1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Legal - What is your job title?
Law Clerk - 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)
I work for a private law firm with 3 attorneys
- How long have you been employed in this position?
5 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
40 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
40 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
You name it, I do it! I do filing, send correspondence to clients, doctors offices and other attorneys. I complete interrogatories and abstract medical records. I order supplies and run errands, I also do all the translating for the Spanish speaking clients.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
37000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
37000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
3 weeks of vacation time, 1 week of sick leave, health insurance through Anthem Blue Cross - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
I feel undercompensated
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, some days its something I enjoy and other days it's something i hate! Our clients are demanding and emotional and often drive me crazy but it does feel good to help them. There are certain people that I work with that go out of there way to help out and make a pleasant workplace and there are others that are lazy and dumb and think only of themselves.
- 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 in a crumbling old office building. I used to wait tables so its nice not to have to be on my feet all day, its nice being in a climate controlled office but work a 9 to 5 desk job has its hardships too.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 1 Income
- 4 Work Environment - co-workers
- 5 Work Environment - supervisors
- 2 Benefits
- 2 Hours
- 7 Level of responsibility
- 6 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?
It's my father's law firm, he the managing partner, that's how I got this job. So that would help, otherwise, you don't really need any specific schooling or skills, except for the translating.
- 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)
Organized, good with people, well spoken, familiar with Microsoft Word.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Not necessarily education, but it gets easier the longer you do it, or the more familiar you are with the work - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Ask lots of questions when you're not sure what to do or when you're starting a new project. Ask until you're absolutely sure of what you're doing.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
My father is the managing partner - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
None - 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.)
No - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
N/A - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
No - 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)
Well, when I graduated from high school I wanted to be a marine biologist. While I was in college, I change my major several times, from marine biology to psychology to early education to criminal justice. When I graduated from college I thought that I'd go on to law school, which is why I took this job but after working for attorneys, I realized I do NOT want to be one.
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes, I was walked through my duties by the person who had the job before me and then I shadowed her for a few days. After she left, if I was being asked to do something new, one of my superiors would show me what to do or give me an example of a correctly completed document. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, I was always shown what to do and encouraged to ask lots of questions if I didn't understand or even if I was just curious about some aspect of a case. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Not really, but my college education did prepare me for using the computer programs that we use at the office and for drafting letter in professional wording. - 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?
My co workers and I try to have a good time at work, also, we're not very highly supervised so you can kind of work at your own pace, taking breaks of you need it. During the summer, we get to leave early on Fridays. - 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.)
I like to be able to leave my job at the office at 5p. I like the predictable hours. I feel like I'm good at what I do and occasionally I feel like I help someone who might not otherwise get the help they need because they're Spanish speaking. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
it wasn't but it is now. I plan to stay in this position for the time being or until I get a higher paying job doing the same work. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
I plan to get my Paralegal degree. I am already doing some Paralegal work but with a degree, I could be making more money. Either at this firm or another one. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
Nope, I think that about covers it!
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
At home, getting ready for work - 8 am - 9 am
Arrive at work at 8:30a, check voice mail, emails and To Do list for things that need to be done today. - 9 am - 10 am
Filing Closed Files: All closed files are boxed depending on type, then I label then boxes with the names of all files within box and assign the box a number. Then I make a list of the contents of each box in a book we keep and also in the computer. Then the boxes are putting into storage in number order. - 10 am - 11 am
Please see 9am - 10am, I filed 4 boxes of closed files from 9am to 11a. - 11 am - 12 am
Abstracting medical records: We request a client's medical records from a doctor. When we receive them, I go through them, pick out the important or relevant facts and type them up in chronological order. This enables the attorneys to get the important medical information about the client's condition without having to read all the medical records themselves. - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
Abstracting medical records, please see above description. - 2 pm - 3 pm
Out to Lunch - 3 pm - 4 pm
Please see 9am - 10am, I filed 4 boxes of closed files from 9am to 11a. - 4 pm - 5 pm
Discussion with attorneys regarding status of various client's case. Left early to drop a file off at another attorney's office. - 5 pm - 6 pm
Home - 6 pm - 7 pm
Home - 7 pm - 8 pm
Home - 8 pm - 9 pm
Home - 9 pm - 10 pm
Home - 10 pm - 11 pm
Home - 11 pm - 12 pm
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