Job Responsibilities
Log in medical documents that are incoming to database, index
expert copies of documents, track all outgoing (to experts)
documents in Access. Billing (in Carpe diem), filing, using Excel
to set up medical lists of documents and locations. Box and send
off-site documents using LegalKey. Heavy multitasking,
proofreading skills, writing of summaries.
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Job Requirements
I'm still working on that ever-elusive undergrad degree, although
I've had 2 years of secretarial school (medical)(2 years of
nursing school) and 2 years of undergrad under my belt...and with
changing the career needed to go back so I'm to have my
associates in paralegal studies 23rd September, 2005 from Kaplan
University (on-line). It has been stressful, rewarding, and I
finally (after so many Dean's Lists) got the President's List
last quarter and striving to complete with the same. Who knew I
could still learn? Me. Trying to work a full-time+ job with 15-18
credit hours is the PITS but so worth it. Because Kaplan has
professors who are judges/lawyers in varied fields, it has been a
great experience working for/with them and because they are all
over the country, it certainly gives an overall experience level
that I would not get from a local school (like GA State). The
quality of instruction is very high. The quality of classes is so-
so - and I wish that most classes did not have a "seminar"
because it most often gets off on a tangent and the instructor
(on-line) has a hard time getting the "youngsters" back in line.
I pretty much choose my classes for the next quarter from a
listing of those classes I need so I would say this is great.
Workload is the most stressful. So many message board entries
each week, but overall it gives the instructor an indication of
our ability to read and understand the material. Lots of research
is thrown in (which is a good thing), so once we're out in
the "field" we're not totally lost.
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Uppers
The best part of my job is the autonomy afforded to my position, and the repoire
I have with my immediate supervisor. Because of my heavy medical background
(pathology) and the fact that she is a legal nurse consultant, we mesh well when
it comes to stressful situations and dealing with the immediate (most every day).
She knows she can count on me to complete tasks without peering over my shoulder
which makes me feel that I'm doing well.
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Downers
Recognition is not forthcoming from the higher-ups and in a
corporate atmosphere it is hard to get noticed. The pay is really
low (after having been in the $40,000+ range for my previous
position) and this may be due to location, but because I don't
have that undergrad degree (yet) it remains hard to get them to
notice that my job description/title needs to be tweaked. I may
have to IRAC it. The hardest part is seeing what companies pay
for the same duties or secretarial (which is inclusive of what I
do), and the (starting) pay for those is $10,000.00 over what I
make now in this area.
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Lifestyle
Work hours are fine and fairly "flex" as long as I'm here by 9 a.m. There is no
business travel (other than using mass transit which I use). There are a few
company social events but I usually don't go (due to school necessity). I do
participate in giving back to the community. Dress code is strictly corporate
(suit, dress shoes, hair pulled back if long - no funky stuff). Diversity in the
City of Atlanta is high but still find that the "old boy network" is the usual
standard around here (and I'm white and notice it). There still seems to be the
"glass ceiling" for women in this particular corporate atmosphere.
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Compensation
Base salary is very low (hired @ $30,000) although I've made
increases to $34,000...but it is still way low as compared to
secretarial with just a high school education in this town.
Bonuses are a percentage of your gross salary and after taxes it
still isn't much. Benefits are standard (health, dental, eye) and
GA BCBS. Stock options apply only to partners in the law firm.
Associates don't participate even in that. 401K is good and
matches whatever you put in. Investments keep changing as the
market changes.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Just having certificates and diplomas will not cut it in this
field. Only by getting the undergrad and possibly going further
to the J.D. will you get the respect/salary/lifestyle you so
richly deserve. Keeping the grades to 3.5 or above is paramount
to getting somewhere here. Education, Education, Education is key.
Just because you are working for a "respected law firm" doesn't
mean they don't cut corners and offer much less than you deserve.
Never..I mean NEVER leave a job before getting a job offer (as I
well know now). There is way more leverage than if you don't have
a job at the time you are interviewing.
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