Our new office manager keeps referring to paralegals and admins as non-legal personnel. I’ve been a certified paralegal for ten years. I prep trials, manage filings, and handle client communications like a machine and I’m done being treated like I’m not part of the legal team. But I also don’t want to come off defensive or petty. How do you push back on language like this?

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Every time you hear the new office manager say that correct them with "non-lawyer or legal support staff/ personnel". Let them know that their terminology is inaccurate and somewhat offensive.
I had a conversation with an associate attorney who called everyone a legal assistant- they genuinely did not know that there was a difference between an L.A., legal secretary, paraprofessional, and paralegal. Some don't know that there is also a vast difference between a paralegal who has their paralegal degree and their paralegal certificate. Once I informed them of the difference, they made a concentrated effort to be accurate while addressing those roles and titles.
An office manager, presumably involved in HR, shoul be accurate with their terminology.

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She probably means non-lawyer personnel. Next time she says it around you, just mention it in a non-arrogant way. “Do you mean non-lawyer personnel? Because we’re all legal personnel.” If she keeps saying it, just ignore it.

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Who cares? Do you get paid properly? Which one you prefer: A. Being called a legal professional but paid poorly or B. Being called an admin staff but paid above market? Paralegals at my firm make minimum and a partner describes them as “cleaning people at Central Park have very minimal value in our life.” Thats more pathetic.

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How does that language really affect you though? Like is it affecting your relationships with clients or something? I don't think it would really bother me as a general rule.

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If you are looking for some kind of respect you are in the wrong line of work. I do this job for money…period. Not looking for friends and I honestly do not want to participate in after hours BS. If you are happy with the cash roll with it. If not find a place that pays and quit but don’t expect any place, at least in BL, to be any different.

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I think I wouldn't say anything. I feel your pain. I get included on emails to "all secretaries." I wanted to raise a ruckus about it when I first started but then just let it go and ignored the emails because I'm sure nobody would want to deal with it and it would be taken as petty. Also, office managers will always think they are better than you despite that never being the case in my experience. In their minds it's attorneys, them and then everyone else. Bless them.

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