Hello hello and welcome back to graduation week on the blog! Today's post is near and dear to my heart because it involves presents for law school grads (like me). When people ask you what you want for graduation, it can be really awkward because you have to keep their budget in mind, so I've included things for all kinds of budgets for you to get ideas from. Or if you wound up here looking for gift ideas for someone you know who's graduating law school, I've divided this up into work and play to help you find something that matches the vibe you're going for.
Work
Starting with work because a very important piece of advice I was given before going off to college is that in the saying "work hard, play hard" there's a reason why work comes first. These are the more practical gift ideas, but are such a good idea because they'll get used a lot. I'm also just going to point out here that these are also more "safe" gift ideas so they're great if you don't really know someone's personality that well.
This is a simple, but great option! I swear lawyers are single-handedly keeping the printing industry in business. This adorable Kate Spade business card holder is professional but not stuffy, and for an added touch you can easily take it in somewhere and get their name put on the back.
Along those lines, a personalized card holder for their desk is a great gift for their big kid job. I personally like glass the best because it goes with all different styles of offices.
There's lots of personalized suit hangers on Etsy that are great but I really like this one because you can add their school and grad date, and probably also their name. Now obviously this is just a jacket hanger and pants can't quite go on this, but it's okay. Usually law grads are broke anyways so they might just have one suit jacket.
Almost all law students already have a portfolio, but by now it's probably on it's last leg after being shoved in a backpack for three years straight. So an updated portfolio is a great tool for them to have on hand as they go into a million and a half job interviews.
Every guy who just graduated law school is about to need a tie almost every single day, so what a great gift idea! But instead of just getting them one tie or trying to figure out his style, a tie subscription box is the gift that keeps on giving because he'll get a new tie every month.
Want something that no one else has probably thought of but will definitely get a lot of use? Pay to have their diploma framed in a custom diploma frame! You can call their school to get the diploma dimensions before hand. Or this also is a great gift for procrastinators or people who forgot to get a gift because it's perfectly acceptable to give this to them later after their graduation date.
One of my classmates got a Montblanc pen for graduation and I'm in love with it! Nothing says "I'm a big shot lawyer" quite like signing your first job offer with a very fancy pen. Now obviously this isn't within everyone's budget, but a personalized pen will also do!
Literally THE most classic law grad gift ever, and for a reason! So if you're going to follow tradition, follow it well and get a timeless design yet excellent quality briefcase. This briefcase was actually designed by a former lawyer (who may or may not be on the blog very soon 😉) so you know it's well-thought out to what a lawyer will need! I have a notebook from this company and let me tell you, it is some very high-quality, sturdy leather! Like, this thing will last and last which is great because it means that it can be passed down to future generations. Or if you're not feeling the briefcase, they also have a high-quality laptop case, too. Which brings me to...
If they have the same laptop they got before heading off to college, chances are that it's pretty beat up after 7 years of being thrown across the library in frustration studying. A newer, lighter MacBook will be greatly used since so much of Bar prep (and the actual Bar exam!) is on laptops, not to mention how work laptops are usually old and so slow.
The one thing that new law grads will need but can't afford is a new, nice suit. You can get them one off the rack from somewhere like Ann Taylor and get it altered or you can even order a custom suit from places like Sumissura. No matter what kind of law you do you'll need a nice suit, even if it's just for getting sworn in to the Bar.
Play
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, right? These gifts are great if you already know that they're going to be getting lots of work-related gifts from other friends and family or if you want a gift that's a little more unexpected. Just know your audience so you don't spend a bunch of money on something that isn't their style.
A laptop and keyboard cover is a great and inexpensive gift because although it is practical, mostly it's just cute.
Scales of justice stuff can get kinda "cutesy" and almost knick-knack-y pretty soon, so if you're going to go that route at least do something fun and useful like this wine cork shadow box.
An Amazon echo dot is probably the one gift I've received that I've used the most. You can get it with a smart plug so that they can easily turn appliances on and off with their voice or get it with an Amazon TV stick so they can save money on cable and take movies to-go with them. I actually have two Alexa's— one in my living room for turning things on and off and one in my bathroom so I can have voice-controlled music in the shower and while I'm getting ready.
Wireless headphones are great for everything from making commutes more bearable to gym-bag necessities. Noise-canceling headphones like the Beats headphones are also great for Bar prep. I personally have a pair of Apple AirPods and have convinced a few friends to get them because they're so handy to have.
Okay this is just wishful thinking on my part and if I hadn't already asked my parents for something else, I would absolutely request a pair of Louboutin pumps because nothing says I've made it quite like a pair of red-bottoms. Honestly, it's probably what I'll spend my first paycheck on as a treat for myself.
Lastly, there's cold hard cash. I literally asked my parents to make a "sizable contribution to the 'Nikki is drowning in debt' efforts" because being able to pay off my loans a little faster is way more valuable to me than a scales of justice pendant necklace or something. It sounds impersonal, but money is what every graduating student could really really use. Even if they managed to have a full-ride scholarship, that can help with living expenses during Bar prep and so forth. But whatever you get them, make sure that you tell them how proud you are of them. Law school can be a rough 3 years and I can't explain how much those words are appreciated.
let's be friends!
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