legal advice

You have completed four years of undergraduate studies, survived three years of law school and now landed your first job as an associate in a mega law firm. Now, it’s time to put all your hard work into action. Although your college education has prepared you academically, it does not account for the practical day-to-day function of a law firm. In my twenty years of experience as a legal secretary, I have watched countless first-year associates struggle to assimilate into their new environments. It becomes painfully obvious that they have not done their homework prior to pursing a legal career and are now faced with the tough decision of whether this was the right career choice. At this point, such negative thought is irrelevant because you are committed to at least one year of service, and how you approach this challenge could determine the rest of your professional career. I have outlined five strategies guaranteed to help new associates have a successful first year.
First, build a relationship with your legal secretary. An experienced legal secretary understands the managerial administrative tasks of your practice. The knowledge that your secretary posses is priceless and will prove advantageous to your success. For example, if you are a litigation attorney, court filing procedures and formatting of documents is crucial in meeting deadlines because you don’t want to risk having your complaint rejected by the court, causing penalties and humiliation among your colleagues.
Second, learn to dictate effectively. The most frustrating thing for a transcriber is to receive a tape that is inaudible and has no clear instructions. Mastering some basic formatting skills and dictation etiquette will save your typists countless hours and ensure that your court documents are filed in a timely manner.
Third, establish a professional and friendly relationship with the word processing department. It is a common practice in law to work around the clock to meet deadlines. Most law firms have an in-house word processing center that operates 24 hours. The word processing department helps assist attorneys and secretaries with complex documents and overflow work. Developing a friendly professional relationship with this department will ensure that your documents are turned around expeditiously.
Fourth, do your timesheets every day. Developing this habit early will make certain that you are accurately billing for your time. Your billable hours determines your bonus, raise and whether you are headed on partner track. Many new associates are negligent in this area, which is why law firms have implemented penalties, such as withholding checks and charging fines. So start out on the right path and record your time daily.
Fifth, respect, respect, respect. Staff employees understand your dedication and diligence in pursuing a legal career and don’t need a constant reminder that you are an attorney. You will find that giving respect to the staff can gain you access to many resources. You don’t want to be labeled a “scrooge” because it will slow down your production.