The 10 Worst Lawyerly Secret Santa Gifts

It's that time of the year again: Someone in your office will inevitably come up with the idea of a Secret Santa. Even though your office may have one every year, some fresh new lawyer will suggest with glee what a great idea it would be to anonymously buy each other $20 gifts.

Lawyers have never been known to be the greatest gift-givers around. That's why most will typically stick to things like gift cards and cash.

However, when lawyers try to get creative and veer away from the tried and true, they can start getting into trouble. If you want to get something "different" this year, it may be fun to look around. Just make sure you avoid these 10 worst lawyerly Secret Santa gifts:

1. Perfume/Soap/Body wash. We all use soap everyday and, yes, the gift has great utility. But you're basically telling the recipient of your scented selection that they smell bad.


2. Anything handmade. Unless you are truly an expert knitter, carpenter, etc., no one wants that rickety birdhouse that you built in your garage. This rule applies to gifts to both law-firm colleagues and those outside the office.


3. Gavels or other legal novelty items. But especially gavels. Working in the legal industry is only glamorous to those outside the legal industry. You don't need to give your fellow officemates a constant reminder of their boring jobs.


4. Notepads/Pens/Office supplies. These are usually free in the office.


5. Diet book. "Merry Christmas. You are fat."


6. Underwear. Even if you and your colleague have a great relationship with plenty of humor, giving the gift of underwear is borderline inappropriate. Even something like a Victoria's Secret gift card should be avoided, as it may be considered harassment.


7. Booze. Alcohol makes a great gift for house parties and dinners. But booze doesn't really fit at an office party.


8. A $10 gift certificate. If the Secret Santa limit is $20, get a $20 gift certificate. Don't skimp with a $15 or $10 gift card.


9. Last year's Secret Santa gift. People do remember what was gifted the year before. So unless you're in a new office, you may want to think twice about regifting that novelty office golf putter set.


10. Lunch with you. You'd better be really friggin' interesting if forcing someone to share a meal with you is your "gift." At the very least, take the "winner" of this gift someplace nice, or else she'll be telling everybody how yours was the worst lawyerly Secret Santa gift ever.

Related Resources:

• 3 Tips to Work With Legal Secretaries So They Don't Hate You (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• 5 Best Christmas Gifts for Your Legal Secretary (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• 2012 Year-End Bonuses Looking Better Than Last Year's (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)