1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Legal - What is your job title?
Litigation Paralegal - Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)
Mid-size law firm, with multiple offices in California. This is an all purpose firm that provides services such as taxes, land-use/permit law and big firm litigation.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
3 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
37.5 hours - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
37.5 hours - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
Assist Attorney in researching law and information. File documents with the court and make certain that everything is done in a timely manner in which it is due.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
60000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
63000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
2 weeks vacation, 2 weeks sick leave, company pay health, employee pay vision and dental, matching 401k - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
yes.
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
Yes, I like the research and filing documents and subpoenas on people/company. I don't like how attorney's expect you to do their stuff right away and a sense of righteousness that the attorney gives the staff.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes - Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes - Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it
I work with other secretary and service staff to send out the appropriate copy and document in a timely manner.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 1 Income
- 5 Work Environment - co-workers
- 6 Work Environment - supervisors
- 2 Benefits
- 7 Hours
- 3 Level of responsibility
- 4 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 8 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Learn to not take things personally and to always have the person requesting something, do it in writing and if they need you to drop a project, have them contact the other attorney to let them know so it doesn't come back to you not wanting to do your job.
- What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)
You have to be very organize and know how to prioritize. An important part is the social aspect, where you talk and relate with other employees, otherwise, no one will want to jump and help you. Everything else is essentially a learn talent.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
No - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Know your attorney your working with. You need them to move up and get more hours, etc.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
craigslist.org - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
submitted resume online, than filled an application when called in for interview, also testing via online and in office. - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
Yes, I went here for 3 separate interview. The initial interview was with the assistant HR director, at which point, she calls me back for a second interview with the actual attorney's that I would work for primarily, and the third interview with the Office Manager. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
Do I know the local court rules, how often do I file document, either via fax and file or e-file, etc. What are my strength and weakness, can I list the deadline for a discovery document served on us, how many days to respond if served by mail (answer is 35). Do I know how to research via lexis-nexis and have I had pre-trial experience. - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
Yes - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
I've always wanted to work in the legal field, more as an attorney when I was younger, but after college, I wanted the experience in the legal field before going to law school, however, after working with lawyers and seeing the hours and treatment they get, it made more sense to work as staff.
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I was sent to some paralegal seminars and I got on the job training in terms of learning the gist of what being in a law environment entiles. Besides learning new programs, such as imanage, and legal solutions, there really isn't much else. I learn more advance excel and word through on job class. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes. The training was helpful, but in truth, everything you need to know is something you do and experience. You have to ask for help, and that was one of the key things. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, having gone to college, I knew what was expected in the environment, in terms of a social heriarchy, which there is one. You are more relatable in some sense if you have a college degree. - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
Interacting with other paralegal and secretary staff. Filing, during the process, the intensity is great. - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
Great pay, and good hours, plus overtime. A nice understanding support staff that is fun and supportive. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
No, the type of work can get very repitive and boring, will want to work in pre-trial on a more daily basis. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
Applying to law school next year, and after, take the bar and maybe practice in big law. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
Although you start off at the bottom (multiple level of paralegal), you quickly get elevated and the responsiblity can get to you if your not prepared. Attorneys are pretty mean, because they are under alot of stress, but you also run into the one that are just plain mean, and know what to do to avoid conflict.
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
- 8 am - 9 am
Bus to work- arrive at work around 8:40 a.m. Turn on computer, coffee and look through email. - 9 am - 10 am
Look through e-mail, set tasks that are due first thing, such as research or noon filings. - 10 am - 11 am
Research cases, speak with attorney about assignment. Revised and research documents. Print project and index. - 11 am - 12 am
Index and get out any filings that are due. - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
Get files and put stuff into binders and excel. Review research and project. Speak with attorney about projects that are due. - 2 pm - 3 pm
Re-do index. Start next day pleading or discovery that are due the following day. - 3 pm - 4 pm
Research cases, speak with attorney about assignment. Revised and research documents. Print project and index. - 4 pm - 5 pm
Review documents for discovery, bates label and keep attorney files for service of discovery documents. - 5 pm - 6 pm
If nothing else is due, get ready to go home, but usually assist attorney doing additional work. - 6 pm - 7 pm
- 7 pm - 8 pm
- 8 pm - 9 pm
- 9 pm - 10 pm
- 10 pm - 11 pm
- 11 pm - 12 pm