I HATE WORKING FOR A LAW FIRM

H

haydee

Cathlete
These frigging ROBOTS of attorneys/paralegals act as though you're not entitled to make mistakes, when in fact they make MANY mistakes.

Sorry if I've offended any attorney/paralegals here on the forum. Just needed to vent for the moment.

Haydee

Please don't hate me, but, because I'm sooooooooo annoyed I inadvertently placed my message on the "Ask Cathe" board. DAMN x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x(
 
I know exactly what you mean..... I work for a public accounting firm and things are exactly the same way. Sometimes I work well past 1 a.m. at a client. Excuse me if I'm not at my best and thinking clearly after a 17-hour day.......

Don't feel like it's you. They try to make you feel like you're the only one that makes mistakes, and like you said, they make them too. So as hard as it is, just try to chill a little bit. You know you're doing the best you can and that is all that you can do.
 
Hi
What position do you hold? I'm an attorney and I always treated the secretaries like gold b/c they are the GATEKEEPER. They know all, they have all the prior memos/motions in their hardrive, they speak to judges' aids every day etc. etc. I have never understood the stupidity of treating others in a nasty way in a law firm. However, I have taken a break as it burned me out. (Too much adrenaline and posturing) Hope your day improves! :) /karen
 
I used to work for a law firm Haydee! i feel your pain!!!! get a new job girlfriend! hope your day gets better, and remember, WE LOVE YOU!!!!

jes
 
Don't feel like it's you. They try to make you feel like you're the only one that makes mistakes, and like you said, they make them too. So as hard as it is, just try to chill a little bit. You know you're doing the best you can and that is all that you can do.

B

Thank you B for your response.

I know it's not me all the time. I mean sometimes when you've apologize for your mistake, depending on the mishap, they're ready to tell the whole world. I will fess up and claim a mistake here & there but damn give me a break, acknowledge me as what I am and that is a human being. To err is human.


>Hi
>What position do you hold? I'm an attorney and I always
>treated the secretaries like gold b/c they are the GATEKEEPER.
>They know all, they have all the prior memos/motions in their
>hardrive, they speak to judges' aids every day etc. etc. I
>have never understood the stupidity of treating others in a
>nasty way in a law firm. However, I have taken a break as it
>burned me out. (Too much adrenaline and posturing) Hope your
>day improves! :) /karen

Karen,

I am a legal secretary. I think I'm a little burnt myself as I have been a legal secretary since "85". However, this is the first time I've ever worked at a law firm. Prior to this, I worked for a huge corporation with in-house counsel.

How I wish I had you as an attorney..............Maybe it's time I take a break as well.?????????


Haydee
 
You know what I hate about law firms? I get these information subpeonas occassionally at work (I'm HR) and they're so rude in the way they're worded. First of all, they always address them to SIR (don't they realize that HR has a high percentage of women?). Second, they don't say "please". They say, "WE COMMAND YOU". Who do they think they are "COMMANDING" me? They're not God! And they do type it in all capitals. So it's like a booming voice from God. I always want to put a little notation on the subpeona when I return it telling them to get some manners.
 
>Karen,
>I am a legal secretary. I think I'm a little burnt myself as
>I have been a legal secretary since "85". However, this is
>the first time I've ever worked at a law firm. Prior to this,
>I worked for a huge corporation with in-house counsel.
>
>How I wish I had you as an attorney..............Maybe it's
>time I take a break as well.?????????
>
>
>Haydee


Haydee
It took me a long time to cultivate a certain attitude that protected me from those partners/associates who think it's a job benefit to be abusive to others. I am actually a quiet, introspective person so it was totally against my nature but here's what worked: If they get obnoxious, condescending or downright rude you look them straight in the eye and tell them you don't appreciate their attitude towards you. You will be shocked that they will back down b/c people like that are basically cowards inside. I would walk into my prior firm and the office would be totally silent w/ everyone's heads down, some crying b/c my boss (partner/litigator) was being a @#$$%. The only people who could handle him was his secretary (who would walk out on him if he was mean to her) and myself. It took a toll on me though and that's why I stopped practicing for awhile. (I contract myself out hourly so I can actually see my kids) Remember, they know deep down inside that they need you there or they can't run that place. There's always a better place, I would start keeping my eyes open for a nicer environment if I was you. When you get there, you'll wish that you left sooner. Take care /karen
 
I too was an attorney in a law firm in the UK - I'm glad I've moved to the US now as it means I can't practise law anymore, because I was completely burned out. Occasionally, I could be a little short tempered, but that was because I was under pressure with court deadlines and totally stressed out and just wanted to get things done; I would always apologize to anyone if I was a little short with them.

Anyway, I always treated my secretary like gold-dust, but I also saw how some of the male Partners at my firm treated their secretaries and it was truly terrible, not just being a little short tempered when you're stressed out but downright bullying. However, whenever the secretaries stood up to them and told them their attitudes were unacceptable, they would back down like a ton of bricks because at the end of the day they were just full of hot air!

I am glad I am out of this business, and I'm hoping for a career change very soon. Being in that job taught me a lot about human nature, and I didn't like what I saw.

Good luck to you.
Josie :)
 
I am an investigator for 11 attorneys and on many days I have to gather up every ounce of patience I can find just to make it through the day! For the most part the people I work with are great, but there are a couple who, at times, let things go to their heads.

I think that happens anywhere and everywhere though, not just with attorneys!!!
 
Hi Haydee,

I'm a paralegal and I hear ya, girlfriend! I get SO annoyed w/my procrastinating attorneys that I could SCREAM! Its my job to be sure we don't miss deadlines, etc, and since the bulk of our work is at the Appellate level, sometimes it gets a little hairy, trying to keep track of those deadlines, plus the regular work deadlines.

I used to get really upset when they'd grouse at me..til I realized, HEY I'm doing MY job and you're cranky cause you're not doing YOURS and taking it out on ME! So now if I get harassed for missing a comma, (yes, this is the ANAL firm, :)), I calmly retaliate by answer accusation with accusation and then the moment is diffused and we all laugh.

Don't let em get to you, its only a job. Take care!
 
I guess I needed to let off some steam.

The problem here is I work with 6 paralegals and they're all on different floors and 3 of them always need something yesterday. Then when the work is complete and given to them, it always, "ok you could just leave it there", but what happened to, "I need this ASAP b/c the clients/partners are on my back about this project". Then there's one who is completely CLUELESS as to how to use the computer. She's always calling my ext. and complaining about login problems. I hate to be mean to her so I accommodate her (mind you she's on a different floor). I think she is taking advantage of my kindness, so I get a little snippy at times and say, "Do I look like the Helpdesk to you"?. Then she starts with this whinny little kid voice (she's 70), so I gotta help her. It seems she could care less for the other paralegals I work for b/c everything with her is ASAP, when in fact it could wait two days from now.

I NEED A VACATION.

Haydee
 
haydee - i hope you get a vacation!!!

my advice - get a new job if you are truly unhappy. no job is worth being that miserable. Consider the amount of time you spend at work...if you are really unhappy at the job, that's a lot of time to be unhappy for. I'm sure there's a job you would be happier at just waiting for you.
 
>haydee - i hope you get a vacation!!!
>
>my advice - get a new job if you are truly unhappy. no job is
>worth being that miserable. Consider the amount of time you
>spend at work...if you are really unhappy at the job, that's a
>lot of time to be unhappy for. I'm sure there's a job you
>would be happier at just waiting for you.


My dh and I have a small gym. We have not prospered well enough for me to leave this place. I help him out at the gym and I also teach a small class on strength training. I'm trying to stick around until this gym is well off the ground when I can say good-bye law firm.

But thank you very much for the advice.

Have a good night. Talk to ya later.

Haydee
 
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