End of an Era: Part II

Time passes and the guilt passes. I seem to have transformed from the paralegal who knows her move is negatively affecting the Boss to the paralegal who is working like crazy to make the transition as trouble-free as possible for him.

I still understand, of course, that my move is not a good thing for him. But we've put on our brave faces as we work toward the approach of the inevitable future. The Boss has been interviewing candidates to take my place. I've been disecting their resumes and personalities. I don't want to stare into the face of the person who will take my place on the team, but I do want to help him find the best possible fit. Is it narcissistic of me to believe that the best possible fit is the person who is most like me? In trying to shy away from that assumption, I've offered positive reviews of some stand-out individuals who are not like me at all, but I worry that he won't be able to get along with anyone the way he gets along with me. And don't even get me started on the trust issue.

In preparation of the end of this era, I have made a list of my regular administrative tasks with directions describing how to do them. It isn't rocket surgery, but in my first two years as a legal assistant, I learned a few things about efficiency. Now that the Boss will have toperform some of my tasks, he needs to know the most practical ways to do so.

I wonder what our job candidates think when they come to our little office for interviews. Most of our furniture is antique and in fair shape. Our welcome mat has seen better days. Our office plant is dying a slow death at my brown-fingered hands. And our fish tank remains in a continual state of greenness in response to the constant sunlight streaming in through our large front windows.

When they walk into the Boss's office, they see scattered accordian files and a 12-inch tall To-Be-Filed stack. I try not to take guests back to our kitchen/copier area. It isn't dirty, but it can get cluttered.

It feels like inviting people to your home to live. You love the place. It is comfortable and welcoming to you, but you know it's faults and worry that another person will not be able to appreciate it the way you do. I mean, who else will understand how silly yet necessary it is for us to keep our boxes of closed files in the bath tub? (Yes, we have a real bath tub in our office, which we have converted into storage space.)

Oh, the things I will miss when I'm gone. And the things I will worry about! Deadlines and final orders will keep me up at night for awhile as I contemplate the outcome of a trial or the possibility that the Boss might miss a court date. Thank goodness for the internet age, though. As I've told him multiple times (mostly so that I can hear the words outloud), if he needs to know how I do something or where I've placed an item, even in Memphis I will be one phone call, email or text message away.

End of an Era: Part I

This month marks the sad end of an era. I have been ignoring this blog for the past two weeks, as if non-acknowledgment of the coming change would somehow force everything to remain the same. Alas, it isn't to be. 


You may be confused by that opening paragraph, so I will explain. You see, I spent the last weekend of February in Memphis, TN... interviewing for a job. Actually, only a small portion of the weekend was spent interviewing. The largest part was spent struggling with a decision I was not prepared to make. 


The interview had sprung up rather quickly after a friend of mine told me his firm was looking for "above average" paralegals. I was not looking for a new job. I suppose a part of me just wanted to know what I was worth, whether I was above-average enough to work at his downtown Memphis firm. As a small-town paralegal with just over two years in experience, I imagined that either a) I would not be hired or b) they would not make me an offer I couldn't refuse. I was wrong on both accounts and suddenly was forced into a situation I had not truly expected. Looking back, I realize that I had made the decision before I even left the office. I just didn't know it yet. 


My BoyfriendTheLawyer was happy, of course. A Tennessean himself, he knew that this move would place me hours closer to him, and that the threat of having to take the Alabama bar exam would fade into a vague memory.  


I struggled with my decision for two long days. I am a small town paralegal. I am hardworking, focused, and above all, loyal. The loyalty part gave me qualms. Over the past two years, the Boss has opened his practice up to me in so many ways. I am his right hand gal. I am the office expert on filing procedures, record-keeping, and more. I have slowly been creating administrative policies that make us more efficient and more client-oriented. The Boss has given me the freedom to do so. When I try to imagine how to explain my job, my brain crashes. My job description is "do what is necessary." It took me over two years to figure out what that encompasses - how do I teach someone else in only two weeks?


I sat on my decision all day Monday. It was painful and emotional. I was grumpy. The Boss thankfully did not notice. On Monday night, I was asked, "Would this move to Memphis be a step in a positive direction?" The only answer was yes. It was then that I understood that the only reason not to move was my loyalty to my current job. I was giving this loyalty so much weight that it was blinding me to all of the possibilities for growth, the opportunity that was being offered to me. 


On Tuesday, as soon as the Boss walked into his office, I plopped myself down in a chair at his desk. I couldn't get the words out, so he said them for me. "You're leaving." I nodded my head and tried to explain that I hadn't been looking, that I was perfectly satisfied with my current position, that it was just too good of an opportunity to turn down, etc. He took it well for someone who knows how much he depends on his paralegal. I tried to explain that I'm sure whoever takes my place will be better, more experienced, more organized. He simply said, "Are you giving me the employee version of the 'there are more fish in the sea' line?" I had to laugh. Breaking up is hard to do, whether it's with your significant other, your family or even your boss. Leaving those who depend on you is always difficult. 


After a few days of self-doubt and wishing someone else could make the decision for me, I finally settled down. The Boss will find someone to take my place. Though it saddens me to imagine someone else sitting in my chair, if I can't be there it is my hope that the person who is will be a step up from me. 


I'm embracing the future now and whatever it will hold. I am jumping from one supervising attorney to nine. From a solo practice country office to a mid-size downtown law firm. From cases that last months to cases that last years. From a new and growing firm to a stable, established firm. I will miss all of the things I have know for the past few years. I will miss the clients, the Boss, and the sweet freedom I have working with a small town lawyer. But it is time to step forward, to challenge myself with a new place and new work, and hopefully to realize my true potential as a paralegal professional in the greater legal community. 

The iParalegal

I finally broke down and purchased an iPhone this weekend. Below I have provided a list of my favorite apps so far.

1. The Milebug Lite: I drive regularly for my job, and remembering to log my mileage when I make it back to the busy office is quite a chore. The Milebug allowed me to log my milege instantly. It also calculates the value of the trip automatically. Easy peasy!

2. Notes: okay so I know this app isn't anything special on the outside. However, one of my paralegal duties is to inspect the properties at HOAs that we manage. Until today, I would have had to remember to take paper and a pen with me. Since I only have a hundred things going on at the office at any given time, sometimes it is not easy to remember these small but necessary items. And even when I did remember these things, I still had to keep up with the list. Enter the Notes app, which actually comes installed on the magic phone. Now I can take notes directly to my phone then email them instantly to myself. Once again, easy peasy.

3. Words with Friends: Every busy professional needs a few mini-outlets each day. This app provides both a short break and interaction with friends. It is basically another version of the beloved game Scrabble. You play back and forth with a friend either all at once or throughout the day or week. My Boyfriend the Lawyer, who currently lives seven hours away from me, and I have been playing a game for the past two days. When I need a short break at work, I take my turn. When he takes a break, he takes his. Being busy people with demanding jobs, these breaks are few and far between; however, they are a welcome interaction at short intervals during my day.

4. BlogPressLite: This post exists because of this app. No longer do I have to strain to remember some blog idea after hours of waiting to get to my computer. If I have something to say, I get to say it right away. Like magic. My brain says thank you.

I am sure I will find even more useful apps as I go along, but these few have already changed my life. If you other iPhoners have any suggestions, let me know!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Legal Aid and Paralegals

As a young paralegal still feeling out the ethics, for a long time I did not understand the difference between legal information and legal advice. I believed that everything was legal advice, and that even the simplest procedural questions with the most concrete and consistent answers that had nothing to do with an individual situation had to be passed to the Boss. I did this out of a wariness and fear of inadvertently crossing into the no-man's-land of UPL.

As I have grown and developed as a paralegal, I have learned better ways to gauge where the line is. I've gathered examples of questions that can be answered without hassling the Boss. "What is a summary judgement?" "How long does a defendant have to file an answer after she has been served in small claims court?" "Where is your bathroom?"

However, EnidNews.com, a local Oklahoma news source, is reporting that a Legal Aid Services paralegal will be meeting Thursday with Garfield County, OK seniors "who need information on a legal matter or have questions."

Jerry Clay, the paralegal speaking at the forum, is quoted as saying, "Many seniors and those with hearing impairments, prefer to discuss their problems in person, and meeting at NODA makes it easier to review legal documents."

While I am sure there is a way to hold such a forum without giving actual legal advice, it sounds like quite the challenge. In fact, reviewing legal documents with someone sounds exactly like providing legal counsel, unless the review is only for editing purposes. Or I suppose, unless the paralegal is gathering issues together to consult with an attorney before relaying any advice back to the seniors. The article, unfortunately, does not go any further in describing the services being rendered.

I do not know Oklahoma's UPL laws, but I have noticed in my personal research that in at least a few states, Legal Aid paralegals provide lawyer-type services to individuals without direct supervision or client contact by a licensed attorney. Oklahoma may be one of these states. Or perhaps it isn't, and the legal doc review and discussion of legal problems described in the article does not constitute the practice of law in Oklahoma. Whichever the case, I find the assistance described in the article to be a wonderful thing.

The Politicking Paralegal

It may just be the season, but I have been noticing more and more paralegals entering the political arena in 2010.

In Arizona, paralegal Amanda Reeves has been chosen to replace Sam Crump, a lawmaker who just resigned his Legislative District 6 House seat to chase his other political dreams. She was chosen over two other candidates: a U.S. Army officer and a trauma surgeon. I would say she was in good company to begin with.

Meanwhile, a licensed paralegal in California is planning on challenging the incumbent public administrator for his position in June. This story comes with a twist. Colleen Callahan is trying to unseat her former boss. (There's one reason to always be nice to your staff, people.) Says Callahan, as quoted by the Orange County Register, “I know it’s a long shot, but it’s not right for him to be there,” Callahan said. “I’ve seen so many people hurt and great employees he pushed out. We’re there to service the public.”

As someone who likes to be involved in my community, I understand the desire to get out there and make a difference, whether small or big. I encourage any other paralegals out there contemplating a career in politics to jump right in! It can be as simple a move as joining your local planning and zoning commission (I volunteer on my town's, and it is veeery interesting) or as big as announcing a run for state congress. Either way, make the differences you can make, doing what you do. The important thing is to be involved in a positive way.


[2/21/10 Editor's Note: Thanks to Vicki Voisin for pointing out that despite the language of the article in the Orange County Register, no state currently licenses paralegals. I assume the correct language here is "certified," though I am basing that on a best guess. I do not personally know Callahan's certification status.]

Another Office Romance Gone Downhill

It's a tale as old as time - the intraoffice love affair. But it's one that can wreak havoc on your life. Literally.

In 1989, it ended the life of a newly wed legal assistant. Being dumped for a younger woman her husband had met at the office was too much for Elisabeth "Betty" Broderick, who shot and killed her nemesis and the ex while the two were in bed together one night.

There are several good reasons not to engage in a romantic relationship with someone in the office, especially if that someone can make or break your career and is also married. Until I read this story, though, it never occurred to me that one of those reasons is personal safety.

So beware, my paralegal brothers and sisters, when seeking love, try to avoid the married co-worker or boss. It might save both your reputation and your life.

Glub Glub Glub

For those of you who do not watch that Grey's Anatomy of legal dramas The Deep End, I've decided to keep you posted on the wild and crazy (and completely unrealistic) antics of its as-yet-unrelateable characters.

In the third episode of the series, Addie and Beth are horrified to learn that they are representing the defendant in a sexual harrassment case. I suppose law school didn't teach them that even a defendant needs representation. Even if the defendant is completely guilty of doing exactly what he is accused of. Like speaking to women as if they are choice cuts of meat.

Meanwhile, our character with hero-issues, Dylan, tries his hardest to keep a pregnant woman from being sent back to China, based on the fact that her baby is an American citizen. Whether it's legally sound or not, his argument makes logical sense. The baby, he argues was conceived by at least one American, and the pregnancy has reached the state of viability. Therefore, since in criminal law, anyone who killed the baby at this stage would be tried for a homicide, the unborn yet viable child has a right to due process. I like it. If we ever have a similar case at our firm, I wonder if we can cite to the Deep End transcript?

Because Liam decided to get all wooey with Beth and Addie is having some weird love connection with Malcolm, there wasn't much room left in the script for more legal adventures. Stay tuned for next weeks rundown...