1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Legal Industry - What is your job title?
Legal Assistant - 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)
Law firm with approximately 100 employees dealing with civil litigation, criminal, real estate law, corporate, reinsurance, domestic relations.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
20 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
35 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
35 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I work with three attorneys drafting motions, correspondence, docketing court dates, answering phones, billing, time entries.
- 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)
4 weeks vacation, 1 week sick/personal, 80% health insurance paid; 401 (k) employer match program - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
well/maybe under
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 - love my job
- 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
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 2 Income
- 3 Work Environment - co-workers
- 1 Work Environment - supervisors
- 4 Benefits
- 5 Hours
- 8 Level of responsibility
- 6 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 7 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?
Get into the firm of their choice by taking something to get their "foot in the door" and then move up the ladder.
- 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 should have at the minimum an associates degree as most firms are not even looking at resumes unless they have or are attending college. Computer skills are very important also. They should be proficient in Word, Excel and possibly Power Point as well as understanding how to multi-task and how to deal with high stress at times. Deadlines happen frequently and you must be able to think under high pressure.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes, see above - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Build up a good trusting relationship with your attorney(s). Always be one step ahead of them to show them you are involved in their practice and that it is not just "a job" to you. It makes them appreciate you more by showing an interest in their cases and that you are always aware of what is going on, in case they are not.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
Newspaper - Boston Globe - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
Submitted resume - 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 interviewed with the office administrator who in turn had me meet with the attorneys whom I would be working with. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
It was too long ago to remember, but I do remember he asked me what I thought I was worth. - 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)
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
When I first started, the company was small and I had to self-train. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
The woman who I replaced was not there to guide me, therefore, I think I went in to the job without knowing anything but was able to catch on by asking my supervisors questions - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Absolutely. I took several computer classes, legal research and writing classes so I was familiar with the legal terminology. I also did a co-op and wokred part time at a law firm so I had some experience before I got my full-time job. - 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?
I enjoy the people I work with. I never thought I would ever be at a company for this long. I enjoy the work (not always - it is still a job), but in general the work is fair, the people I work with are wonderful. - 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.)
My hours are great. It can be flexible at times. My commute is only 30 minutes. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
Yes and no. I would still like to do something part-time to try out something different from the legal world. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
I would like to go back to school and learn more about insurance/health care legal issues. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
If you want to work in the legal field, but do not want to go to law school, this is the job for you.
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
Getting ready to leave for work - 8 am - 9 am
Commuting to work - 9 am - 10 am
read emails, check phone messages. - 10 am - 11 am
open mail delivered, calendar court dates - 11 am - 12 am
update files and check emails for work that may have come in - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
possibly deliver motions to court or get ready for court dates the next day - 2 pm - 3 pm
check with attorneys to see if they are all set for the next day - 3 pm - 4 pm
open mail delivered, calendar court dates - 4 pm - 5 pm
Make a check list for things to do the next day and put in time entries - 5 pm - 6 pm
commute home - 6 pm - 7 pm
- 7 pm - 8 pm
- 8 pm - 9 pm
- 9 pm - 10 pm
- 10 pm - 11 pm
- 11 pm - 12 pm