As the holidays approach, we often get questions such as: What are the best Christmas gifts for law students? Family and friends of law students also ask: What is the best holiday present for a law student? Additionally, we get many inquiries as to what is a great Hanukkah gift idea for a law student?
Regardless of what end-of-the-year holiday you and your law student celebrate, we have you covered. The wonderful thing about law students is that no matter how they celebrate the holidays, they are surely in need of a number of things that are common to most all law students. If instead you are looking for graduation gifts, check our graduation gifts for lawyers guide!
What is the secret to getting a great gift for a law student?
The secret to finding the perfect holiday gift for a law school is to either get them exactly what they want or get them something they would never purchase for themselves because they are trying to save time and money. For example, all law students want money. So, that is one of the easiest gifts to get them because they will definitely appreciate it and it’s exactly what they want. Or, you could get them something thoughtful that they would never go buy on their own but would definitely appreciate as a young legal professional. This is something like a nice hand bag or a high-quality leather padfolio. These are items they would appreciate but likely would not have purchased on their own dime.
So, here is our 2021 list of best Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or Holiday gift ideas for law students.
Best Holiday Gift Ideas for Law Students
1. Apple iPad Air – Best Holiday Gift
Why is an Apple iPad Air the best Christmas gift for law students?
Tablets in general are a favorite among law students. This is because tablets allow law students to take more efficient notes in class that sync automatically in the cloud. We believe any law student would be beyond excited to receive an Apple iPad air for the holidays. Yes, we understand these things are on the expensive side, but this is the top gift for law students. If the law student you are buying for is not an Apple product person, then check out the Microsoft Surface Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 as another great gift.
2. Gift Cards – Easiest Gift
Why are gift cards what law students want for the holidays?
Law students love gift cards! Why? Well, gift cards are incredibly close to a law student’s favorite gift (cash) discussed below. However, gift cards can have a more personal feel to them. Buying a gift card to your law student’s favorite spot shows you care about his or her interests. For example, a favorite restaurant, Amazon ( for textbooks and supplies), or the movie theatre are great gift card options.
Gift cards are a thoughtful present for law students. Compared to cash, with a gift card, you can ensure their spending is more direct on something they will use to relax or invest in their success, rather than partying at the local bars. Finally, gift cards one of the top gifts for law students because you can set the amount. Give as much as you’d like without worrying about whether you over or under spent! Websites like Amazon even make delivery easy by sending the card through e-mail.
3. Professional Briefcase – Best Gift for Graduating Students
Why is a brief case a gift that law students actually want?
Law students already spend a lot of money on their education. By the time graduation rolls around, the last thing law students want to do is spend more money. However, many law students are about to enter a profession that requires certain accessories for the first time. A brief case is one of the most important accessories a young lawyer needs.
A thoughtful gift is to help a law student by purchasing a nice briefcase to use at the start of his or her career. If you think a brief case is too old fashioned, you can also browse the best law student bags for ideas. Maybe your law student needs a new bag for school. Either way, any law student will be thrilled to receive a necessary item like a briefcase without having to shell out the big bucks themselves.
4. Lawyer Outerwear – Most Practical Gift
Is clothing really one of the best holiday gifts for law students?
Yes! As discussed above, many law students are ill-prepared to enter a profession that requires dressing up. For this reason, many law students find themselves at graduation without proper clothes and unwilling to spend the money to upgrade their wardrobe.
Purchasing some professional clothing for a law student can make huge impact. Think about something they might use often but wouldn’t go purchase for themselves. A nice overcoat, especially for law students in the north, is a top choice. Perhaps your law students needs a new suit.
You don’t even have to purchase a full outfit. Maybe a paid-for appointment to get clothing tailored would make a great gift. Our personal favorite items for law students becoming lawyers are overcoats. These are classy upgrades that can be worn multiple days each week. For women we like the Levi topcoat shown above. For men, we like the London Fog Wool Top Coat.
5. Fountain Pen – Most Unique Gift
How is a fountain pen a top holiday gift for law students?
We are glad you asked! During a law student’s three years in law school, they will be asked to sign numerous documents. Law students will have multiple job interviews. Do you want your law student to be the candidate that whips out a chewed up library pen during an interview? No, you don’t.
Law students on a journey to become a lawyer and they want to be treated and respected as such. Small details like carrying a premium pen can help them stand out. We also like the fountain pen as a Christmas gift for law students because it is in an affordable price range.
6. Leather Padfolio – Most Useable Gift
What gifts are better for law students than a padfolio?
Our answer? Probably none! A leather padfolio is like the other gifts for law students on this list. It sets the law student apart on his or her professional journey. When the law students walks into the interview room sporting a sleek leather padfolio, do you think the interviewer will wonder if this person is ready to represent some clients? The answer is that the interviewer won’t need to wonder at all. The interviewer will know this candidate means business by the look of the padfolio.
Additionally, a nice padfolio is a law school gift that can be used immediately. Your law student can take it to class or meeting while in law schools. Moreover, padfolios are in an affordable price range as far as gifts for law students.
7. Cash – Favorite Gift
What is a law students favorite gift regardless of the time of year?
Cash! Money, dinero, the bada bing bada boom. Whatever you want to call it, law students love money! There are many reasons for this. For starters, they went to law school to become rich and earn more money. Second, they are most likely in huge amounts of debt to pay for their education. Finally, cash allows a law student to put out whatever personal life crisis fire is burning at that moment.
Law students experience many different personal problems throughout their three years. At any given time it could be a wardrobe issue, a health issue, or a relationship problem. You can never tell when and what it will be, but we can assure you that money will help or alleviate some of the problem.
We tell you all this so that you don’t feel bad giving your law student cash. They will be overjoyed. They won’t care that you waited to the last second for gift giving and forgot what they are interested in leaving you no choice but to send money. Cash is king!
8. Lawyer-Themed Mugs – Most Affordable Gift
What makes for the best holiday gift for law students?
Coffee mugs! If there is one thing law students like as much as they like money, it’s staying awake. Law school students consume huge amounts of caffeine. Thus, a coffee mug makes a great present for law students. Be sure to pick one out that has a lawyer theme to it. Your law student will get a laugh every time they refill on coffee.
9. Supreme Court Accessories – Funniest Gift
What is a gift law students love?
Supreme Court swag! This is something that only makes sense probably to law students and lawyers. However, after a few weeks at law school we guarantee your law student has become a fan of one or more Supreme Court Justices. For example, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG for short) is a popular former Justice.
There are many options online of shirts, hats, cups, etc. bearing her likeness. These make great gifts for law students. However, a note of caution. Be sure to figure out which Supreme Court Justice your law student likes. If your law student is a fan of former Justice Scalia, we can assure you that an RBG gift will not sit well!
10. Bar Trip Accessories – Most Fun Gift
What is a bar trip gift?
Many law students plan out a bar trip (also known as a post-bar exam vacation). This is a trip that law students take to decompress after their months long study, and taking, of the bar exam. Law students plan these bar trips out long before it occurs.
If your law student is already decided on somewhere, you can buy something to make their experience even more memorable. For example, snorkeling lessons for those going to the Caribbean. Perhaps, a wine tasting for the bar trip to France. The gift ideas for bar trips are unlimited. You could even help offset some of the travel expenses by offering to pay for a plane ticket.
This can be a very costly gift and requires thoughtful planning and knowledge of your law student. However, this is one of the best ways to contribute to what will likely be an experience of a life time for your law student.
Conclusion – Best Christmas Gifts for Law Students
Whether it’s a Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, or any other holiday gift, these are the best for law students. The top gift for law students is the Apple iPad Air. We guarantee any law students that receives any type of tablet will be extremely happy. Remember to opt for a Microsoft Surface Pro if your student doesn’t use Apple.
For the easiest holiday gift for law students, we recommend a gift card personalized to your law student’s favorite spot.
Finally, for the most affordable law student holiday gift, we recommend a lawyer-theme coffee mug.