I have a friend in London who will be taking silks as a QC this month. I'm struggling to think of a gift to send. Nothing too extravegant - but a nice memento of some sort. Any ideas??

Thanks

Maple syrup?
Pancake mix?
Baseball cap?
Postcards from where you live?
Jams & jellies?

--
<i><b>I'm kidding</b></i>

--

But definitely some tasteful bit of <i>Americana</i> to subtly <s>rub in </s> remind him/her that we Colonists are doing very well for ourselves, thank you very much!

Perhaps a handsome, historic framed [or not]:

coin(s)

bill(s)

sheet of postage stamps

hand-colored engraving/etching

book signed by an author they admire

other small American antique (glass, pewter, etc.)

case of assorted California wines

Just some ideas -- good luck.

What's a QC?

I don't remember what you call them, but what about one of those name plaque things for his desk -- you know, the triangular thing that says John Smith, LLB, QC. When my friend became a lawyer I got her a very nice one (not the usual black plastice thing with routed out white letters). You can get quite posh looking and they're not too expensive. It's probably something you can order online from a good London stationer or one of the better department stores and have it delivered to him.

Hello janisj, a desk name plaque made out of a wonderful material would be a lovely gift. I have one that is over a hundred years old, it was handed down through the family and happened to be the same name as my husband's name. It would be a lasting gift.

http://www.smythson.com/SmythsonSite...me/default.asp

This is a good stationer in London. You may get some other ideas from their website. The jewellery boxes are nice too and maybe they can put a little engraved date plaque on it to commemorate the occasion.

Hi Janisj
Have a look at the Georg Jensen 'space' desk accessories. I have recently given the mobile phone holder as a memento gift (and there's a matching pen &amp; paperclip holder too); my recipient friend was very pleased with my selection which I understand is often a talking point with visitors/clients. Cheeers - and good luck with your purchase whatever you choose. KJ

pilgrim - a QC is a barrister [trial lawyer to you, i think] of at least 7 years call [ie call to the Bar, which happens after Bar exams but before pupillage ie on the job training, which must be for at least a year in Chambers with an experienced junior barrister] who has been selected to be a &quot;queen's counsel&quot;. [or KC should there be a change of monarch]. Normally, a barrister does not &quot;take silk&quot; [not silks]until they're very well established - usually after at least 15 or 20 years' practice.
a silk normally conducts only very complicated or high profile cases, requiring a great deal of preparation and skill - hence the generally high fees they charge. Curiously, taking silk hsa been the death-knell of many very successful careers, as there just isn't enough of that sort of work to go round. On the other hand, some are so successful eg the late George Carmen, that his clerk [a sort of office manager who books cases and negotiates fees] could charge simply for booking in a case for him, before the papers were delivered. That was often enough to get the other side to back off!
There was a moritorium on the appoinment of silks for the last 2 years or so, as the old system was thought to be too open to abuse. [secret selection, unpublished criteria, etc.] It remains to be seen whether the new system of open selection will meet with approval. Anyone who is interested in the worknigs of the english legal system and enjoys a good laugh, should try to get hold of the Rumpole books, by Sir John Mortimer. The eponymous hero is an elderly criminal &quot;hack&quot; [no translation required, I think] who conducts his cases with little respect generally for the judges hearing them but a great deal of respect for the rule of law and, dare I say it, human rights. [they are avaialble on CD and Video too ,but don't know if they would work in the US].
To answer the original question, how about a framed copy of the american constitution or bill of rights?
hope you didn't mind the lecture!

Interesting question and one I have been thinking about too.

Our son is studying law and we have been thinking about what 'special' momento or keepsake to give him when he graduates and hopefully gets to be a QC (Which is his target at the moment)

We discovered that the Spanish porcelein company LLadro made a figurine of a Lawyer/Barrister which we thought may be a suitable keepsake for him to place in his home one day.

Its not made anymore and could be quite collectable in the future.
I managed to find a link for it.

Not sure if its too expensive for what you want to pay but food for thought anyway, good luck.

Muck
http://www.thecollectionshop.com/xq/...etail_Page.htm

68 items here. Not all appropriate but some are:

http://tinyurl.com/mclkk

A traditional gift would be a framed 19thC legal caricature, for example by &quot;Spy&quot;.

I think laverendrye has the best suggestion so far.

Of course, you could always buy an ancient bottle of port (perhaps from the year s/he graduated, or was born or something, or from the year s/he takes silk so s/he can lay it down for his/her children).

Thanks for all the really good suggestions. That Georg Jensen desk set is his style, and Smythson's has some really beautiful items.

I've actually seen the Lladro &quot;little Lawyer&quot; - almost bought one back when it was in production. But maybe a bit outside my budget for this gift.

A Leslie Ward (Spy) print is a brilliant idea - if I can get one and frame in time. Of course late is better than never . . . .

This site has a wide range of laywer specialty products, including a good selection of prints:

http://www.forcounsel.com/default_c.asp

Check out the various museum catalogs. I find the Smithsonian has a particularly nice range -- almost as good as the V &amp; A.

There is some great info for me here too.

Thanks

Muck

Er Mucky, you know he can't be a QC on graduation don't you....

&quot;when he graduates and hopefully &lt;eventually&gt; gets to be a QC (Which is his target at the moment)&quot;

Er... I think so nona.
But I will add &quot;eventually&quot; in there for you if you like..lol

;-)

But he won't be a QC if he doesn't graduate thats for sure.
Then a few more years of hard work will be required. Then lots of 'hopeful' stuff to follow.
However he is a pretty focussed guy and if that's what he wants, then that is what he will get.

Muck

Links of London have some beautiful gifts; www.linksoflondon.co.uk. And Smythson as mentioned.