The Estrin Report

New Survey Says Paralegal Position Perfect for Introverts - Huh????

I've heard everything now.  According to an aol article (yes, aol.com), about the top ten positions perfect for introverts, the paralegal position is right up there with graphic artist and civil engineer.  Huh????

Here is what the article states:

"As an introvert, finding a position where you can really shine while working on individual projects can seem challenging. But with some research, you'll find plenty of positions where your skills and personal contributions are valued. Many jobs include opportunities for some teamwork as well as the kind of independent work that allows introverts to recharge. No matter which industry you consider, companies are eager for self-starters who are able to work independently."

Well, that much is true.  You need to be a self-starter, able to be a good team player and work independently.  But if you need to do a lot of teamwork, that means interfacing with other team members which to me means interaction.  Interaction/Introvert...hmmm.......Interaction/Introvert.....does that seem compatible to you? 

I guess if you're stuck in a basement donning the latest in hazmat wear while combing through documents looking for insurance policies from 1948, being an introvert might be a good thing. I'll give them that.

Here is what they say that paralegals do:

Paralegal

Average annual salary: $62,853

Paralegals often draft contracts, do research and sift through records. The job is rewarding for those who love research and don't need the buzz of constant interaction with a team. Since some guidance is provided, the career is a great stepping-stone to other areas of the legal field.

Oh, hmmm...what happened to works independently, needs to be a teamplayer?  Provides a great stepping-stone to other areas of the legal field.  Well, that much is true, too.

However, just about all paralegals I know do very little legal research.  The reason?  Attorneys generally do not trust paralegals to perform legal research.  Heck, they barely trust associates to do it.  Where do people get their information?  

The paralegal job is for an introvert?  You need to work with attorneys and other paralegals.  That hardly makes you an introvert.  Have you ever confronted an attorney who is clawing at the windows in a desperate attempt to get his work immediately?  That doesn't exactly inspire an  introvert to take this job.  What about a nervous client chewing the phone lines up as she reaches out to you for an update on her case because the last time she was able to get the attorney on the line was 1998?  An introvert would run, fast, the other way.      

Maybe I'm wrong.  Readers?  Would you say you're an introvert, extrovert or a combination of both?

"Commentary: A Career Not Measured in Billable Hours"

Author Debra Bruno (Special Reports Editor at Legal Times), ponders some interesting questions in this Law.com article:

"I grew up the child of teachers. Besides learning the obvious lack-of-privacy lessons ('Does your father know you left the house in that outfit?' my high school history teacher once muttered to me), I also internalized the idea that in the working world, people get home every day at 4 p.m. and have summers off. To this day, it feels to me as if spending a beautiful summer afternoon sitting in an air-conditioned office goes against the natural order.

"I'm getting a sense that more and more people are on the same page -- or a nearby one. Don't we all want more time away from work?

"Yet at the same time, the office seems to be increasing its demands on our hours. One of the stickiest elements of the traditional working world is the often intractable and sometimes irrational insistence that people put in plenty of face time. The problem is especially acute in law firms -- places where associates [& paralegals?] actually worry about taking a 10-minute bathroom break. (Is it billable?) It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see a link between attrition and the legal world's obsession with the clock.

[snip]

"'But are the law firms listening? They have done a brilliant job of creating initiatives with fancy-sounding names. More than one firm boasts that it offers flexible schedules, sabbatical time and varieties of telecommuting. Press releases tout all these wonderful programs. But try to find a lawyer who's made partner and worked a truly part-time schedule: It's about as rare as getting a seat on the bus at rush hour."

"How to Treat the Touchy Colleague"

Ah, I'm sure every reader has run across such situations. Good news -- this Business Week article offers helpful advice:

"Sometimes, even casual exchanges can set co-workers off. When you hit a nerve, learn from the experience instead of snapping back

"It's pleasant to walk into the office on a sunny morning and hear 'Good morning!' from your cheerful co-workers. It's something else entirely to say 'Good morning' to a colleague and be met with 'Keep your good morning to yourself!' But that's what happened to a friend of mine at work not long ago. Talk about a hostile work environment!

[snip]

"As we all know, there are people who are always in a sour mood and never fail to let people know it. Fair enough—if you know that John is evil on Mondays or that Janice gets cranky after lunchtime, you can avoid those people as much as possible at those times. What can take you by surprise is people's hidden sensitivities."

The complete article offers several useful tips.

Author "Liz Ryan is an expert on the new-millennium workplace, a former Fortune 500 HR executive and the author of Happy About Online Networking: the Virtual-ly Simple Way to Build Professional Relationships. "

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

So, what do you do for this big day? Take your kids to work? Does your firm or company participate? 

"Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day has grown from a modest scope in its pilot year to include businesses large and small, unions, hospitals, manufacturing plants, arts groups, social agencies, schools and government offices. The latter list has included NASA, the CIA, the courts and legislative bodies.

"This year, the U.S. Senate expects 300 participants. That body now has 16 female senators. Fifteen years ago, it had two.

"Some workplaces simply invite employees to have their children, or someone else's, shadow them for the day. Others hold organized activities.

[snip]

"The law firm Cohen & Grigsby, which has held events on and off over the years, will introduce about 50 children to a range of careers, including paralegal, accountant and technology expert. They'll also visit the courtroom of Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Christine Ward."

"Quick naps do the job at this law firm"

Calling all workaholics! Be smart & take some time off for a rejuvenating nap..at work!

"The Power Room at one Raleigh law office isn't a place where high-profile deals get done or important meetings occur.

"It's for snoozing.

"As workers log in longer hours, there is increasing interest in the revitalizing power of naps. One company in New York sells 20- minute sessions in nap pods. A recent study in Greece showed that regular naps can reduce the risk of heart attacks.

"Honestly, who hasn't had stressful workdays when an afternoon siesta would have hit the spot?

"Put the partners at Kilpatrick Stockton in the pro-nap camp."

Entertainment paralegal with autistic son makes film

Documentaries focus on insiders' view of autism [registration req'd], including a film made by a paralegal:

"When Taylor Cross was 14, he told his mother he wanted to earn money to pay for the Christmas gifts they planned to give a needy family.

"Keri Bowers was moved by her son's display of empathy. Cross was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at age 6 and struggles with social skills. Bowers suggested household chores he could do to earn the money.

"No way, he said. He wanted to make a movie and sell it.

"No way, she said. As a paralegal in the entertainment industry in California, she feared the venture would flop.

"In the end, the mother and son collaborated on Normal People Scare Me, a documentary on people with autism. Its success led to a second documentary, Sandwich Kids, for siblings of people with disabilities."

New Career for Paralegal: Jazz Singer

Talk about making a huge career change! Of course, it's good to follow a dream whenever you can:

"She’s not yet well known as a performer among Twin Cities jazz audiences but that’s beginning to change. Over a decade ago, Rhonda Laurie gave up a career as a full-time paralegal/part-time vocalist to become a fulltime music educator and performer, and 'never looked back.' Having performed recently at the Dakota and Rossi’s in the heart of Minneapolis, Rhonda now brings her savvy interpretation of jazz classics and less familiar repertoire to Excelsior at the 318 Café on April 10th, accompanied by one of the area’s most distinctive guitarists, Joel Shapira.

[snip]

"After high school graduation, however, Rhonda was persuaded by her parents to pursue something more practical than show business. While completing her degree in pre-law at SUNY-Buffalo, however, she continued to take classes in art and dance, and even had some singing gigs in local bars. Still thinking about law school, Rhonda obtained training as a paralegal after graduation, and soon found herself working on Wall Street. Yet, 'I knew something was missing.' An 'Open U' class, 'Discover Your Voice,' led to classical voice lessons and ultimately a voice coach who involved Rhonda in cabaret."

The complete article found on Jazz Police is definitely worth reading...

You go, Rhonda!

"Seven tips for making yourself happier IN THE NEXT HOUR"

Not exactly on topic, but what paralegal doesn't need a boost now & then? These quick "how to be happy" tips look good to me!

"You can make yourself happier – and this doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next hour, check off as many of the following items as possible. Each of these accomplishments will lift your mood, as will the mere fact that you’ve tackled and achieved some concrete goals.

1. Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too.

[snip]

3. Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long."

Be sure to check the comments to this post -- you'll find more helpful tips from readers! The Happiness Project blog is written by ex-lawyer Gretchen Rubin.

Best Jobs for Part-Time Paralegals?

Inspired by this post to Legal Blog Watch by Robert J. Ambrogi [links below in original post]:

"If you know you want to work part time as a lawyer, which fields of law or types of jobs are best for you? At the blog Concurring Opinions, William & Mary law professor Nate Oman recounts that a student recently came to him with this question and, 'I am embarrassed to say I don't know the answer.' The student explained that she would like to work full time for a few years after law school, then pull back to fewer hours.

"Not knowing the answer, Oman turned to his blog and asked his readers for their suggestions. Among the responses so far, comments suggest licensing, trademarks, trusts and estates, tax and employee benefits as fields of law amenable to part-time work. As for jobs, in-house counsel jobs are sometimes part time, and government offices sometimes allow flexible schedules and job sharing."

So, what practice areas do you think might be good for part-time paralegals? Surely not litigation, right? Would the areas listed above also fit paralegals?

BTW, are you a part-time paralegal now? Are there any drawbacks?

"Too Busy to Notice You’re Too Busy"

Does this New York Times article sound like anyone you know? Yourself perhaps?

"RECENTLY I’ve found myself annoyed by how busy my friends seem. Putting aside the possibility that they are avoiding me, some are so on the go that they barely have time to tell me they do not have time to talk. Every phone call, no matter how short, seems to be interrupted by several others. That is, of course, if I actually get a live person on the other end of the phone.

[snip]

"Edward M. Hallowell, a psychiatrist and author of CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap (Ballantine Books, 2006) writes about how he knew he had crossed into the dark side from busy to crazy busy when he got mad at a rotary phone while staying at a vacation house.

"Unable to use a cellphone, he was driven nuts waiting for the dial to return to start."