| Topic Name: |
How I hate being a legal assistant |
| Message Name: |
To Paralegal or not to Paralegal |
| Date Posted: |
09/27/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
This is probably just venting. I'm working at a BIGLAW in NY and I hate working here. Even though the attorneys are nice and the co-workers are okay, the work is just TERRIBLE. I was in disbelief when one attorney told me -- after I had meticulously hand-wrote in all the names and titles of every signature page for each of 500 agreements -- that the title of one person was wrong so I would have to white-out part of the title in each and every page. I had finished compiling these documents a month ago. The signing party decided to inform the attorney only yesterday.
I just... could not believe it. I went to college and read books by great thinkers and authors. I come to this place, and I'm making copies and collating documents. I hate it .
YES I am going to law school and yes this is "good experience" -- I'll "learn" what it's like to work in a law firm. But the work is just HORRIBLE. And I've been doing this crap for TWO YEARS.
YES I know this is a CAREER for certain people; but for those people, they make three times as much as I do and do much much more substantive work.
Sorry just had to vent to the world. |
| Message: |
In reply to blah - it's important to know that your experiences at a law firm as a Paralegal will depend on many factors.The size of the firm, the practice area are two of the two major factors I would point out. I happen to be a certified Paralegal - I don't know that it put any add'l money in my paycheck but for what it's worth - I add this to the pile of facts. I worked in NYC at one of the BIG firms as a Commercial Para for 2.5 years. I reached a point of frustrtion that kc216 reached. But what we have to remember is that - someone has to proof for typo's spelling and grammar - follow up on delivery of doc's. someone has to do the grunt work - Paralegals have not attended law school but with our College Education we offer a certain amount of responsibility, intelligence and professionalism. This is what they're paying us for. I felt like a glorified File Clerk. But look at the amount of money involved in the transactions and what's "on the line". The more experience you have and the better your reviews the better your chances are of getting more challenging work, SOMETIMES. When I left the commerciall real estate I moved over to Residential Real estate. The work was more challenging, more hands on, I actually attended closings on behalf of the firm - I drafted doc's that were mark ups from previous transactions. there was actual attorney supervision of my work. I could approach the attorney I worked under. If she wasn't available I could leave a detailed message via e-mail (to cover my butt). In instances when I worked with other attorneys if I had a hard time nailing them down - I asked other people (attorneys) working on the deal or used e-mail with a copy to the file as a back up to my questions. This work is DETAIL ORIENTED. I did all of this for way too long - I burned out as a "Professional Paralegal". The STRESS level at BIG FIRMS is like nothing you've ever experienced. Your time and private life are secondary to your job. If your asked to stay late - you stay - because you want to be a "team player". That could involve several days of working until 1 am - and your expected back in the office at 9am. It can also be exilerating. Go in with the right attitude that I'm here to learn , absorb, observe, make connections, and make money. You'll meet some really great people, some ADD's, OCD's, AHDH's, and jerks. Go for it - if you can't take the heat - get out of the kitchen and find something else - but go for it so you'll know you tried.
|
|
