Gift Buying Guides for the Lawyers in Your Life
We have been told to purchase gifts early this year due to delayed shipping and supply chain woes. If you have not started purchasing gifts for those on your list, or you have not put together your wish list for those who keep asking, here is a roundup of the gifts for lawyers blog posts out for 2021, plus a few other ideas. Whether money is no object, or the budget is tight there are plenty of gifts to choose from to help make the Season merry and bright!
The Lists – For Lawyers and Law Students
2021 Gifts for Lawyers – ABA Journal
This is a short but good list. If you have a friend who always has court attire hanging on the office door, you can get an engraved maple wood hanger. Or a necklace reminiscent of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s iconic dissent collar. Or a handmade wood carved customized docking station to hold your smartphone and cords.
‘Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2021 – Legal Talk Network
Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson provide delightful and whimsical suggestions each year in a special episode of their Digital Edge podcast. This year in their list they suggest the Apple AirTag 4 pack to keep up with your stuff, Exerscribe Blue Blocker glasses for night driving and computer eye strain, and a mini pocket projector that connects to your smartphone to give a presentation anywhere a wall is available.
The Best Gifts for Lawyers and Law Students in 2021 | Clio
Clio’s list updated for 2021 includes home office greenery, a crosscut paper shredder, scented candles, and Kim Scott’s book Radical Candor: Be a Kick A$$ Boss Without Losing Your Humanity.
The Verdict Is In: The 41 Best Gifts for Lawyers
From the “This Is Why I’m Broke” website, a compilation of gifts for lawyers. Standouts include the New Yorker Book of Lawyer Cartoons (who wouldn’t love that in their lobby!), a legal decision-making paperweight, custom city map prints, Joel Trachtman’s book The Tools of Argument, and a candle with the scent of freshly signed divorce papers.
23 Honorable Gifts for Lawyers and Law Students. Case Closed.
GiftLab’s list includes a Kate Spade silver-plated business card case, a reusable zippered pouch made to look like an evidence envelope, and stemless beverage glasses printed with “because clients”.
Cyber Monday 2021 Deals for Analog Attorneys – Attorney at Work
Bull Garlington, who writes the Analog Attorney for Attorney at Work, suggests some non-technical gifts, mostly from Levenger. They include an index card bleacher, vintage sticky notes, and a Black Wing Pencil Extender.
40 Gifts for Lawyers – Gift Ideas for Law Students
From the unlikely source of Cosmopolitan, comes this list of gifts for law students. Nods to ideas like The Point Flats recycled and washable business casual shoes, the Shift stainless steel stress relieving pendant, and the faux crocodile MacBook Case.
Don’t forget that the NCBA CLE Premier Pass would make a great gift for any licensed attorney!
Beyond the Usual Suspects
So, what’s hot this year on these lists? Lawyer socks, tie clips, tech gadgets galore, beverage options (apparently lawyers only drink booze or coffee) and briefcases. While these can be great gifts, you can get more creative.
Wellness Gifts
Holiday Wellness Gift Ideas for Lawyers – MyCase Blog
Written in 2020 and still relevant, Nicole Black picks a few wellness gifts for lawyers. They include a flower subscription, a subscription to a meditation app like Calm or Headspace, or The Mirror – a full length, life size, interactive screen with wellness related classes.
Give Back
Today is Giving Tuesday but giving a gift of time or a donation is wonderful at any time! For lawyers who are looking to give back, look no further than the North Carolina Bar Foundation. In addition to donations made in honor of someone, lawyers can give back to the community in several ways. One way is the Lawyers for Literacy program. Lawyer volunteers read to/with elementary school children, sharing books featuring stories about US history or civics. The Lawyers for Literacy program gifts the read-along books to the classrooms and children. For many of them, the gift books are the first they’ve ever owned themselves. Another opportunity to give back is the Wills for Heroes program, where lawyer volunteers produce free wills and power of attorney documents for NC first responders. First responders receive the gift of fully executed peace-of-mind documents for their families. NCBF supports many more public service and pro bono opportunities, to give back to the community and meet like-minded lawyers.
DIY (Do It Yourself)
Are you crafty? Handy? Like to bake? If you have some time and are low on funds, or you just want to add an individualized touch to your gift giving, there are so many things you can do. Offer to help fix something, knit a hat, shred some documents, re-arrange the storage closet. The gift of time and talent has more meaning than things, which so many people have in abundance.
Like to bake? Few people will turn down holiday treats. With a few ingredients and time, you can bake up a batch of Aggression Cookies (fun to make with kids, they are better than a stress ball, and yield a whopping 15 dozen) or the refined but easy Chocolate Bark with Pistachios & Dried Cherries. Head to a dollar store and get some gift bags, pack up the sleigh, and deliver smiles all over!
Get Local!
North Carolina is brimming with local artisans, creative foodstuffs, and a thriving community of artists and makers. Many of the local farmers markets host craft fairs and feature artisans in addition to local meats and produce this time of year. Enjoy the fresh air, reduce your carbon footprint, don’t stress the shipping, and pick up unique gifts for those on your list. No time to get out? Companies like Made in NC, LLC , Made in North Carolina gifts, North Carolina Gourmet Food Gifts Boxes and more can help put together a gift box for you.
Conclusion
Whatever you are giving this Holiday Season do not forget to give yourself and your family some time. Do what you can to arrange your schedule to rest, rejuvenate, and enjoy. Treat yourself to a spa day, or just shut your door and binge on a good book or your favorite series. Turn off your phone and computer. Your mental health is also a gift!