"Is This the Party to Whom I'm Speaking?" Headsets: Functional and Useful or Status Symbols?

I have nothing against telephone headsets.  I think they serve a very useful function.  Sometimes.

Especially, if you're only answering phones all day, say at a switchboard.  Actually, do they even make "switchboards" these days?  I'm dating myself.  Yikes.

Anyway, for me, headsets don't make my life easier.  They are cumbersome as I'm constantly switching gears, multi-tasking, running to the printer, running to the mailroom, making lunch runs - you name it.  

Besides, they pull off your earrings.

Lately I've started to notice more and more people with headsets on at work, which has led me to believe that some, not all, but some of these folks are trying to look important.  Sort of a "status symbol," if you will.

When you're providing "assistance" to anywhere from 4 to 8 attorneys, how can you sit in the same spot all day with a headset on?  Practically speaking, it doesn't work.

From what I can tell, the busiest secretaries and assistants don't use them.  They're juggling several balls at once and need to keep their "ear to the ground," so to speak.

Do you headset?  If so, how's that working for you?  I'd love to hear.

Beware the Information Seekers - They're Listening, Even When You Think They're Not

Ever feel like people in your office are out to get information?  Nothing that's life-changing.  Just information about what your attorneys are doing, which cases they're working on, how many hours they're billing, who is staffing their teams?

If you're a secretary, like me, then you've probably met them.  The Information Seekers.  They disguise themselves as friendly co-workers who just stop by to chit-chat.  However, they often give themselves away, like when they come up to you with a pen and pad (much like a reporter's notebook).  

That happened to me today.  I almost fell for it too.  The old, "I haven't talked to you in forever, how's it going?"  Followed by, "Hey, what is the name of that new case?"

But, old Della Street knows the deal.  That's when I clam up and play "silly secretary who can't keep the cases straight."

When they become irritated at your perceived incompetence and lack of knowledge about matters which are of no concern to them, that's when you know - you almost got played!

And remember, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not following you.

Now, I'm telling you all this "confidentially" of course.

Book Review: "A Good Killing" by Allison Leotta

Was it Edgar Allen Poe who said, "Believe half of what you see, none of what you hear?"

That quote would certainly apply to Allison Leotta's newest legal thriller, "A Good Killing."  It's the latest in the Anna Curtis series.  And it had me guessing until the very last page.

I'm not going to say that this is her "best work yet," because I think all of Ms. Leotta's novels are amazing.  I love a good mystery.  And she's good.  Very good.


I especially related to the bond between the two sisters.  It made me ask myself "how far would I go for my own sisters?"  

I'll take the fifth on that question because I don't want it to come back to haunt me.

"A Good Killing" by Allison Leotta

Online at amazon and other online sellers, hardback and digital.  Suggestion - get the hardback, you'll want to have it for your library.  I have a feeling this author hasn't even hit her writing prime.  And that's super exciting.

Allison Leotta

"Former federal prosecutor and critically acclaimed author Allison Leotta’s spellbinding thriller follows prosecutor Anna Curtis as she heads home to Michigan to defend her sister in a case that will bring her to her knees.

How far would you go to save your sister?

Anna Curtis is back in her hometown just outside of Detroit. Newly single after calling off her wedding, Anna isn’t home to lick her wounds. She’s returned to support her sister, Jody, who has been wrongfully accused of murder after their old high school coach, a local hero, dies in a suspicious car crash.

But maybe Jody isn’t so innocent after all. The police are convinced that Jody was having an affair with the married coach and killed him out of jealousy. As Anna investigates with the help of her childhood friend Cooper Bolden, an Afghan War veteran with a secret of his own, she slowly peels back the facade of her all-American town and discovers that no one is telling the truth about the coach, not even the people she thought she knew best. When the town rallies against them, threatening not just Jody’s liberty but both sisters’ lives, Anna resolves to do everything she can to save her sister and defend the only family she has left."  (From amazon.com)

Thank You. Yay or Nay?

We've all officially survived another

"Staff Appreciation/Administrative Professionals Day/Week."

So, now here's the question for "Emily Post."  

If you happened to be fortunate enough to receive an individual gift from your attorney(s), beyond the hot dog lunches, ice cream bars, chair massages and "group company gifts,"  should you give her a formal handwritten "thank you," or is an email enough?

I'm not completely ill-mannered.  I know that bouquet of flowers or that box of candy or Starbucks gift card deserves a phone call (make it quick, it's their billable time) or an email.  But, should you take it even further and write out an old-fashioned "Thank you?"

And does the "one month after the gift, thank you card" rule apply to Secretary's Day?  

If not, I'll gladly take your answers to apply to next year.

Famous Paralegals - Did You Know Ellen Degeneres was a Paralegal at One Time?

 
Source: Online-Paralegal-Programs.com

Thanks to the folks at Online Paralegal Programs for keeping me "in the know."

They  recently finished working on a research graphic “Famous Paralegals."

If you want to know more about what they offer, click here

Performance Reviews And WhyThey Give Me Hives

Am I the only one who worries about what their annual performance review?

I mean no one is perfect, but don't you feel like when it comes time to put those reviews in the attorneys' hands, they get more excited about writing about the time you accidentally forgot to put their dry cleaning pick up date on the calendar than they do about arguing a big motion?

Seriously, I think I'm a pretty darn good secretary.  I'm not bragging but I've been doing this for a long time and I think I really try hard.

Yet, there's always one little thing that they remember (which you have completely tried to put out of your mind) that stops you from being the "superstar assistant" you could be. 

We just have to keep in mind that there's always next year's review (where they will once again, remember that tiny infraction).

I just like to know in advance when they're going to pass the envelopes so I make sure I'm wearing my big girl pants.

Book Review: "The Partner Track" by Helen Wan

"The Partner Track" A Novel by Helen Wan

Not sure how this one almost slipped past me, but happy that a co-worker told me about this 'chick-lit' which very realistically characterizes life at a large law firm.

I can't say that I've ever worked at a firm where they've had an in-house restaurant but there are many similarities to daily life in this one.

The story focuses on the life of one Ingrid Yung, a first-generation, over-achiever, who is on "the partner track."  

What I enjoyed most about the book is that the author doesn't just tell the story from the perspective of the attorney but she also has clearly paid attention to support staff with her realistic portrayals of secretaries, paralegals and others.

A bit "slow" in some parts, perhaps due to the fact that I work in a law firm and it was "every day life" for me.  Somewhat of a surprise ending.

Overall, an easy and enjoyable read.

Ingrid Yung's life is full of firsts. A first-generation Chinese American, the first lawyer in her family, she's about to collect the holy grail of "firsts" and become the first minority woman to make partner at the venerable old law firm Parsons Valentine & Hunt. 

"Ingrid has perfected the art of "passing" and seamlessly blends into the old-boy corporate culture. She gamely banters in the corporate cafeteria, plays in the firm softball league, and earnestly racks up her billable hours. But when an offensive incident at the summer outing threatens the firm's reputation, Ingrid's outsider status is suddenly thrown into sharp relief. Scrambling to do damage control, Parsons Valentine announces a new Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, commanding Ingrid to spearhead the effort. Only she's about to close an enormous transaction that was to be her final step in securing partnership.

For the first time, Ingrid must question her place in the firm. Pitted against her colleagues, including her golden-boy boyfriend, Ingrid begins to wonder whether the prestige of partnership is worth breaching her ethics. But can she risk throwing away the American dream that is finally within her reach?"

(From Amazon.com)http://www.amazon.com/The-Partner-Track-A-Novel/dp/1250056497