Get It Together: Must-Have Items for your Law Office

I have been in my the same little office space for four years now, and have very slowly acquired some must-haves to make things more bearable at work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job but it’s still a job, you know? I spend most of my time at my desk, in my office, so it’s important that my desk is comfortable. Here are things at my desk that I reach for constantly.

If you’re new to your office space and are unsure what items to bring I suggest the following:

One. Things to make you look put together. If your firm doesn’t do business casual than you’re mostly in luck because you’ll always look appropriate, but if your place is a little lax then you should make sure you have items on hand that you can use if you need to run to court or have a last-minute networking event. Basics like a suit jacket/shoes are standard, but I also keep toiletries and cosmetics so that I don’t just look like I threw on a jacket and shoes. This will vary depending on the person, but I always have: a good berry lipstick; deodorant; dry shampoo; nail polish remover; mascara; and a perfume sample. I may not need every item every time I have an event, but when you need them, they are lifesavers.

Two. Things that bring comfort. We’re at work all the time and it’s usually freezing–being a little comfortable is essential.  I have a sweater duster that I always keep in my office along with a larger/thicker scarf that I can use to go outside if it became unexpectedly cool or if I need to go to a meeting where my sweater wouldn’t look appropriate. I’m also all about moisturizing because offices are so drying! My fave lip balm is used on a daily, and during the winter, I am always reaching for my rose water to help relieve my face from the dry air of the office. You know what’s also comforting? Wine. I keep a mini bottle of it for emergencies (after hours only, of course!).

Three. Things that bring relief. I literally could run a pharmacy from my desk. I’m a bit of overly dramatic when it comes to pain/discomfort so I reach for pain relievers as soon as I feel any sign that a migraine is coming–I keep aspirin and sinus pressure medication on hand all the time. I keep comfortable flats to wear in lieu of heels around the office. I’m also really cautious about eye strain and keep eye drops and a pair of glasses just in case I need to let my eyes breathe.

Pretty common sense, but I hope these ideas are helpful for those that are new and perhaps unsure of whether you’ll need this vs. that. I always vote for the more is more side, so practical people may decide to downgrade on some items.