One of the many unintended, or at least undisclosed, responsibilities that go along with being an attorney at The Firm is buying gifts for colleagues.
Buying presents for certain people you work with doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is crucial to a law firm’s survival. In fact, law schools would serve their students well by offering a class in law firm gift giving and it should be the topic of a continuing legal education course.
The number of names on your gift list varies from firm to firm. If you luck out, only your secretary will expect something from you on the appropriate occasions, i.e., birthday, Christmas, Secretaries’ Day, 4th of July and Take Your Daughter to Work Day. At some firms, the list of gift recipients is much longer. In addition to your secretary, you’ll be expected to get a little something for those in the mailroom, the fax machine jockeys, the receptionist, or one or two paralegals. In the worst case, you’ll also have to buy gifts for other lawyers—especially those ranking above you at The Firm.
You should keep all of this in mind when selecting a firm. And remember, when deciding on a law firm, it is not inappropriate to ask the person interviewing you, “How many people will I have to buy presents for if I come to work here?” To broach the subject, bring along a gift and hand it over during the interview. It can’t hurt.
The importance of good gift giving cannot be overstated. A lousy gift can subject you to vicious behind-your-back attacks in The Firm lunchroom and ruin your reputation. You may be a kind, considerate, and understanding boss, but if you skimp on the secretary’s birthday present or forget her birthday entirely, you’re lower than the lowest lawyer in The Firm. Conversely, you can be horrible all year long and make up for it with just the right gift.
Below are a few gift ideas that will do wonders to propel your career.
1. For the guys in the mailroom: one Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card.
2. For that junior associate who worked so hard to close that deal or get that brief filed and who went the extra mile to cover you when you needed it: nothing. You outrank that person and your gift dollars can be much better spent on someone higher up who can advance your career.
3. For the head of your department: in most cases, you will not be expected to buy a gift for this the partner in charge of your department. Here, however, a gift can still serve a purpose. Buy a cheesy and/or entirely inappropriate gift, preferably while traveling on business so you can charge it to the client. Wrap it up nice and prepare a card—but not from you. The card should be from your hated rival to the partner who heads your department. If you execute this properly, the gift will be so embarrassing that the partner will never even mention it to your hated rival and thus never denied. Your mission will be accomplished.
4. For your secretary: the worst part about having to get a gift for your secretary is that you can’t send your secretary out to buy it—like you do for all the other gifts you have to give. I know this because I tried it twice and both times I was told no. Still, this is the most important person on your list. And it’s not because your secretary works so hard for you. Rather, it is this gift by which you shall be judged when secretaries get together and compare notes. Whatever you do here, play it safe and buy something expensive. It may not be the right gift because let’s face it, you don’t exactly have the best taste in the world. Nonetheless, if it’s expensive, at least you won’t also be accused of being cheap.
See the following articles for more information:
- How Much Does It Pay?
- Lawyers and Money
- 2015 Summer Associate Salaries of Top Law Firms
- Top 7 Tips for Succeeding as a First Year Associate: How to Succeed as a New Associate in a Law Firm
