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Are you a woman? If so then you’re being treated like a secretary - no offense to secretaries but a male partner would not ask a male associate to do this.
I get these “assignments” from both male and female lawyers. You’d think that female lawyers would know better but they don’t. Sometimes they’re worse. I share the same assistant as a young female partner and she continuously tells me to do this stuff rather than just giving it to our assistant.
More data needed. How big is your firm? Are you in a major city or small town? Have you spoken with the partners supervising you about cutting your teeth on more substantive work? Have you talked to more senior associates in your firm about how it worked for them so that you can compare your experience?
It's a big firm, 200+ lawyers, team has 30 people. I spoke to some more senior associates and they do say that its this one case that I'm on is particularly document heavy, but they also do printing binding etc on a smaller scale, even those with 3-5 years of experience, as we tend to be short of secretarial help. I get the feeling it might be a culture thing as many have left - I'm curious if it's like that in most other firms.
Rising Star
9 months in? Sounds like you’re doing trial prep, which isn’t a bad thing so long as you get to see the fruits of your labor (sitting in the gallery during the trial or even second seating it). A lot of prep goes into trials and it’s common for the handling attorney to have a newer associate dive into the process including making trial binders and analytics depending on the type of case. It is meant to help you learn what is necessary to develop the case and get it ready for trial/arbs.
If what I said above isn’t reflective of the work you’re doing then you’re doing secretary work, which is not what you went to law school for. A conversation should be had about expectations moving forward.
Yes, we have a trial coming, so a lot of it is trial prep (E.g. The reviewing documents and making tables). And I guess yeah the binding and printing too. But even at the start when we had client meetings or hearings I would be asked to book the meeting rooms, get stationery, etc. There are two partners, and the female partner will flip if there aren't pens and paper for her hahaha....
Maybe we'll see after the trial :) though I'm quite tired of this... thanks for your input!
I'm a male and I think saying I'm too good for this or that is a bad move. Yes, I went to law school to do things more advanced but some of this is too advanced for Paras so junior lawyers get it. I do it and bill for it too. Its billable don't complain. I once got promoted because " I really like that you are willing to take on anything" meaning I did grunt work and work that I really didn't know how to do.
Thanks, good to hear this perspective!
We have 30 attorneys and associates would not typically do this work. Paras would. That being said, even partners are doing this work these days because work is so scattered and unpredictable. Perhaps they just want to make sure you get billable time and there isn’t enough legal work to go around. Whatever the reason, the experience isn’t bad. If it helps you later on to be better at providing direction to staff when you ask them to do the same types of work, then you’ll be better for it long term. Also, willingness to do what’s asked is better than saying, “I don’t want to do this.” So if you have a conversation with someone about this, make sure you phrase it in positive terms: “I’d really enjoy the opportunity to do more substantive work as well.” Don’t convey anything that might be interpreted as you being dissatisfied with the current arrangement or the work being beneath you.
Pro
Sounds like law clerk or paralegal work. It’s nonbill or low billable.