Holiday Gift Guide for Paralegals

At law firms across the country, paralegals are playing an increasingly important role in successful legal outcomes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of paralegals and legal assistants is expected to increase by 12 percent between 2020 and 2030, with 41,400 new paralegals projected to join the workforce each year.

With the holiday season upon us, there’s no better time to show your paralegals how much you care about them and truly appreciate all the great work they’ve done this past year. With that in mind, here are some gift ideas to show the paralegals in your life how much their hard work and dedication are valued and appreciated every day.

Consider these gifts for paralegals.

In addition to delighting your team by giving them an awesome and unexpected gift, law firms also benefit from gift-giving,  which recognizes employee contributions and thereby increases employee engagement, so it’s a win-win.

As you begin brainstorming on gift ideas for your paralegals, try to make them as personal as possible to increase the chances they will be well received. Generally, you’ll want to spend the same amount of money on each gift, but do try to cater to each paralegal’s unique personality and interests.

To make your job a little easier, check out this list for inspiration and start thinking in the right direction about the gifts you’re going to get your team this holiday season. 

For the On-the-Go Paralegal

Wait a second: Do you know any paralegals who aren’t always on the go? If your team is constantly hopping back and forth between home, the office, court, and client meetings, make their life easier by buying them gifts that can help them stay relaxed and in charge during their travels. 

For example, a portable battery can give your paralegals the peace of mind that comes with knowing their devices won’t run out of juice when they’re commuting from one place to the next or sitting in court without an outlet in sight. At the same time, you can also spring for a personalized leather journal with the paralegal’s initials on it so they can jot down notes on the go while looking professional.

Who doesn’t love a hot bite to eat and some warm coffee to drink during the coldest times of the year? Consider a Grubhub or Uber Eats gift card, an insulated lunch bag, and an insulated coffee mug to keep their food and drinks hot wherever their travels take them.

For the Foodie Paralegal

Are any paralegals on your team particularly interested in food? If so, aim to satisfy their inner foodie by buying them subscriptions to a food delivery service such as Blue Apron, Plated, or HelloFresh. Or, you could opt to send them a gourmet food basket from a company such as Harry & David. While you’re at it, you might also want to consider springing on some tasty wines—or even signing them up for a wine subscription club.

In addition to buying foodies food and drink, you might also want to think about getting them food-related items. For example, this “you’ve been served” pie plate can be customized with the paralegal’s name on it, which could help deliver the personal touch you should be aiming for. Similarly, you might also want to look into buying your team custom serving boards with cheese knives to up their hosting game and impress guests.

For the Pet Parent (or Paw-ralegal)

Are any of the paralegals on your team extremely involved pet parents? Consider getting them any number of items their furry friends will enjoy. For example, an automatic pet feeder can help ensure pets don’t go hungry when mom or dad is busy at court. You might also want to look into self-cleaning cat litter boxes and automatic ball throwers to keep pets healthy and entertained.

Not every pet-related gift has to be for the pet themselves. To this end, a pet camera that enables your paralegals to keep tabs on their beloved pet while they’re at work can be pretty awesome. If you’re feeling extra generous and playful, consider paying an artist to paint your paralegals’ pets as judges.

For the Stressed-Out Paralegal

Let’s face it: There’s a good chance that your team is stressed out. While you might not be able to eliminate the stress altogether—after all, it absolutely can come with the territory—you can take proactive measures to try to alleviate it as much as possible.

To illustrate, give gifts that help your team relax, such as spa visits, gift certificates for massages, and subscriptions to meditation and mindfulness apps such as Headspace. Similarly, you might want to look into paying for your team to get manicures and pedicures, which will relax and boost their spirits.

Beyond this, you can also buy white noise sound machines that create more relaxing atmospheres, dinner kit subscriptions, and even acupuncture appointments. Other ideas for self-care gifts include bath salts, bath bombs, bath oils, bubble bath, and a flower delivery subscription club. How awesome does new flowers showing up throughout the year sound?

For the Ambitious Paralegal

Today, paralegals—younger ones in particular—expect that their jobs will also double as opportunities for professional development. In fact, a recent study from Gallup found that 87 percent of millennials say it’s important to them that a company offers professional development opportunities.

One way to meet these expectations is by investing in career growth. For example, consider buying books, paying for continuing education, or buying tickets to work conferences that expose paralegals to new legal ideas. You can also pay for their membership in a local, state, or national paralegal group of their choice and then renew it the following year as the holidays approach.

For the Paralegal Who Decorates Their Desk

Do any members of your team often decorate their desks with pictures and figurines? A scales of justice figurine can strike the perfect balance between humor and endearment. Other options to consider here include crystal flower vases, picture frames, artwork, and succulents. 

For the Exceptionally Busy Paralegal

If your law firm is like most others, chances are your paralegals are exceptionally busy. One way to make life easier for them is by investing in purpose-built tools designed to help paralegals get more done each day.

For example, if your team still communicates via email, you might find that a messaging platform such as Slack can be truly transformative. If your team is still managing projects with sticky notes, a project management tool such as Trello might be a good option. And if your paralegals are still tracking down process servers across the country, and then chasing them down for status updates, Proof’s platform can be a game-changer.

For the Fashionable paralegal

Last but not least, your team might love getting a custom T-shirt and other items that have work-related designs on them. If you’re searching for the perfect gifts for your team, check this shirt out to get a better idea of some of the kinds of fun items you can surprise your team with.

Make Your Paralegals Work Life Easier At the end of the day, simple gifts can really go a long way toward keeping your paralegals happy, engaged, and—most importantly—feeling appreciated, valued, and fulfilled in their careers. 

As we look ahead to 2022, smart firms are looking for ways to make their paralegals’ work-life balance easier and more efficient. One method to do that is by using Proof’s service of process platform, which can help save your team time, money, and aggravation.

Do your paralegals a favor this holiday season and see what Proof is all about by requesting a demo today.