Stressed? Squeeze a Frog

I read today that a poll conducted by Monster.com showed that 60 percent of people in the world experience daily stress 18 to 20 times per month at work.

In the legal world, that’s a pretty good number.  I think I could double that number based on my own stress level.

What do you do to relieve stress at work? 

For me, music helps.  When I’m not doing a task that requires intense focus, like when I’m entering attorney time, I often put on a headset and listen to a few instrumental tunes.  Or, if I’m particularly stressed, I will stop and take a walk downstairs for a cup or coffee or tea.

When time permits, I’ll take a lunch-time walk to “walk it out.”

Whatever you need to “keep calm and carry on,” by all means, do it.

Many days, I’m just grateful for this little frog stress ball. 

 

It’s almost Friday!

Throwback Thursday!

Who remembers this?

"Speak of the Devil" by Allison Leotta

The third time is a charm.  Not that the first two ("Law of Attraction" and "Discretion") weren't great, but Allison Leotta's latest novel, "Speak of the Devil" is a mystery lover's delight.  

I honestly could have read this book without putting it down, but I knew there would be a wait for her next novel, so I decided to stretch it out over four days.  

I think that Ms. Leotta's background as a sex crimes prosecutor is really the thing that makes her work so different.  And, if you're familiar with the legal field, it really will hold your interest because she gets all the little details.  

I love being a secretary by day and mystery solver by night - except I really didn't expect the twists and turns this book took - but I sure enjoyed the ride.

Although, I have to admit some of the scenes made me jump while reading!

Another great one from Simon and Schuster:


SPEAK OF THE DEVIL—AND HE WILL APPEAR:  A Novel by Allison Leotta

On the very night she gets engaged to the man she loves, sex-crimes prosecutor Anna Curtis’s professional life takes a shocking turn that threatens everything she holds dear.

While Anna is enjoying a romantic dinner capped off by a marriage proposal, a few miles away two separate groups are gearing up to raid a brothel. A vicious killer known as Diablo—the Devil—leads one group. A few minutes later, Anna’s own investigative team heads in to search the brothel, as part of the fight against human trafficking in D.C. Both groups are caught off guard, with deadly results.

As Anna investigates the bloody face-off, the boundaries between her work and home life begin to blur. Though eager to focus on her new fiancé, the chief homicide prosecutor Jack Bailey, and her soon-to-be stepdaughter, Olivia, this case and the search for Diablo are never far from her mind.

When Anna discovers a web of long-buried secrets and official lies leading straight to her doorstep, the truth about this case threatens to rob her of the happiness she seemed so close to securing. And everything Anna counted on becomes a question mark as Diablo moves in for yet another kill.

Allison Leotta draws on her experience as a D.C. sex-crimes prosecutor to take readers into the back rooms of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the hidden world of the Witness Protection Program, and the secret rituals of one of America’s most dangerous gangs. Universally praised by bestselling authors from Catherine Coulter and George Pelecanos to Lisa Scottoline and David Baldacci, Leotta weaves fact and fiction to create her best novel yet.

Making the World A Better Place - One Post-It (TM) At A Time

The Post-it Brand Wall kicks off the Post-it Brand Dreams for Good Campaign which asks everyone to share their plans for making the world a better place. To enter the Post-it Brand Dreams for Good contestgo to www.facebook.com/postit and submit a photo of your dream for good on a Post-it Note by September 15, 2013 for a chance to win a $25,000 Post-it Possibility Grant.

"A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet"

I was hired to be a "legal secretary."  I use the title "legal secretary," when referring to myself, my profession and the work that I perform.

Many of my colleagues prefer the title "Legal Assistant."  Some firms reserve the title "Legal Assistant" for "paralegals."  Others use the title "Assistant to John Doe."

I'm proud to be a secretary.  I feel that I have a skill-set that has served me well and feel blessed to have acquired skills (such as typing) early on.  Okay, I'm of "a certain age," but nonetheless, there is a deep sense of pride that goes along with being able to earn a decent living to support yourself and your family.

Whatever title you prefer to use, one thing remains the same, you are an integral part of a legal team, your firm, an asset, if you will.

Here's to a great week for all the legal secretaries, legal assistants, assistants and support staff who give 100 percent to keep the wheels turning!

This is your pep talk.  Monday will be here very quickly.

Salary Increases Post Recession

While on vacation this week, I received a text from a friend telling me that she was upset that her firm had sent out the salary increase letters and she felt her increase was so small it was insulting.

I told her that I preferred a small raise or no raise at all to a "pink slip" any day of the week.

I think it's safe to say that the days of big pay increases, fully stocked kitchens, and "dot-com" perks are pretty much over.  Unless you're working in-house at google or somewhere, I don't suspect you're going to find law firms spending money lavishly on staff.

In fact, a couple of weeks ago, several large national firms announced staff reductions and early buyouts to qualifying employees.

That said, I think it's safe to assume that the role of the legal secretary has changed.  No longer do firms call in "temps" when someone is on leave or vacation.  They merely shuffle work assignments.  I know some friends who tell me they have as many as ten attorneys to one desk.  Bear in mind, the younger associates aren't looking for a typist and the legal secretary is not only the person who electronically files with the court, he is the one who also makes binders (another post for another day) and is a personal assistant to the attorneys, particularly, the partners.

In the coming weeks, I will be talking more about the changing role of the secretary and the paralegal.

But, keep in mind, if you don't get the raise you want, at least you have a job!

And for those of us in San Francisco, thank God, the transit strike appears to be over (at least for now).

Happy Friday!!

Dream A Little Dream For Me

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while.  It's been a crazy few weeks at work, with lots of people taking vacations and such.  

Anyway, I'm here to tell you about a wonderful new product I discovered to help you fall asleep without narcotics.  

Dream Water, why did it take me so long to find you?  

If you're like me, after a stressful day, you may have trouble falling asleep at night.  Not that any of us who work in law firms know anything about stressful days (snicker).

One bottle of Dream Water will help you get to lullaby land simply and enjoy a relaxing night's sleep without the "hung over" effect that sleeping pills can often leave behind.

While I think you'll get best results by using it only a couple of times a week, two good nights sleep in a  work-week can make a world of difference in your productivity and attention to detail.

I also found during my recent airplane trip that it's great for those long cross country flights.

Visit their website and look at all the neat flavors.  And, it's drug free!


http://www.drinkdreamwater.com/

*fine print - Dream Water provided me with free samples of their product for the purposes of preparing this review.