Columbus Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Fellow Paralegals??? I need Advice
Hello,
I know I have seen some paralegals on here so I thought I would ask for your thoughts on this issue I am having. I just finished my certification with Capital in Aug (but I have been working with the title Legal Assistant Since Feb of 2007).
The job was designed for me to do both receptionist duties and also progress into paralegal work. I have really been doing both since I started, however I really do not know how much help I have been. My office is a small downtown Firm (but its been around for over 20 years) right now we have 3 attorney's and one "paralegal" and me. The one paralegal is feeling VERY overworked and I feel SO GUILTY. I try to do everything I can to help her out, but I guess they are giving her work saying she has to do it because they need it asap.
I feel very weird about this because in my previous careers I was always the one that was the go to person and that worked like crazy. Although I am busy with work I feel it is all the admin stuff (I know someone has to do it), and not anything that is helping the workload of the paralegal.
I have told her to hand over anything she can. Am I doing enough or is there more I should do?
Also, I am really torn on the way training has been with me. When hired the whole thing about my position was getting the chance to learn early and gradually. I guess though I thought after a year I would have experience doing more. I do not know if it different since our office does a variety of work.
SORRY this has gotten way to long.....thanks ladies!
I know I have seen some paralegals on here so I thought I would ask for your thoughts on this issue I am having. I just finished my certification with Capital in Aug (but I have been working with the title Legal Assistant Since Feb of 2007).
The job was designed for me to do both receptionist duties and also progress into paralegal work. I have really been doing both since I started, however I really do not know how much help I have been. My office is a small downtown Firm (but its been around for over 20 years) right now we have 3 attorney's and one "paralegal" and me. The one paralegal is feeling VERY overworked and I feel SO GUILTY. I try to do everything I can to help her out, but I guess they are giving her work saying she has to do it because they need it asap.
I feel very weird about this because in my previous careers I was always the one that was the go to person and that worked like crazy. Although I am busy with work I feel it is all the admin stuff (I know someone has to do it), and not anything that is helping the workload of the paralegal.
I have told her to hand over anything she can. Am I doing enough or is there more I should do?
Also, I am really torn on the way training has been with me. When hired the whole thing about my position was getting the chance to learn early and gradually. I guess though I thought after a year I would have experience doing more. I do not know if it different since our office does a variety of work.
SORRY this has gotten way to long.....thanks ladies!
Re: Fellow Paralegals??? I need Advice
Who do you report to? An attorney or the other paralegal? I think that you have made some good efforts to get more substative work, but often I have found, that when people are really busy they don't want to spend the time training. Maybe set up a meeting with your boss to discuss your concerns and try to set out some sort of a development plan. Maybe also set up some time with the paralegal, maybe a lunch, to discuss how you two can work together. Additionally, have you explored any online training? Sometimes if you are able to become more proficient in a certain area or with some type of legal software (i.e. Lexis) you are able to offer unique assistance. When I first started here I had a similar issue, and I passed the time doing online training. LexisNexis has a really good program called the Paralegal Certificate of Mastery. Finally, I think that paralegals who double as admins. run into problems defining their role.
I'm sorry this is long and not very organized. I am happy to talk more if you'd like. You can e-mail me (emilyandbrady@gmail.com) and/or maybe we can meet for lunch some afternoon since we are both downtown.