Gifts for someone finishing law school

April 30, 2008 7:47 PM

My brother is graduating from law school soon and my sister and I are looking for a gift or gifts. We usually spend around $50/person for things like this, although we'd be wiling to go a little higher.

I've thought about something like a Barrister's bookcase, but he lives in a tiny apartment right now and there's probably no room for it (and I'm not sure how furnished his office will be).

When he was my best man I got him a nice decanter and tumblers, which I thought would be good for a lawyer's office.

Any suggestions are welcome.

posted by chndrcks to shopping (9 comments total)

leather folio?
posted by mmf at 7:58 PM on April 30

briefcase?
cash?

what does he like?
posted by ncc1701d at 8:34 PM on April 30

as a law student, i know exactly what he needs -- alcohol. lots of expensive alcohol.

also, a real person briefcase would be kinda nice. carrying legal stuff to your job in a backpack is totally awkward.
posted by lockestockbarrel at 9:26 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]

I'm going to be graduating law school shortly and given the amount of debt many of us are in, it's easy to say "cash." (If he's like most graduates he's not making $160,000 a year. If he is, then ignore the rest of what I have to say.) A briefcase is a good idea, but he may or may not want to spend a little more than ~$100 on one. Many law school grads have one or two good suits for moot court/interview/panel type functions but needing one every day is something else entirely. Some firms give an allowance for this. Some of us are not so lucky. Again, this is something you can't do without him or with $100.

If you want to give something specific rather than "here's some money for X" pick something fun that you know he'd like to have/do but might not do on his own. He's going to get enough nice pens and so forth from people who don't know him like you do.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 10:18 PM on April 30

Silver business card case engraved with his initials.
posted by miss tea at 4:13 AM on May 1

What are you trying to say? "We love you, we are proud of you, here is a permanent memento of this day." Frankly, a hand-made card will do that -- maybe with a relevant photo on the front.

He almost certainly is in need of money at this time, so put what you can easily afford inside the card.
posted by Idcoytco at 5:45 AM on May 1

If you can find it at Office Depot, then forget it. He'll get plenty of that stuff. Pens, briefcases, fancy paper, or business card holders might be great if he's a real law geek. But a trip to a baseball game or other recreational themed gift might send the welcomed message, "good work. Take a break. Have some fun."
posted by GPF at 5:51 AM on May 1

The briefcase people ideas are good. But a briefcase that you carry about daily might be sort of a "personal decision" to make for some guys. You can be the judge of this. I think my parents realized that and bought me this AWOL bag, which makes a nice sort of overnight bag, or something he can use to lug books or files around in whenever he's traveling as a lawyer or if he's got a court date. Sort of like a second, heavy-duty briefcase. (You can probably find one that's priced a little lower, although the one pictured is very, very nice and will last a lifetime.)

GPF's idea's also good. He's probably about to sit for a bar exam soon, so a nice study break excursion would be nice. Tickets to a game, etc.

Don't get him anything a law firm will be providing for him in the event he works at a place like that. . .
posted by resurrexit at 6:54 AM on May 1

I assume he will be practicing law in the near future? If he's going to work for a law firm, I would suggest either:

1. A briefcase. Leather, With both a handle, and a shoulder strap. You can get good ones for around $150 - $200 (try a Coach outlet).

2. A pen. Mont Blanc, preferably.

If he's into alcohol, flasks come in fairly handy. Barrister cases are really nice, but they belong in offices, and likely his office will be pre-furnished.

An after-bar-exam party of some sort would be really nice, as would an after-I-passed-the-bar party, but those aren't really the kinds of things you get for somebody at graduation.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:52 AM on May 1