Paralegals
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Biglaw, Bonuses, California, Cheapness, Money, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants
Is the Staff Getting the Short End of the Stick at Baker & McKenzie?
Without paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries, clerks, and receptionists, the entire Biglaw model could come to a screeching halt. That being said, we were a little bit shocked when we learned about what is allegedly happening at one of the world's largest law firms, Baker & McKenzie. Apparently some members of the support staff aren't getting the kind of support they need.... -
Email Scandals, Law Schools, Paralegals, Texas
Deep in the Heart of Texas, Where Lawyers Go to School to Become Paralegals
Many law school graduates are wondering how they can make themselves more marketable in light of their dismal job prospects. Hell, even graduates from elite law schools are having trouble finding jobs these days. What can these would-be lawyers do to help themselves land a respectable job? Some of these people are actually so desperate […] - Sponsored
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Education / Schools, Job Searches, Money, Paralegals
The Value of a Paralegal Degree: Experts Weigh In
One week ago, in our advice column, Pls Hndle Thx, Marin and Elie tackled the topic of paralegal education. The question presented: the usefulness of an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Paralegal Studies in securing gainful employment as a paralegal. For the record, Pls Hndle Thx should not be viewed as a straight-up advice […]
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Education / Schools, Paralegals, pls hndle thx
Pls Hndle Thx: A Degree More Useless Than a J.D.?
Ed. note: Have a question for next week? Send it in to advice@abovethelaw.com. Dear ATL, I just received my A.A. in Paralegal Studies. Will this be useful at all? How do attorneys view paralegals? I don’t need an attorney to like me. I just need one to pay me. — Wrong Kind of Associate Dear Wrong […] -
Advertising, Biglaw, Career Center, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants, Shameless Plugs, This Is an Ad
How to Become an (Almost) Indispensable Junior Associate (Part 3)
In parts one and two of the Career Center “Tip of the Day” series, focused on how junior associates can become more indispensable to their law firms, we covered the importance of taking ownership of your work and becoming an expert in your field. Today, we’ll discuss effective management strategies you can use to not […] -
Biglaw, Holidays and Seasons, Money, Paralegals, Reader Polls, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants, Shopping, Shopping For Others
Holiday Gifts for Your Secretary / Administrative Staff: Open Thread
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… for a legal secretary / administrative assistant. Law firm partners are getting their end-of-year distributions, associates are getting their bonuses, and some of this bounty will be shared with their secretaries, in the form of Christmas — er, holiday — gifts. What should you get your secretary […] -
Attorney Misconduct, Depositions, Legal Ethics, Paralegals, Weirdness
Will Footsies During a Deposition Lead to Sanctions?
A pair of motions are bouncing around email inboxes this week, thanks to the “foot-tapping lawyer.” (This has nothing to do with Larry Craig, so read on without fear.) It all started in July, when Florida law firm Rasco Klock sent a paralegal to Wilmington for a deposition. The firm is representing a plaintiff suing […] -
Biglaw, Paralegals
One Way to Pad Your Hours: Picking Up Dry Cleaning
I take the 4/5/6 to work every morning. Usually the trip is uneventful by New York City standards — just a collection of mariachi bands and homeless people who loudly state their intention not to bother me. Occasionally, people break the cardinal rule of subway etiquette and make direct eye contact: but I can’t tell […] - Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so… -
Biglaw, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants, Shopping, Shopping For Others
Happy Administrative Professionals Week!
Administrative Professionals Week is upon us — ignore it at your peril. While senior partners might be able to pass the week off with a slap on the bum for a job well done, the associates among you would be wise to throw some cash at those who make your office run. The official day […] -
Boutique Law Firms, Email Scandals, Paralegals
When Paralegals Burn Bridges
Here at Above the Law, we’re used to seeing funny and fiery departure memos. But the one we were forwarded last night is truly a special treat. Here’s the set up. The memo comes out of a small firm in the Atlanta area. It was written by a paralegal — we’ll call her “Blaze of […] -
Gay, Law Schools, Paralegals, Pornography, Sex
Politics Professor Pesters Paralegal Cum Porn Star
There are significant similarities between the legal profession and the gay porn industry (which are not mutually exclusive, of course). Here are some thoughts on the subject from Queerty: We’re not sure which is harder: working in law or working in gay porn. They’re both very competitive, require working closely with pricks, and their rough, […] -
Biglaw, Holidays and Seasons, Money, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants, Shopping, Shopping For Others
Open Thread: Making the Holidays Happy for Your Secretary / Administrative Staff
It’s that time of the year again, says one ATL reader: now would be a good time for the old “how much are you giving your secretaries for the holidays?” story It’s customary for associates at large law firms to give a cash gift to their administrative assistants, often along with a card or small […] -
Biglaw, Layoffs, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants, Staff Layoffs
Staff Layoff Watch: WilmerHale Lays Off 57 Staffers
We don’t have all of the details, but multiple sources report that WilmerHale is laying off 57 staffers today (secretaries and paralegals). We understand that the staff is being informed right now. We don’t have information about what (if any) severance package is being offered to the departed staff. Our sources report that the layoffs […]
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so…
Sponsored
Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar on April 10th, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm.
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Bad Ideas, Paralegals, Sex Scandals, Violence
Legal Love Triangle We Wish We Hadn't Heard About
Stalking, cat fights, cheating, assault, and a secret marriage. This is the scandalous news out of Vinton, Virginia (pop: 7,782) this week, thanks to a lawyer-lawyer-paralegal love triangle. If you surf over to WDBJ to check out the tale, we advise watching the video and skipping the transcribed broadcast. It hurt our head to translate […] -
Career Alternatives, Job Searches, Paralegals
Can't find work? Paralegal for Weil Gotshal
The legal job market is a little dicey right now, leading some law grads to question the worth of their shiny new J.D. degree. Suffolk Law grads — and not just the ones who can’t get dates — are really questioning the value of their degrees, after an ill-timed job advertisement from Weil Gotshal & […] -
Paralegals, Salary Freeze, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants
O'Melveny Freezes Staff Salaries to July 2010
At what point does a salary freeze start to feel like a salary cut? Staff at O’Melveny & Myers are about to find out. O’Melveny just announced a new salary ice-age for its staff. Above the Law obtained this internal memo sent to O’Melveny staffers: We are committed to taking proactive steps to maintain our […] -
Guantanamo Bay, Morning Docket, Paralegals, Sarbanes-Oxley / Sarbox / SOX, SCOTUS
Morning Docket 5.19.09
* A word of advice to the new summer associates: Paralegals can’t be trusted. [Legal Intelligencer] * SCOTUS dismissed the lawsuit that sought to punish top Bush officials, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft, for detaining Muslims that were not involved in 9-11. [Christian Science Monitor] * Military commission trials for Guantanamo detainees present many […]
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Feminism, Gender, Media and Journalism, Paralegals
Magazines for Paralegals and Female Litigators Still Chugging
Times are tough for we media folk these days. Newspapers across the country are declaring bankruptcy, magazines are dying, and Atlantic Magazine has even predicted the end of the New York Times. Given the challenging environment for journalism, we thought you might be worried about the fates of Sue: For Women in Litigation and KNOW: […] -
Biglaw, Holidays and Seasons, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants
Further Thoughts: The Time for Giving (to your Secretary/Administrative Staff)
Last week, we posted an open thread to discuss end-of-the-year gift giving to your secretary and/or paralegal. We’ve waded through the many comments to fish out some points of consensus. A few secretaries appeared on the thread to urge associates to give cash or an AmEx/Visa gift card equivalent, and not a gift card to […] -
Biglaw, Bonuses, Holidays and Seasons, Money, Paralegals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants
Open Thread: The Time for Giving (to your Secretary/Administrative Staff)
With the holidays two weeks away, many are starting to think about the frantic search for gifts for loved ones… and loved support staff. A Consumer Reports survey indicates that 76% of Americans will cut back on gift giving this year. Surprise, surprise. But what does it mean for planning your gift for your secretary […]