom goes a bit further, including some creative ideas beyond the usual suggestions of law books and tuition money.
• Metafilter’s denizens are always up for a good discussion, and their wacky ideas for graduating law student gifts are no exception.
• There’s also a discussion on legal gifts for a lucky recipient starting off law school among the penny-pinching gurus of FatWallet.

Well, those are all of the (at least somewhat useful) suggestions for gifts for law students that I’ve found on the web so far… What about you, readers? Did I miss any good lists out there? What have been your most successful gift ideas?

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