The Goodson Blogson has been in the holiday gift guide game since 2009, but we are hardly the first. Last year, we featured excerpts from the Duke Law student newspaper Devil's Advocate containing humorous legal gift suggestions from the 1960s. This year, we stumbled across a legal gift guide with wider reach in the library stacks.
Nearly 50 years ago, Juris Doctor, a lifestyle magazine for lawyers published in the 1970s, featured an irreverent last-minute holiday gift guide in its December 1975 issue. Credited to freelance journalist Regina Nadelson (who, best we can tell, went on to greater fame as mystery novelist and nonfiction author Reggie Nadelson), "Gifts No One Else Will Think Of" featured a grab bag of shopping suggestions, from the thoughtful (vintage bottles of wine, fancy chocolates, autographs of favorite historical figures), to the practical (a "booklite" for reading in bed, a white-noise machine, fine linens), to the aspirational (trips around the world, a thoroughbred horse, estates in Scotland). While we're not so sure about the closing argument for a $2,000 pure milk chocolate body cast from Krön (that'd be closer to $12,000 in today’s dollars, for one thing), you can still order one of their wooden gift chests at the current iteration of diane krön chocolatier. (You can also see a photo of some of the 1970s body molds on their About page.)
This delightful discovery reminded us that outside inspiration for gift-giving is a grand tradition. While Juris Doctor focused on last-minute ideas back in 1975, we're here to help you get ahead of the holiday season. Shipping times can be longer than you expect, especially during the busy holiday season, and no one wants to find the perfect gift for a loved one, only to see it's out of stock until next year. Get the drop on your holiday shopping with these ideas, curated for the law students and/or lawyers in your life. (Disclaimers: All items featured were "in stock" at the time of publication, although this can change quickly at this time of year. We do NOT receive a commission for using the links in this guide, and encourage readers to shop around for better deals if available. We also cannot vouch for the speed or reliability of delivery for all of the vendors, although we have attempted to include trustworthy and well-reviewed companies.)
It probably goes without saying that the best gifts fill a need for the recipient – maybe one they didn't even know they have. For both law students and lawyers, technology upgrades can be a great option for holiday gift-giving. Judging by the library Reading Room, over-ear headphones have exploded in popularity; check out CNet's recommendations for 2024 at a variety of price points. If your recipient is forever running low on battery, check out the Linen Wireless Charger for phones or multiple devices. For an outdoorsy type, perhaps the Clip and Go Solar Device Charger from Uncommon Goods will keep them powered up on the trail. Wirecutter recommends additional fast chargers and assorted battery needs.
For travelers, there are so many possibilities to improve their experience. On the spendier side, Ralph Lauren's Cable Cashmere Travel Gift Set offers a blanket, eye mask, and storage pouch that can double as a pillow, available in six colors. More affordable options might include: a cute pair, or even 5-pack, of compression socks by Wellow, recommended by Wirecutter; a travel cocktail kit, hydrating eye masks to refresh after long flights, or a blackout sleep mask and earplugs.
For travelers who regularly cross time zones, as well as those who just can’t cope with the "fall back" part of Daylight Saving Time, a wake-up light may help them beat the winter blues and get out of bed in time.
Boost office or apartment décor with Pendulux, including an elegant table lamp, a robotic phone stand, or a vintage-style Bluetooth speaker.
You can assemble an astonishing array of items at the gift shops of Washington, D.C. The National Archives is again offering a 20% discount on its annual Gift Guide items with the code GIFTGUIDE24, including jigsaw puzzles of founding documents and a Declaration of Independence whiskey decanter set. Pen snobs may enjoy the offerings from the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, including pens and pencils crafted from the various cherry, maple, and oak trees on the Capitol Grounds. The Supreme Court Historical Society Gift Shop also includes an array of writing instruments, as well as quirky options to display the Court's seal (like the salt and pepper shaker set).
Some home good highlights include the Supreme Court Historical Society's Bamboo Serving Board Set or NARA's Cocktail Construction Tray. Your loved one (or you – we're not judging) can use those federally-approved trays to serve up some charcuterie at the next holiday gathering. Mercado Famous offers several bundles of jamon, while Caputo's Gift Sets provide an assortment of meat, cheeses, and seafood choices. For tinned fish fans, check out the gift tins at Fishwife or the expertly curated combo packs at Rainbow Tomatoes Garden. A gift tin of Bonilla a la Vista Patatas Fritas ("the best potato chips in the world") would make a luxurious delivery vehicle for tinned fish and party dips.
For vegan loved ones, consider a gift bundle from Herbivorous Butcher ("meat-free meats, cheese-free cheeses"), which bills itself as the nation's first meat-free butcher shop. Available sets include the Deli Dive-In and Dine Pack, featuring vegan deli "meats and cheeses," a turkey-free holiday feast (probably subject to change after Thanksgiving), and a bucket of vegan "fried chicken" and salad dressings.
If your recipient prefers to cook their own meals, a new cookbook might be just the ticket. The American Bar Association now offers a print option for The Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Cookbook: 100 Recipes for 100 Years, which was released for free online in 2020. Contributors include five U.S. Supreme Court justices, as well as other notable names from the judiciary, the bar, and the legal academy (including retired judge and former Duke Law Dean David F. Levi). The Sanford Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta offers The Federal Rules of Culinary Procedure Cookbook, featuring recipes from Phi Alpha Delta as well as the University of Tennessee College of Law community. Appetite for Change: Soulful Recipes from a North Minneapolis Kitchen is a recent title from a Minnesota nonprofit organization dedicated to food justice and community-building. Check out three sample recipes, including the healthy and colorful "Purple Rain Salad," at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Gift cards to favorite restaurants or stores would certainly be welcome. Can't decide? Goldbelly offers a choice from hundreds of restaurants across the United States, with unique meal kits and gift sets. Regional gift cards, like Durham's Spend-a-Bull may also offer options to dine at favorite local establishments on the gift-giver's dime.
What do you get the person who seemingly has everything? Perhaps a charitable donation in their honor to help a cause that is close to their heart. From the recent devastation of Hurricane Helene and Milton in the Southeast, to the ongoing violence in Gaza, Congo, and elsewhere, please consider a donation this holiday season (for yourself and/or on a recipient’s behalf) to help others in need. You can use Charity Navigator to investigate where your donations go, and they have created helpful links for highly-rated organizations aiding with Hurricane Helene, Gaza, Sudan, and other humanitarian issues.
All of us at Goodson Blogson HQ wish our readers a peaceful and happy holiday season. We hope that our list inspires a few ideas for the lawyers and law students you love!