Even Lawyers Cry At Work Sometimes
*Just want to say that while I know many more people read than comment, I don't know if any legal secretaries are reading. If you are, and want me to post my notes on ECF filings, please comment and let me know to throw them up here.
Because Perky Paula left the firm, I've gotten her associate, a woman we'll call Sara-Elizabeth (thanks, L!), who is only one year older than I am, has a lisp (a lisp! I *love* lisps!), and is well-liked by everyone.
Well, not everyone. Initially this chick was hired to work with Bitch On Wheels. But that didn't work out. My guess is that Bitch On Wheels was, well, a bitch. Normally when an attorney is mean, they are only mean to support staff but rein in the cruelty when it comes to other attorneys. Not BOW though. She is an equal-opportunity screamer.
Sara-Elizabeth is one of those lawyers who you can tell gets a kick out of having a secretary. Not in a mean, power-gone-to-her-head way, but more in a "I'm going to make my secretary LOVE me!" kind of way. Today when I was walking by Sara-Elizabeth's office, she asked me to come in and close the door.
Sara-Elizabeth proceeded to tell me that this week seemed pretty slow, and she was going to take advantage of that by getting errands done, going to doctor's appointments, and generally not being in the office very much. And then, perhaps because I am such an easy person to talk with, Sara-Elizabeth decided to tell me about BOW. How she had to go to the other partners and tell them she couldn't work with BOW. How it was very hard, but she absolutely knows she made the right decision.
And then Sara-Elizabeth's face changed. Holy fuck, she was at that place - we've all been there. That place where if you say anything else, you will cry. I did not want her to cry on me. So I quickly said, "Yeah, I've had a couple of interactions with BOW." Sara-Elizabeth nodded, and the moment passed.
She explained that all the other attorneys know about how she went up against BOW, and now has to prove her credibility all over again. This means they are slow to give her work. Which means Sara Elizabeth isn't making her hours.
Best-case scenario when an attorney doesn't make their hours? They get little to no bonus. Worst-case? Fired. To say Sara-Elizabeth is stressed would be an understatement. I assured her we will turn work around quickly and make sure everything is perfect.
Ten minutes after I left Sara-Elizabeth's office, she came bounding down the hall with a pleading for me to revise. Glad one of the partner's decided to give her a chance.
Because Perky Paula left the firm, I've gotten her associate, a woman we'll call Sara-Elizabeth (thanks, L!), who is only one year older than I am, has a lisp (a lisp! I *love* lisps!), and is well-liked by everyone.
Well, not everyone. Initially this chick was hired to work with Bitch On Wheels. But that didn't work out. My guess is that Bitch On Wheels was, well, a bitch. Normally when an attorney is mean, they are only mean to support staff but rein in the cruelty when it comes to other attorneys. Not BOW though. She is an equal-opportunity screamer.
Sara-Elizabeth is one of those lawyers who you can tell gets a kick out of having a secretary. Not in a mean, power-gone-to-her-head way, but more in a "I'm going to make my secretary LOVE me!" kind of way. Today when I was walking by Sara-Elizabeth's office, she asked me to come in and close the door.
Sara-Elizabeth proceeded to tell me that this week seemed pretty slow, and she was going to take advantage of that by getting errands done, going to doctor's appointments, and generally not being in the office very much. And then, perhaps because I am such an easy person to talk with, Sara-Elizabeth decided to tell me about BOW. How she had to go to the other partners and tell them she couldn't work with BOW. How it was very hard, but she absolutely knows she made the right decision.
And then Sara-Elizabeth's face changed. Holy fuck, she was at that place - we've all been there. That place where if you say anything else, you will cry. I did not want her to cry on me. So I quickly said, "Yeah, I've had a couple of interactions with BOW." Sara-Elizabeth nodded, and the moment passed.
She explained that all the other attorneys know about how she went up against BOW, and now has to prove her credibility all over again. This means they are slow to give her work. Which means Sara Elizabeth isn't making her hours.
Best-case scenario when an attorney doesn't make their hours? They get little to no bonus. Worst-case? Fired. To say Sara-Elizabeth is stressed would be an understatement. I assured her we will turn work around quickly and make sure everything is perfect.
Ten minutes after I left Sara-Elizabeth's office, she came bounding down the hall with a pleading for me to revise. Glad one of the partner's decided to give her a chance.
Labels: Bitch On Wheels (BOW), Sara-Elizabeth, Work
posted by Green at 4/01/2008 08:22:00 PM
6 Comments:
Law firms are such strange environments. If attorneys show weakness, the senior partners make their lives even worse. I am shocked that an associate spoke up against a more senior attorney. I am not surprised at all at the treatment she received. Kinda sick that we just shrug it off. Poor girl.
huh... Law firms are so NOT Ally McBeal happy. Seriously, there are NO dancing babies. Is that how it works - associate attorneys have to wait for more senior attorneys to throw them a bone? Harsh, harsh...
Glad she has a project - dude, I've had SO many of those moments lately. Once, I called someone and couldn't speak for the longest time... meanwhile the other person was imagining the worst scenarios.
I know this world all too well. But it wath never tho thpectacular ath theeing thomeone with a lithp in the offith.
If she gets fired, I smell a lawsuit!
Are you sure you're not writing about me? (except I wouldn't have stood up to BOW)
I'm glad you have a nice associate to work with. I dread the moment when nice young associates become aged tyrants. It seems inevitable given the nature of the profession.
Wojapi
I second the Ally McBeal comment! Too many people have the perception that working in a law firm is a glamorous, exciting job. Exciting? Maybe. Sometimes. Glamorous? Hell no! I blame Hollywood.
BTW: I've yet to meet an attorney who looks like he just stepped out of LA Law and I've been working in this biz for 12 years now.
Good luck with Sara-Elizabeth.
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