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How much do y’all spend on rent
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Do small law firms have paralegal managers?
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I definitely wouldn't leave without something else lined up in this economy. It sounds like you are burnt out and I definitely empathize with that, but I have a few friends who are looking for jobs and it's not going super great. If you do leave, definitely protect yourself and have something else ready for you first. I'm sorry you're dealing with all of that, it sounds stressful.
I completely get where you’re coming from. It sounds like you’re carrying way more than what’s reasonable for one person, especially handling trial cases on top of everything else. If you’re planning to leave, giving a one-month notice is perfectly professional, but two months would be generous, its not required unless you feel personally tied to easy their transition. Protect your energy. The firm chose to overload the team, and you don’t owe them your burnout in return.However, pleaseee... start planning on your next move, and applying right away. Being unemployed its a PAIN. haha
Is the boss in any talks of bringing more people on at all? I’d feel a lot better if instead of sympathy that they understand, they are actively doing something about it. I get not wanting to turn clients away, but in the end you start turning the people working for you away.
Sounds like you need to set boundaries. Start by making yourself unavailable even if it’s taking a vacation. Attorney will work the sh8t out of you if you let them. You and your mental health have to be priority. Start goofing up and making mistakes. Work late hours and charge a lot of overtime. They won’t like that but let them see you have to because they keep taking in new clients. Pace yourself when you work . You get things done on time and quickly that they think you can handle the overload of work. You need to display cracks so they can start seeing that you can’t handle the work. Then your boss will need to be more flexible and hire someone to help you. You need to manipulate the situation to get your way. Nothing wrong with this because you are being overworked and if you get another paralegal hired then you can stay. It’s better to try to work things out because the grass isn’t always greener. There are lots of crazy firms and attorneys out there. I left to a firm and the partner was very controlling. He nitpicked my billing and pretty much cancelled all of them out. Setting me up so I wouldn’t make my billing and not get a raise or bonus come the end of year. Try to work it out first and use strategy to get your way before thinking about jumping ship.
Hey there. Same boat here. Managing a support staff of about 6, plus supporting 2 attorneys and carrying a case load of about 75 cases (family law) with minimal admin credit. Feeling some heavy burnout. It got to the point that I had to ask for some scope and clarity in the expectations of my role. Bottom line is my perception (and everything I’ve read about a managing paralegal is not what this firm envisions for a managing paralegal and sad truth is, I still don’t know what the hell my role is. My loyalty remains to the attorneys I’m supporting more so than the firm otherwise I would leave without a second thought.
You too. Set boundaries. Use some tactics stop being perfect. Show cracks in your work product etc. If you want to see changes, they need to see changes in you and your work product. Meaning you have to intentionally make mistakes and take longer to complete assignments. Take vacations or sick days. The attorneys will notice it because they have grown accustomed to your personality and hardworking character. They will think the load is getting too much to handle for you so play the part and strategize and you should see changes.
Well, don't through in the towel yet. IF, you haven't left already. Consider this a learning and restructuring time. Is there something new you could learn to do with the trial cases? A way to make it better for everybody that the attorney would be happy about? Maybe your boss sees something valuable in you that you don't see in yourself yet.