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She is probably sleeping with the managing partner at the firm and she is untouchable!!!!! You should hire me instead. I've been a legal assistant for the past 35 years and know the importance of calendaring. Call me at (917) 969-0994 so that we can discuss my background. I am located in New York City. Thank you and have a great day!
I think you're right. I've seen that quite a few times. Either that or she's got a few other partners to work for and just doesn't have time for a needy associate.
It sounds like she’s doing an amazing job for the partner she’s working with and why she appears to not be getting consequences. I’d be careful going after a partner’s assistant - especially if she’s been with them a long time. I worked with partners that were very trial heavy and demanding. I also had a *baby* associate because they wouldn’t need assistance as much to try to even out my work load. He was very needy and couldn’t find his own paper clips. He was annoying and threw temper tantrums because he felt entitled to my assistance. The partners I worked with had a sit down with him and told him if he wasn’t bringing in enough business to pay for his own assistant, having my assistance was a perk. You should ask for a reassignment instead of trying to fix her. Also, don’t get her a Christmas gift if you don’t want to. It’s not expected. If she’s working with partners that like her work, they will cover it. As for how you are handling with management - be careful you aren’t labeled as a problem child. That’s not a good look either.
I agree 100%. I also commented about "needy" and "entitled" associates before I saw your comment.
Get her a calendar as a gift
Maybe they will get the hint or maybe that is the issue - too clueless
Forget the gift - how is she still employed with your firm if she’s this problematic?
My secretary takes two week to save a document. She will never be fired. 🤷🏻
Don’t get her a gift. It’s really weird that non owners of a firm are expected to buy gifts for fellow employees.
Send Venmo request to her
Lol
The better question is why is she still your legal assistant if it’s not working out? This definitely sounds like it’s not only bad for you but bad for the firm and bad for the clients. If you have it talked to your boss about this- do it!
I'd also suggest provding a turn-around date/time for any assignments, put it on both of your calendars. She can always field the assignments out if she is swamped. Or course, that's assuming the firm has support for support ... shocking how many mid-size firm's make poor pairings, ask LA's to over extend themselves, and offer zero backup ... let alone battle pay for unduly heavy workloads. Also, you should be copied on every outgoing email as backup to the filing system.
Yep, I tell her when something is due and what tasks to prioritize. Things still don't get done.
No way are you an ahole. I've been a legal assistant for 35 years, the last 20 for a solo practitioner and I can tell you that there are nights I can't sleep thinking of all my deadlines and what needs to get done the next day. I would be devastated if I missed a deadline or my boss missed a hearing, meeting, etc. I hope you find a good assistant soon!
To continue my above response, after 20 years with my boss, (being legal secretary, paralegal, bookkeeper, receptionist, errand runner, etc.) he is now retiring and I'm going to be out of a job. I've interviewed at 4 personal injury firms , which is all I have ever done, and I can't get hired anywhere. No one wants to pay a decent salary for someone with my experience. I'm not perfect, but they are all passing by an employee who would be loyal, hardworking and a great team member over a few dollars an hour. Makes me sad.
Why is she still your assistant if she doesn’t do her job? Management needs to step up and do their job by either getting rid of her completely or assign her to someone else.
I truly don't know. There have been multiple blow ups because she didn't do what I told her to do. There's a certain client that complains about me an awful lot and a lot of it is because things on the case are forever pending because of my assistant. I have to spend a lot of non billable time tracking all my emails and then looking at the file to see if something got done, and then follow up with her. It's a lot of micro managing.
Rising Star
When it doesn't make economic sense, firms and companies will do layoffs in a heartbeat, but when someone is just bad at their job why is it so hard to just fire them?
This is true!
Not getting her a gift is a good way to guarantee the relationship continues to sour. I may be the lone voice with this opinion on this comment chain, but it's a small gesture that may go a long way in mending the relationship. You may want to think about anything you have done to cause the relationship to sour the way that it has; there's two sides to every story. Someone has to be the bigger person and make the first move towards something better.
Best response here.
I'd say getting to keep her job would be Christmas gift enough! Actually, why don't you let her go NOW before the holidays. Hire someone who would appreciate the opportunity and who KNOWs how to talk with clients and how to support YOU! YOU are the one taking the risks. She does not deserve to work for you another day!!! There are a lot of paralegals out there would love to work for you and your clients! And, they would be really good a what they do too!
Take the high road. She must be doing a more than adequate job for the partner. You can also bet she is unhappy as well and discussing any blowups (never acceptable) with HR. Why not just ask for a different LA? Cite a poor pairing based on the other attys' workloads.
Don’t give her a gift. She’s supposed to make the work EASIER for you, not more difficult. Hopefully, you can get a different assistant who suits your needs better!
I would not give them anything as they truly do not deserve it. And if their review is prior to the holidays, then be direct and to the point and maybe not getting a gift will light a fire under their ass to improve.
If I didn't get a gift, I certainly wouldn't try harder.
If you want an excellent legal assistant, I am looking. 30 years experience. And when I worked for associates I got them a gift lol...nothing crazy just a bottle of wine or something.
Hire me as a legal assistant I have the credentials!
Long shot but if you are hiring remotely, I have 5 years experience and have managed three different calendars and five attorneys at one time.
I doubt she thinks you will and based on what you said, I wouldn't! And definitely not a calendar. Lol. Its passive aggressive and she will make an issue of it. I was in a similar situation but not as bad where I wasn't being respected because I was still new. I think you should be respectful and do the job no matter who you are assigned to. New or someone who has been there for longer. Don't feel bad. Sounds like she's the jerk here. Not you!