Vent: Paralegal gone for a month

[Anonymous]

I'm an attorney in a small law firm with three attorneys and one paralegal/secretary. The paralegal is home in her home country for a month and boss won't hire a temp. So now I'm spending my days formatting documents and addressing envelopes and generally doing things that I didn't need to spend $90k to learn.

I know it's temporary, but my actual assigned work is going to start suffering if I spend all day answering the phone (which doesn't ring at my desk, so I have to run actoss the office to answer it) and scheduling things for the senior attorney.

Vent over.

[Anonymous]

I thought attorneys had been doing a lot of their own stuff for a while! You are lucky! Now go figure out how to forward the phone--that's a worthwhile change for a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought attorneys had been doing a lot of their own stuff for a while! You are lucky! Now go figure out how to forward the phone--that's a worthwhile change for a month.

The phone guy swears it can't be done.

I don't really mind doing my own stuff, which I do a good amount of. I do mind being turns into an admin for a senior attorney who has the power to bring in a temp (and, frankly, the ability to see what is on his own calendar.)

[Anonymous]

ooh yes. That part is not cool. Subtly push it back to him so you're taking care of you and he gets a taste of taking care of himself. Let us know how it goes!

[Anonymous]

You might want to email her and your boss letting her know how much you appreciate her and hope she comes back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might want to email her and your boss letting her know how much you appreciate her and hope she comes back.

Great idea!

Not sure if it does but I didn't want this post to come off as if I think admin work is beneath me - it's actually the opposite. I don't know how she keeps up all day.

[Anonymous]

what are the consequences if you let that work slide and focused on your own stuff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what are the consequences if you let that work slide and focused on your own stuff?

Boss would probably miss deadlines with court.

[Anonymous]

You sound annoying. If that is the job you got, you make do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what are the consequences if you let that work slide and focused on your own stuff?

+1 I would stop answering every phone call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound annoying. If that is the job you got, you make do.

It's not the job I got. The job I got was being an attorney, not cleaning up after my boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound annoying. If that is the job you got, you make do.

Not OP but you are an ass. Why can't the guy hire a temp? Ridiculous. I'll come down and do it but I require payment.

[Anonymous]

OP. Are you the only woman? If so, honey YOU are the temp. That's what your Sr. Partner has decided...

It's not right, but my money's on that...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound annoying. If that is the job you got, you make do.

It's not the job I got. The job I got was being an attorney, not cleaning up after my boss.

Meant the tiny firm.

[Anonymous]

OP are you a woman? Sounds like a sexist mentality to me. You're a woman, therefore you should have no problem doing the admin work even though you have your own job.