Surviving and Thriving in the Law Office

by Hughes, Richard L.

• ISBN13: 9781401838966
• ISBN10: 1401838960
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-08-02
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

The author of this guide on paralegal career success brings to it a unique perspective as a former supervising attorney who now is a paralegal educator. This publication gives paralegals and those studying the profession an inside look at what law offices look for in their paralegal staff. Readers not only learn from the attorney/author, they also get first-hand advice from paralegals through the Paralegal Perspective feature. Readers will learn the answers to such questions as How do I know if the job is right for me? How important is salary? Once on the job, how do I make a positive impression? How can I produce high-quality work? and How can I advance professionally? A sample paralegal resume and cover letter with comments about their development round out this highly useful resource.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xv
Preface	xvii
Part I Setting Goals: What Should You Expect From a Paralegal Career?
Chapter 1 Why Have Goals?	3	(12)
A Career Is Too Important to Leave to Chance	4	(1)
Why Employees Fail	4	(4)
Fear of Failure	4	(1)
Fear of Success	5	(2)
Those Who Don't Know Why They Are in the Legal Profession	7	(1)
Goals Cause the Behavior Needed to be Successful	8	(4)
Goals Are a Road Map to Success	8	(1)
Prepare Before You Go on the Career Trip	9	(1)
How Career Goals Make a Difference in Real Situations	10	(2)
Goals Are a Measuring Stick for Success	12	(1)
Chapter Summary	13	(2)
Chapter 2 What Should Your Goals Be?	15	(19)
Your Goals Should Be Your Own	16	(6)
An Example of the Importance of Setting Your Own Career Goals	20	(2)
You Cannot Afford a Poor Job Situation	22	(1)
Goals Should Be Specific	23	(1)
Self-Assessment Is Critical	24	(2)
Your Paralegal Education Is an Example of Specific Goal Setting	26	(2)
Setting Time Frames Is Important	28	(1)
How High Should You Set the Bar?	29	(2)
Proper Application of Goal Setting Will Guide You	29	(1)
Aim High in Setting Goals	30	(1)
Chapter Summary	31	(3)
Chapter 3 Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals?	34	(22)
You Can't Achieve Success by Yourself:;	35	(3)
You Did Not Accomplish Your Achievements Alone	35	(1)
Learning the Hard Way	36	(2)
Your Inner Circle	38	(9)
Tailor Your Inner Circle to Your Abilities and Goals	38	(2)
Sources of Inner Circle Members	40	(3)
Inner Circle Members Must Be Positive People	43	(2)
Don't Let Pride Stand in Your Way	45	(2)
Beyond the Inner Circle: Others Who Can Help	47	(4)
Coworkers	47	(2)
Current and Former College Professors	49	(1)
Court Personnel	49	(1)
Incidental Legal Profession Members	50	(1)
People Unrelated to the Legal Profession	51	(1)
Establishing Professional Relationships Is an Ongoing Process	51	(1)
Chapter Summary	52	(4)
Chapter 4 What Is Possible in the Paralegal Profession?	56	(19)
How Do I Evaluate Salary and Benefits?	57	(8)
Minimum Salary Requirements	57	(3)
The True Price of a Salary	60	(1)
Salary Structure Versus Starting Salary	61	(1)
The Whole Package	62	(1)
Lies, Darn Lies, and Statistics	63	(1)
The Role Money Should Play in Decision Making	64	(1)
How Much Can I Make?	65	(2)
How High Can I Go?	67	(3)
Chapter Summary	70	(5)
Part II Beyond Survival-How to Thrive as a Paralegal
Chapter 5 Getting Off to a Good Start	75	(18)
First Impressions Are Important	76	(5)
Steps to Creating a Positive First Impression	77	(3)
How to Correct a Poor First Impression	80	(1)
What to Do Before Your First Day on the Job	81	(3)
Getting Off to a Great Start	82	(2)
What to Expect the First Day, Week, Month and Year	84	(6)
Your First Day	84	(2)
Your First Week	86	(2)
Your First Month	88	(1)
Your First Year	89	(1)
Chapter Summary	90	(3)
Chapter 6 What Is Important to a Law Firm?	93	(19)
Knowing What Is Important...Is Important	94	(1)
Clients Are Important	94	(3)
Fees Are Important	97	(6)
Hourly Fees	98	(1)
Flat Fees	99	(2)
Transactional and Contingency Fees	101	(2)
Status, Prestige and Reputation Are Important	103	(1)
Your Time Is Important	104	(2)
You Are Important	106	(3)
Chapter Summary	109	(3)
Chapter 7 Handling the Dreaded Billable Hour	112	(10)
What Are Billable Hours, and Why Are They Important?	113	(1)
A Word About Ethics	113	(2)
How to Achieve Billable Hour Success	115	(3)
Don't Become Obsessed	118	(1)
Chapter Summary	119	(3)
Chapter 8 How to Manage your Workload	122	(19)
How to Approach Your Workload	123	(7)
Treat Every Hour as If It Is the Last Hour of the Day	123	(1)
Never Forget the Value of Time	123	(1)
Do Every Assignment as If the Boss Were Watching	124	(1)
View Your Work in Segments	125	(2)
Pressure Is a Motivator	127	(1)
Recognize How Much You Have Yet to Learn	127	(2)
Keep a Proper Perspective	129	(1)
Prioritize by Due Date, Assignor, and Nature of Assignment	130	(7)
By Due Date	130	(3)
By Assignor	133	(2)
By Nature of the Assignment	135	(2)
What to Do If You Are Unable to Finish Your Work on Time	137	(1)
Chapter Summary	138	(3)
Chapter 9 What Kinds of Assignments Can You Expect?	141	(13)
Transactional Versus Litigation Assignments	142	(4)
Differences Between Transactional and Litigation Work	143	(2)
Typical Transactional and Litigation Assignments	145	(1)
Nonlegal Assignments	146	(2)
How to Turn In High-Quality Work	148	(3)
Understand the Assignment	148	(1)
Don't Reinvent the Wheel	148	(1)
Do It Right the First Time	149	(1)
Use the English Language Correctly	149	(1)
Proofread Your Work Carefully	149	(1)
Cite to the Law Correctly	149	(1)
Use the Best Secondary Legal Resources Available	150	(1)
Consider Your Audience	150	(1)
Anticipate Your Future Needs	150	(1)
Chapter Summary	151	(3)
Chapter 10 Where Do You Go For Help?	154	(8)
Whom to Seek Out and Whom to Stay Away From	155	(4)
Other Paralegals in the Office	155	(1)
Attorneys in the Office	156	(2)
Legal Secretaries	158	(1)
Other Resources That May Help	159	(1)
Chapter Summary	159	(3)
Chapter 11 Communication: Coworkers, Clients, the Court, and Other Firms	162	(16)
Coworkers: What They Like and Don't Like	163	(1)
Communicate in Direct, Plain Language	163	(8)
Never Forget to Be Courteous	163	(1)
Tell the Truth	164	(1)
Be a Good Listener	165	(3)
Think Before You Respond	168	(1)
Limit Your Response	168	(1)
Know Your Purpose	169	(1)
Have a Sense of Humor	170	(1)
Clients: Don't Assume Anything	171	(1)
The Court: Courtesy and Helpfulness Are the Keys	172	(2)
Other Firms: Minefields Everywhere	174	(1)
Chapter Summary	175	(3)
Chapter 12 Office Politics: Danger Lurking Around Every Corner	178	(9)
Politics Exists in Every Office	179	(3)
Office Politics Will Always Exist	180	(1)
Relationships Are Important	180	(2)
Office Politics Ebb and Flow	182	(1)
Don't Be a Gambler; Play It Safe	182	(2)
When It Is Necessary to Be Involved	183	(1)
When Not to Become Involved	184	(1)
Chapter Summary	184	(3)
Chapter 13 How to Know What You Are Worth	187	(14)
Economics-A Dismal But Necessary Science	188	(3)
The Market's Influence on Pay and Benefits	191	(2)
Noneconomic Factors Firms Consider	193	(1)
How to Ask for a Raise	194	(4)
Be Prepared Before You Ask	195	(1)
Don't Confront	195	(1)
Good Timing Is Essential	196	(1)
Don't Procrastinate	196	(1)
Be Positive	197	(1)
Be Persistent	197	(1)
Chapter Summary	198	(3)
Chapter 14 The Importance of Growing Professionally	201	(10)
What Does It Mean to "Grow Professionally"?	202	(1)
Job Security and Advancement	203	(2)
Using Your Inner Circle	205	(1)
Chapter Summary	206	(5)
Part III Taking Stock of Your Paralegal Career
Chapter 15 Achieving Professional and Personal Balance	211	(8)
Is It Just About Money?	212	(1)
Steps to a Happy, Successful, and Balanced Career	213	(2)
You Are In a Marathon	215	(2)
Chapter Summary	217	(2)
Chapter 16 Staying Motivated: Keeping Your Career Interesting	219	(9)
Balance and Variety Are Important	220	(1)
Take Advantage of Opportunities Within Your Law Firm	220	(3)
Seek Out Continuing-Education Opportunities	223	(1)
Volunteer	224	(1)
Be a Regular Guest Speaker	224	(1)
Teach a Class	225	(1)
Chapter Summary	225	(3)
Chapter 17 Mission Accomplished: Now What?	228	(7)
Losing That "New" Tag	229	(1)
Now What Happens?	230	(1)
Looking Back and Looking Ahead	231	(1)
Chapter Summary	232	(3)
Appendix A Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Guidelines for Enforcement of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.	235	(14)
Appendix B Sample Resumé with Comments	249	(3)
Appendix C Sample Cover Letter with Comments	252	(6)
Appendix D Sample Thank You Letter with Comments	258	(1)
Appendix E Alternative and Nontraditional Career Resources	258