Reid My Blog!

2008 Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers

I am pleased to present the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers to help the friends and families of America's Greatest Lawyers find the perfect gift for their favorite and deserving lawyer! Started in relative obscurity in 2005, I now have dozens of people e-mailing suggestions to me from September onward. Still, only the best items make the list. I purchase and test many of the items to make sure they are worthy of being included. Many of the gift ideas are meant for personal use, but some are perfect for the law office too. Some ideas are techie, a few are quirky, but all deliver great value. 

My thanks to the lawyers who have e-mailed me to tell me they loved the past guides and it helped them find great gifts for their friends and family. Have a terrific Thanksgiving and enjoy your holidays!

The myth of a pocket-sized projector has now become reality thanks to the launch of the Pico Pocket Projector from the good folks at Optoma. Slightly larger than an iPhone (isn’t everything measured against the iPhone these days J), the Pico throws a respectable 60 inch image in low-light conditions. So while not meant for a big hall, it does, according to reviews, deliver very respectable results in a conference table setting. I have not yet played with this yet, but hopefully my wife will read my guide again this year! About $450 from limited retailers.

Need a gift for the lawyer who already has everything (including a sense of humor)? Then check out the delightfully-twisted world of superhero-turned-lawyer, Harvey Birdman, who now represents cartoon characters in their legal woes, including Shaggy and Scooby-Doo (narcotics intoxication) Fred Flintstone (accused of being head of the Bedrock crime syndicate), and Yogi Bear’s sidekick, Boo-Boo (charged with sending booby-trapped gift baskets to corporate CEOs.)  As seen on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, but now on DVD from the good folks at the The Billable Hour.  If you are not hooked on this series yet, you will be soon.

3G iPhone: Faithful readers will recognize the iPhone is a repeat in The Guide this year. Thanks to my dear wife who read the 2007 Guide, I received my iPhone for Christmas and have never looked back. This terrific tech tool may seem like a toy because it is so fun to use, but it is built for serious business. With Outlook Exchange integration and a growing plethora of useful web applications, this is the smartphone to have, hands down!

Whether you have a favorite family picture or photo of a memorable vacation spot, Canvas on Demand will enlarge that photo onto quality artist's canvas to be proudly displayed on your office walls. Prices start at $59 for an 8x10; sizes up to 60x40 are available.

I have owned and faithfully carried a Jack Georges leather briefcase for over a dozen years, and it still looks as good today as the day I  bought it. So I was pleased to learn that Georges is making a variety of good-looking laptop bags.  If my briefcase is any indication, the new laptop bags should last well into this century's third decade.

   I used to hate the wired earbuds for my cell phone (now iPhone), but when I moved to Bluetooth in-ear headset, the sound was poor or the background/road noise was too loud. So I returned to wired earphones, but upgraded to the V-Moda Duo with in-line microphone which has turned out to be an excellent solution. The call sound quality is crystal clear for all parties, and I can listen to my music using the same headphones--without that annoying blue light flashing in my ear!

Most portable speakers for iPods (and iPhones) either sound too tinny or are too bulky to carry around.  So I was very pleasantly surprised at the big sound coming from the Logitech Pure Fi Anywhere 2 sound bar. Weighing last than two pounds, this sturdy speaker bar delivers substantial volume and high-quality sound. Runs on A/C or up to 8 hours on batteries. A terrific value for under $130, with on-line deals in abundance.

If you want something a bit more substantial for listening to your iPod or iPhone, then consider the iKick500 from Kicker, best known for heart-pounding, road-thumping car audio systems. This 9 lb. speaker will rock your house, rattle your windows, and amaze your friends, whether you like your music soft or really, really loud. Prices start at $250 on-line and at big-box electronics retailers.

The End of Lawyers?: Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services is the much-anticipated sequel to Richard Susskind’s landmark book, The Future of Law. It may not be on the New York Times Bestseller List like The World is Flat, but it is no less important reading for any lawyer seeking to compete in the legal profession over the next ten, twenty or thirty years. (Don’t miss Professor Susskind at the 2009 ABA TECHSHOW!)

From the OMG-I-Didn’t-Know-That Department comes word of the perfect gift for sleep-deprived lawyers: The Power Nap Kit! We’ve all heard of the power nap, but did you know it is really a meditative exercise that turns 20 minutes of relaxation into the equivalent of four hours of sleep? The kit contains a booklet and two CDs containing voice-guided relaxation techniques and soothing music. About $25 from At Peace Media.

Does the lawyer in your life already have everything? Then give a membership to the Supreme Court Historical Society, a nonprofit organization devoted to the history and heritage of the Supreme Court of the United States. Members receive a newsletter and the Journal of Supreme Court History (3 issues annually), composed of selected scholarly articles on the Courts history, its members and those members of the bar who have appeared before it. Members are also invited to educational programs and other Society-sponsored events throughout the year.

Almost all lawyers—whether they have been naughty or nice--will enjoy this stocking stuffer- -personalized M&Ms from Mars Candy. Instead of the traditional logo, Mars will replace it with a short custom message and/or photo that you upload to the MyM&Ms website. Get creative--you, too, can be naughty or nice--and devise the perfect message for a lawyer in your life.

Every lawyer should own or share access to a business card scanner to add business acquaintances to their contact database. Many lawyers I could also benefit from scanning expense receipts. Enter the Neat Receipts scanners. Any of the 3 models are simple and intuitive to use, and small enough to leave on your desk or take with you when you travel. For PCs and now for Macs. Starting at around $200 from NeatReceipts.

And if nothing strikes your fancy here, check out the ideas from previous years. . . 

2007 Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers

My Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers is back for the third consecutive year, with an expanded array of noteworthy recommendations for the lawyers in your life. Not a tie, gavel, or kitschy brass scales on this list, just gifts that any self-respecting, hard-working, red-blooded American lawyer wouldn’t love to have–if they had the time to find it themselves and tell you about it!

Once again, I’ve compiled this list as a public service for my learned professional colleagues and their time-sensitive, gift idea-starved family, friends, partners, associates and, dare I say, appreciative clients? Yep, that means that once again I make no money on this guide. No Google Ad Words, referral fees, nor sponsorships. Consider it pro bono publico!  The gift ideas are in no particular order (except I’m hoping my wife notices I put the iPhone first), and range in price from under ten dollars to several hundred. Enjoy!

    Apple iPhone: Sorry to say I don’t own one, but it’s on my Christmas list! I’ve played with several, read the blogs, and talked with numerous owners. The verdict? It’s not perfect, but more than worthy of the Apple name. Buries the needle on the way-cool meter. Ditto the functionality. A must-have if you already are on the AT&T network; for all others compare your carrier’s coverage map before you switch. $399 from AT&T and Apple.

          Sonic Alarm Grenade: Although this would make a great office practical joke, the REAL purpose of this gadget is to wake your teenager after sleeping half the day away. Just pull the pin, lob it in their room and close the door. The only way to stop the shrieking is to put the pin back in. Makes a wonderful gift for your favorite lawyer with a typical teenager! About $13 at Thinkgeek.com

Dough-Nu-Matic: OK, maybe not the healthiest gift, but just imagine the hot sugary doughnuts to go with that Starbucks Grande. This counter-top device automatically forms, fries, and drains mini-doughnuts in under 60 seconds. A hit with staff for early morning or a late-night office snack attack. Available through SkyMall.

Lap Track: Swimming laps is great low-impact, stress-relieving exercise for any lawyer, especially those if us who are looking at our prime athletic years in the rearview mirror. This portable underwater device helps count laps and makes it more fun to boot. Kinda makes up for the doughnuts.

WildCharge: Wouldn’t we all just like to toss our cell phone or iPod down on our desk and have it chare automatically? No cords or adapters? Well, WildCharge is the first wire-free charging system for handheld portable electronics. Just add the small adapter to your cell phone, PDA or similar device, then toss it on the WildCharger pad (about 6 inches square) to recharge it. The pad holds up to 5 devices at a time, but adapters are only currently available for Razr phones and the iPod Nano. Just named one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2007. Sounds like this soon may be required equipment. Available from the manufacturer for $90 plus shipping.

Buddha Board: While they keep adding more and more clever gifts at The Billable Hour Company, I think the Buddha Board is truly unique. As the name implies, just a few moments of "painting" on this reusable board will put any Type-A lawyer in a peaceful zen state of mind. The paint is really just water that appears black on this special white board. It disappears as it dries, ready to use again the next time your favorite lawyer needs a few minutes of calm.

Hilarious Personalized Lawyer Figurines: I normally won’t accept unsolicited gift ideas, but when artist Hunter Vaughan emailed me earlier this year I knew I would make an exception. Hunter has been creating clever customized lawyer statues/vignettes/sculptures for 30 years and it shows. A perfect for your law partner, spouse or parent! Starting about $150 from MagicMud.

SoundView Executive Book Summaries: With the stack of unread magazines and books on my desk, I recently decided to take this shortcut. Soundview produces 8-page summaries and audio-recordings of important business books–books that can help many lawyers learn and adopt better business practices for their law firms. About $150 for an annual subscription from SoundView.

"Alive" Elvis–The Animatronic Singing Robot: When seeing this, many lawyers will say "Why"? This is clearly for the rest of us who say "Why not?" About $300 from Sharper Image.

The Mega Caffeine Candy Sampler, v7.0: For those friends at large firms who are burning the candle at both ends. Whether they are billing 2200 hours, just putting in extra face time, and/or partying until sunrise, this anti-somnambulist packet will come in handy to keep them awake and perky. From ThinkGeek for $20.

Garmin GPS: GPS road navigation devices are bad for family lawyers, but great for everyone else. This marriage-saving device obviates the need for spouses to argue whether to stop and ask for directions. I received my GPS device as a gift from friends, and it has opened my eyes to a new way of driving–-not to mention made family driving an even more pleasant event! Many versions retail for around $300-350, so find the one that best fits your needs and pocketbook.

Personalized Coffee Mugs: I am so tired of visiting offices and being served coffee in styrofoam cups or ceramic mugs advertising legal research or court reporting services. C’mon, let's show some individuality. Make a statement. Have some fun. Whether it’s Wonder Woman, motivational quotes, or your law firm name and logo, just dump the junky mugs. Buy a dozen. Give yourself and your firm a present. Merry Christmas!

Stash Card–A secret drawer for your laptop! Just pull out plug in the unused PC slot on your laptop and replace it with this mini-storage drawer. Undetectable to others, so only you know the treasure it holds. Big enough for several SD cards, stamps, office key, some emergency cash, or similar items. Under $10 from Circuit City, Radio Shack, or on-line at Wireless Garden.

Office Pillows with a Message: I’m surprised to only find these funny gems across The Pond in England, but they are perfect for any US lawyer too. With a variety of messages including "Friday-–only two more working days until Monday", "The Best Lawyers Have Messy Offices", and "Partner–and don’t you forget it!" OK, so at $55 each, they are not bargains with today’s currency exchange rate, but it is very, very unique.

Electronic Digital Photo Frame: Desktop photos of family and friends is a welcome touch in any lawyer office, but thanks to technology we can now have dozens of photos in the space of just one. These new digital picture frames can hold dozens of photos that are timed to change every few minutes, so your favorite lawyer can always sneak a peak at the people and things that really count! From under $100 at retailers nationwide.

Wii Game System: $249. Case of Beer: $20. Watching your friends make fools of themselves playing the various games in the Wii Sports Bundle: Priceless!

When All Else Fails? Grab a gift card. Just about every retailer sells gift cards, but which ones do busy lawyers want? Starbucks, Caribou, Seattle’s Best, or the nearest coffee drive-thru between home and office. Nuff said.

2006 Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers

It’s back for 2006...the original Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers. I still don’t make a dime from it, but I do get the satisfaction of knowing that I am helping lawyers, their family members and/or business partners find great gifts for Christmas. I’ve spent time all year gathering ideas, ripping pages from catalogs, and bookmarking websites, then whittling it down to the most unique, clever, and thoughtful gifts for even the hardest-to-please attorney. Enjoy!

Most of the Parrotheads I know are lawyers, and everyone of them would love to have the Margaritaville® Frozen Concoction™ Maker in their particular harbor. About $300 from Jimmy’s Margaritaville Cargo.

Denny Crane may not always have good taste, but he does know fine scotch, cigars, and outdoor furniture. This Christmas, lawyers from State Street to Main Street are clamoring for the all-weather Starck Bubble Club Chair to enjoy their favorite scotch and cigars al fresco. In five colors, about $550 from on-line retailers including ExitArt.com.  Denny Crane!

miDock Portfolio from Polk Audio: I’ve been looking for a portable speaker system for my iPod Video, but either the system was too large, too expensive, or has poor sound. Until I found the miDock from Polk Audio. I’ve had Polk stereo speakers for years, so the quality should not have been a surprise. However, the low $100 price is a pleasant surprise. No iPod, you say? Then get one, they are NOT just for your teens anymore!

When I first saw the I-Tech Virtual Laser Keyboard I thought it was a visual practical joke. Not so. This $175 device connects to your computer to allow you to tap away on your (uncluttered) desktop without the traditional keyboard. Scores high on the geek meter, but expect a few glitches before getting back up to typing speed.

You’ve seen the motivational posters in the store, encouraging athletic feats or building corporate success, and now you can make your own poster–from your picture, using your motivational text. Parody the real ones, or make one with a family photo, there’s no limit to the fun. Various sizes up to 16x20 for $30 or less from BigHugeLabs.com.

Kensington Contour Roller Computer Bag: Bar none, the best bag on the market to ease the load for mobile lawyers everywhere. Balanced, roomy, and built for the long haul, this bag is well worth the $100 suggested price.

Not all notebook cases have to be black and masculine, thanks to the Susan G. Koman Caring Case Collection from Mobile Edge. The collection features totes, bags, and backpacks in a variety of sizes and colors. Ten percent of the purchase price goes to the foundation for which the collection is named.

Started by lawyers for lawyers, the Classic Billable Watch Company blends the function of a Seiko movement with the lifestyle of being a lawyer. A time piece as well as a conversation piece. From about $50. They also offer desk clocks; perfect for each of your associates!

iCarta Stereo Dock: Now you really can take your iPod everywhere with this combination iPod dock and bath tissue holder. It plays and charges your iPod while you are, well, um, otherwise occupied. OK, so maybe it’s not the best gift for a spouse, but how perfect for that law partner who has everything!

Finally, the perfect stocking stuffer–Rudy the TikiHead Tissue Box. Res Ipsa Loquitur! Available at various retailers for about $20.

Many of the gift ideas from our 2005 guide still make great gifts this year too!