Whoever that girl was jumping up and down when she got the law clerk job....she is crazy. She has been replaced with the law student who was thrown into a law firm, less than prepared to take on the world of lawyers.
I'm learning ALOT. I mean....aton. And its all practical stuff. So yes, it is a real blessing that I'm getting this experience. However, learning alot means that I knew practically nothing going in.
First day- I was fully excited. I got home and dreamed of what my life will be like out of school, being a big-shot lawyer, and dealing with my own clients.
Second day- I left for work at 6:50am took a half hour lunch, and got home at 6:15pm, I was fully beat. I got handed more files before leaving, and came to the realization my work will never be done.
Third day- I started to feel like things came together, I had my first meeting with a client, worked on drafting a will, and got thrown into the law clerk life of complaints, memos, answers, research and demand letters.
Fourth day- yet another long day... but just barely starting to get a handle on basic office procedures.
Today I'll be doing more research, meet with clients on a closing, and attend my first hearing. (atleast that is the plan!)
Third day- I started to feel like things came together, I had my first meeting with a client, worked on drafting a will, and got thrown into the law clerk life of complaints, memos, answers, research and demand letters.
Fourth day- yet another long day... but just barely starting to get a handle on basic office procedures.
Today I'll be doing more research, meet with clients on a closing, and attend my first hearing. (atleast that is the plan!)
A few things so far I need to work on:
1. Leaving work at work, and coming home and not stressing. I get so wrapped up in things, that I just can't let it go. I need to get in the habit now, before I have my family to come home to.
2. Really learning. Long term learning, not just enough to get by that day.
3. Not crying when I'm frustrated. I haven't yet, but man....I'm a crier when I get frustrated. That is something I do NOT need to be doing in my profession.
4. Generic law clerk skills: Confidence, multi-tasking, list making, note taking, etc.
5. Becoming friends with the secretaries and paralegals--it will save your life. They know the ins and outs, and they seem to really care about you. They aren't uppity like some lawyers can be, and they do their job well.
5. Becoming friends with the secretaries and paralegals--it will save your life. They know the ins and outs, and they seem to really care about you. They aren't uppity like some lawyers can be, and they do their job well.
All in all, it is going really well. You never realize how much law school doesn't teach you, until you're thrown into the profession and asked to draft, research, and contact clients.
4 comments:
love this post!
i found myself agreeing with everything you said esp. focusing on the "long term learning" - i really need to do that and not just get through the day + leave work at work. it's so tough but has to be done!.... and i'm a frustrated crier too! haha
hope you have a great weekend and that work continues to get better for you!
Sounds like you've got a great summer ahead!
And definitely befriend paralegals. As a former paralegal (and soon-to-be law student) I cannot tell you enough how important that is. So many summer interns/law clerks come in and look down on paralegals and then expect them to show them the ropes. It doesn't sound like that's you at all though!!!
I hear ya on a lot of these things and I'm 4 years out of school... Some get better, some I'm still working on.
1. Leaving work at work is tough. I know one day we will have a family and I won't be able to work til 8pm every night. At least not at the office. I think what will end up happening is I'll go home early-ish, deal with baby/family things and then finish some work at home. I hate working weekends but that happens sometimes too.
2. Learning is a work in progress for me. I feel like I don't retain information the way I did for the bar exam. I know I CAN but for some reason it's just not happening the same anymore.
3. I'm a crier. So I have cried at work before but privately (for the most part). Sometimes it just happens.
4. Organization is huge! I generally think of myself as organized but it's hard with work. I'm constantly rewriting things down and making lists.
5. I agree, within reason. Become friends with the staff because they do your work and can/will prioritize things differently for those they like. But don't become one of them. You're an (will be?) attorney and they need to respect you as such. Sometimes being too buddy buddy will hurt you. I'm not saying don't be friends with them but also make sure you're friends with the other associates.
Good luck :)
I hear ya on a lot of these things and I'm 4 years out of school... Some get better, some I'm still working on.
1. Leaving work at work is tough. I know one day we will have a family and I won't be able to work til 8pm every night. At least not at the office. I think what will end up happening is I'll go home early-ish, deal with baby/family things and then finish some work at home. I hate working weekends but that happens sometimes too.
2. Learning is a work in progress for me. I feel like I don't retain information the way I did for the bar exam. I know I CAN but for some reason it's just not happening the same anymore.
3. I'm a crier. So I have cried at work before but privately (for the most part). Sometimes it just happens.
4. Organization is huge! I generally think of myself as organized but it's hard with work. I'm constantly rewriting things down and making lists.
5. I agree, within reason. Become friends with the staff because they do your work and can/will prioritize things differently for those they like. But don't become one of them. You're an (will be?) attorney and they need to respect you as such. Sometimes being too buddy buddy will hurt you. I'm not saying don't be friends with them but also make sure you're friends with the other associates.
Good luck :)
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