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Hello all! Brand new to the bonsai world, no previous experience. Just acquired this tree from my dad, who got it from his friends dad who just passed. I was wondering what kind of tree it is (guessing some kind of juniper) what shape it's in, and where should I start? Came with some tools also. Thanks for any help/advice.

Yes, its a juniper. The growing tips looks healthy. Junipers backbud really bad and this tree allready have foliage too far from the trunk to be a nice bonsai in the future. But still a good tree to practice on.

As you ask where to start: because you are new with no experience at all I’d say by doing nothing but keep it alive for a year first. Learn to water it properly ( garden hose or watering can and watering untill water spills from the drainage hole underneath, next watering when soil feels dry to the touch) , placement ( outside!!!! In full sun). Meanwhile take your time to study up on horticulture ( thé most important thing to know ), and bonsai- things ( pruning, wiring, repotting,…..) and when and why to do these things. This site and forum is a good place to start ( good online courses to buy), YouTube is your friend ( Herons bonsai, ……), google, find a local bonsai club or person who wants to help you out.
Nothing you need to do now, bonsai is a marathon, not a sprint.

This is a nice tree, and provides a good base to create a bonsai.

As Luc indicates, keeping it for a bit is important. Tropfrog indicated that the tree has sparse foliage on some branches. If you want to grow this to become a bonsai, it is important that the sparser branches gain health. This is done by thinning out the strongest, typically top, branches AND by keeping the tree in plenty of sun. Once these gain health, they will throw budds in many branch crotches.

WIth a juniper, thin from the outside in: Rather than plucking aways growth on the inside of the tree, you trim back thick and dense bushels of foliage. n the top branches I would consider trimming back, but your pictures do not make it easy to tell. Can you perhaps take a few pictures from the side, with the tree against a neutral background?