Page X1

COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONALISM ▪ OHIO JUDICIAL CENTER ▪ 65 S. FRONT STREET ▪ COLUMBUS, OH 43215 TELEPHONE 614.387.9327 ▪ TOLL FREE 800.826.9010 ▪ FACSIMILE 614.387.9529

www.supremecourtofohio.gov ▪ www.supremecourtofohio.gov/mentoring

LAWYER TO LAWYER MENTORING PROGRAM

WORKSHEET X INTRODUCTION TO OFFICE PERSONNEL

Worksheet X is intended to facilitate a discussion about the roles and responsibilities of paralegals, administrative assistants, and other office personnel and how to establish good working relationships with others in the same office who are support staff, colleagues, or senior.

* * * Explain to the new lawyer each non-lawyer employee’s role in the mentor’s office/firm,

including the employee’s title, job duties, and relationship to the new lawyer (if any) if in an in-house mentoring relationship.

Discuss the importance of having support staff on your team and treating them with

respect.

Share suggested “do’s and don’ts” of dealing with support staff, colleagues, and those more senior than the new lawyer.

If the new lawyer has an administrative assistant and/or paralegal, explain the types of

task that are appropriate (and inappropriate) to ask each of them to do.

If in an in-house mentoring relationship, discuss the office culture in terms of the types of tasks new lawyers are expected (although perhaps not told) to do rather than support staff. For example, if in an office where many lawyers share one administrative assistant, do the newer lawyers make their own changes to documents, make their own copies, etc. so that the administrative assistant can focus on doing those tasks for the more senior lawyers? Are new lawyers expected to type their own documents on their own computer and assistants expected to “format” them, or is there some other accepted way of doing things?

If in an in-house mentoring relationship, discuss any considerations or prohibitions in

asking support staff to put in time outside of normal office hours, including whether requests for overtime must be approved, whether overtime requests must only be made on a limited basis, how much advance notice is typically expected when asking staff to stay later than normal office hours, etc.

If in an in-house mentoring relationship, discuss the specific skills and knowledge each

support staff member has from which the new lawyer can learn or benefit.

Page X2

COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONALISM ▪ OHIO JUDICIAL CENTER ▪ 65 S. FRONT STREET ▪ COLUMBUS, OH 43215 TELEPHONE 614.387.9327 ▪ TOLL FREE 800.826.9010 ▪ FACSIMILE 614.387.9529

www.supremecourtofohio.gov ▪ www.supremecourtofohio.gov/mentoring

Read and discuss the suggestions regarding dealing with professional support staff in the attached excerpts. KIMM ALAYNE WALTON, WHAT LAW SCHOOL DOESN’T TEACH YOU…BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW (2000); Illinois State Bar Association and ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, New Lawyer Survival Guide: Advice from the Trenches on How to Live Your Life in the Law, 2003.

Make suggestions about how to handle difficult situations where the new lawyer’s

administrative assistant or paralegal is not performing as expected. If mentoring in-house, explain any procedures that are in place to address this type of problem.

Discuss the types of behavior that constitute the unauthorized practice of law in Ohio and

to the extent possible, define the “practice of law.” See the attached excerpt from The Legal Assistant’s Practical Guide to Professional Responsibility, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility (2nd Edition). Also attached, Land Title Abstract & Trust Co. v. Dworken,129 Ohio St. 23 (1934) and Columbus Bar Assn. v. Thomas, 109 Ohio St.3d 89 (2006).

Discuss an attorney’s ethical responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistants. See Prof.

Cond. Rule 5.3.

Discuss an attorney’s ethical obligation to prevent the unauthorized practice of law and provide specific tips on how to prevent non-lawyer personnel from inadvertently (or intentionally) engaging in it. See Prof. Cond. Rules 5.3 – 5.5.

If mentoring in-house, discuss the office policies (if any) that are in place to prevent the

unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyer staff.

Share with the new lawyer appropriate ways to monitor the work product of support staff for which the new lawyer is ultimately responsible as an attorney.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

RESOURCES _____________________________________________________________________________________ OHIO RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT V. LAW FIRMS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Page X3

COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONALISM ▪ OHIO JUDICIAL CENTER ▪ 65 S. FRONT STREET ▪ COLUMBUS, OH 43215 TELEPHONE 614.387.9327 ▪ TOLL FREE 800.826.9010 ▪ FACSIMILE 614.387.9529

www.supremecourtofohio.gov ▪ www.supremecourtofohio.gov/mentoring

RULE 5.3: RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING NONLAWYER ASSISTANTS With respect to a nonlawyer employed by, retained by, or associated with a lawyer, all of the following apply: (a) a lawyer who individually or together with other lawyers possesses managerial authority in a law firm or government agency shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the firm or government agency has in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that the person's conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer; (b) a lawyer having direct supervisory authority over the nonlawyer shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the person's conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer; (c) a lawyer shall be responsible for conduct of such a person that would be a violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a lawyer if either of the following applies:

(1) the lawyer orders or, with the knowledge of the specific conduct, ratifies the conduct involved; (2) the lawyer has managerial authority in the law firm or government agency in which the person is employed, or has direct supervisory authority over the person, and knows of the conduct at a time when its consequences can be avoided or mitigated but fails to take reasonable remedial action.

View comments at http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/rules/profConduct/profConductRules.pdf#Rule5_3 RULE 5.4: PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENCE OF A LAWYER (a) A lawyer or law firm shall not share legal fees with a nonlawyer, except in any of the following circumstances:

(1) an agreement by a lawyer with the lawyer's firm, partner, or associate may provide for the payment of money, over a reasonable period of time after the lawyer's death, to the lawyer's estate or to one or more specified persons; (2) a lawyer who purchases the practice of a deceased, disabled, or disappeared lawyer may, pursuant to the provisions of Rule 1.17, pay to the estate or other representative of that lawyer the agreed-upon purchase price;

Page X4

COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONALISM ▪ OHIO JUDICIAL CENTER ▪ 65 S. FRONT STREET ▪ COLUMBUS, OH 43215 TELEPHONE 614.387.9327 ▪ TOLL FREE 800.826.9010 ▪ FACSIMILE 614.387.9529

www.supremecourtofohio.gov ▪ www.supremecourtofohio.gov/mentoring

(3) a lawyer or law firm may include nonlawyer employees in a compensation or retirement plan, even though the plan is based in whole or in part on a profit-sharing arrangement; (4) a lawyer may share court-awarded legal fees with a nonprofit organization that employed or retained the lawyer in the matter; (5) a lawyer may share legal fees with a nonprofit organization that recommended employment of the lawyer in the matter, if the nonprofit organization complies with Rule XVI of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio.

(b) A lawyer shall not form a partnership with a nonlawyer if any of the activities of the partnership consist of the practice of law. (c) A lawyer shall not permit a person who recommends, employs, or pays the lawyer to render legal services for another to direct or regulate the lawyer's professional judgment in rendering such legal services. (d) A lawyer shall not practice with or in the form of a professional corporation or association authorized to practice law for a profit, if any of the following applies:

(1) a nonlawyer owns any interest therein, except that a fiduciary representative of the estate of a lawyer may hold the stock or interest of the lawyer for a reasonable time during administration; (2) a nonlawyer is a corporate director or officer thereof or occupies the position of similar responsibility in any form of association other than a corporation; (3) a nonlawyer has the right to direct or control the professional judgment of a lawyer.

View comments at http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/rules/profConduct/profConductRules.pdf#Rule5_4 RULE 5.5: UNAUTHORIZED PRRACTICE OF LAW; MULTIJURISDICTIONAL PRACTICE OF LAW (a) A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.

Page X5

COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONALISM ▪ OHIO JUDICIAL CENTER ▪ 65 S. FRONT STREET ▪ COLUMBUS, OH 43215 TELEPHONE 614.387.9327 ▪ TOLL FREE 800.826.9010 ▪ FACSIMILE 614.387.9529

www.supremecourtofohio.gov ▪ www.supremecourtofohio.gov/mentoring

(b) A lawyer who is not admitted to practice in this jurisdiction shall not do either of the following:

(1) except as authorized by these rules or other law, establish an office or other systematic and continuous presence in this jurisdiction for the practice of law; (2) hold out to the public or otherwise represent that the lawyer is admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction.

(c) A lawyer who is admitted in another United States jurisdiction, is in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted, and regularly practices law may provide legal services on a temporary basis in this jurisdiction if one or more of the following apply:

(1) the services are undertaken in association with a lawyer who is admitted to practice in this jurisdiction and who actively participates in the matter; (2) the services are reasonably related to a pending or potential proceeding before a tribunal in this or another jurisdiction, if the lawyer, or a person the lawyer is assisting, is authorized by law or order to appear in such proceeding or reasonably expects to be so authorized; (3) the services are reasonably related to a pending or potential arbitration, mediation, or other alternative dispute resolution proceeding in this or another jurisdiction, if the services arise out of or are reasonably related to the lawyer's practice in a jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted to practice and are not services for which the forum requires pro hac vice admission; (4) the lawyer engages in negotiations, investigations, or other nonlitigation activities that arise out of or are reasonably related to the lawyer's practice in a jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted to practice.

(d) A lawyer admitted and in good standing in another United States jurisdiction may provide legal services in this jurisdiction in either of the following circumstances:

(1) the lawyer is registered in compliance with Gov. Bar R. VI, Section 3 and is providing services to the employer or its organizational affiliates for which the permission of a tribunal to appear pro hac vice is not required; (2) the lawyer is providing services that the lawyer is authorized to provide by federal or Ohio law.

View comments at http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/rules/profConduct/profConductRules.pdf#Rule5_5

276

co

py

rig

ht

Harc

ou

rtL

eg

al

&P

rofe

ssio

nal

pu

b::

i:cati

on

sIn

c.

WIlJ

ULA

wS

aiO

OL

DOES

NT

TEAC

HYo

u••

•Bu

TYo

uR

EAJlY

NEED

TOKN

owTh

e"P

eopl

e"Pa

rtOfWoIt.lt~

Not

Wha

tYou

'reLi

ke..

.27

7

secr

ets-

--<l

on't

viol

ate

conf

iden

ces

any

mor

eth

anyo

u'd

expe

ctan

yone

else

toV

iola

teyo

urs)

.Or

may

beyo

urm

ento

rne

eds

help

with

anar

ti­cl

eor

asp

eech

.Be

willin~

tost

epup

toth

epl

ate

for

them

asth

eydo

fory

ou.

As

you

prog

ress

,kee

pyc

urey

eou

tfor

peop

lebe

hind

you.

As

soon

asyo

u're

afir

stye

aras

soci

ate

you'

rem

ore

seni

orth

anth

esu

mm

ercl

erks

!A

sK

athl

een

Bra

dysa

ys,"

Ifyo

um

iss

outo

nw

atch

ing

prot

eges

succ

eed,

you'

relo

sing

outo

non

eof

the

true

joys

inlif

e.A

ndit

help

sth

epr

ofes

­si

on.Y

ouha

ndof

fthe

ball

tJth

ene

xtge

nera

tion.

"

E.T

AP

PIN

GIN

TO

TH

EH

IDD

EN

PO

WE

RS

TR

UC

TU

RE

:S

UP

PO

RT

STA

FF

ISSU

ES

Ifyo

u've

wor

ked

befo

re,y

oukn

owho

wva

luab

le-a

ndpo

wer

ful--

--su

ppor

tst

affe

rsca

nbe

.Ify

ouha

ven'

t,ye

um

ayte

llyo

urse

lf,"F

inal

ly,I

'mno

tthe

low

·es

tper

son

onth

eto

tem

pole

-I'v

ego

tsom

ebod

yI

can

boss

arou

ndl"

Don

'tki

dyo

urse

lf.A

sV

erm

ont's

Pave

lWon

sow

icz

pOin

tsou

t,"T

hesu

ppor

tsta

ffis

the

back

bone

ofth

epl

ace.

"H

ofsl

ra's

Dia

neSc

hwar

tzbe

rgad

dsth

at"Y

ouca

n't

bully

peop

lean

dbe

arro

gant

and

gety

ourw

ay!"

Han

dlin

gsu

ppor

tsta

ffw

ellr

ejec

tson

you

ina

who

lebu

nch

ofw

ays:

your

abili

tyto

lead

,acc

eptr

espo

nsib

iLty

,and

deal

with

alld

iffer

entk

inds

ofpe

ople

(incl

udin

gcl

ient

s).A

sla

wye

rsat

Cou

lsto

nSt

orrs

poin

tout

,"T

reat

ing

supp

ort

staffe

rsw

ithre

spec

twill

geta

sum

ner

cler

kor

new

law

yerf

urth

erth

anal

mos

tan

ythi

ngel

sebe

side

sgo

od,c

ompe

tentlawye~.·

Min

neso

ta's

Susa

nG

aine

nge

tsth

isac

ross

with

her

"Fiv

eSt

ages

OfR

ela·

tions

With

Supp

ortS

taff.

"ST

AGE

ON

E:O

nyo

urfir

stda

y)fw

ork,

peop

lear

epr

edis

pose

dto

thin

kw

ell

ofyo

u.Th

eyar

epr

epar

edto

like

you,

tohe

lpyo

u,an

dto

inve

stin

your

succ

ess.

STAG

ETw

o:Y

ouac

ted

like

aje

rk.W

heth

eryo

uw

ere

rude

toa

supp

orts

taff

pers

onor

toa

colle

ague

,you

can

alm

osta

lway

sre

pair

the

dam

age

ifyo

uar

esi

ncer

ein

your

apol

ogie

s,an

dne

ver,

ever

repe

atth

ebe

havi

or.

STAG

ETH

REE:

You

real

lyar

ea

jerk

.Whe

ther

it's

rude

ness

,inc

ompe

tenc

e,la

zine

ssor

ate

nden

cyto

mak

enJ

stak

esan

dbl

ame

othe

rs,y

ouar

erid

ing

fora

fall.

The

supp

orts

taff

,whi

chcm

smoo

thth

ew

rinkl

esin

your

appe

aran

ce,

cove

rfor

your

smal

lmis

take

san

e.ch

uckl

eat

your

ecce

ntric

ities

,Will

now

take

thre

est

eps

back

.and

wat

chyo

ufa

llon

your

face

.R

eal·l

ifeex

ampl

e:A

fter

anA

ssoc

iate

Gen

eral

Cou

nsel

ata

bank

had

been

wor

king

for

mor

eth

ansi

xm

onth

s,st

affb

egan~

them

selv

esqu

estio

nslik

e"J

usth

owlo

ngsh

ould

the

lear

ning

curv

ebe

for

rem

embe

ring

that

each

fore

clos

ure

need

sa

$75

filin

gfe

ech

eck

atta

ched

toit,

and

that

the

lead

time

for

are

ques

tis

24

hour

s?"

and

"Whe

nw

illhe

stop

blam

ing

usfo

rhis

mis

take

s?"

STAG

EFo

UR:

Sing

lyan

din

grou

psth

eybe

gin

toap

proa

chth

elr

boss

and

your

boss

,say

ing

"Ica

n'tb

elie

veth

athe

/she

did/

didn

'tdo

(wha

teve

r)."

This

beco

mes

ach

orus

,and

ever

ythi

ngth

atyo

u've

ever

done

that

you

wer

en't

sup­

pose

dto

do--

<lr

that

you'

vene

ver

done

that

you

wer

esup

pose

dto

-bec

omes

shee

tmus

icfo

rthi

sgr

oup.

STAG

EF

IvE

-TIm

Pnw

rnA

STAG

E:N

ota

pret

tysi

ght.

Sing

lyan

din

grou

ps,

they

appr

oach

your

boss

and

thel

rbos

san

dsa

y"I

t'shi

m/h

eror

us."

Now

is

the

time

topa

ckup

your

desk

and

snea

kaw

ayin

toth

eni

ghto

rsta

ndon

your

desk

and

dise

mbo

wel

your

self

with

the

Wat

erfo

rdle

tter

open

eryo

ugo

tas

agr

adua

tion

pres

ent.

Whe

nw

eigh

ing

the

valu

eof

ane

wsu

mm

acu

mla

ude

grad

uate

who

quic

kly

dem

onst

rate

san

uner

ring

abili

tyto

anta

goni

zela

rge

num

bers

ofva

lued

empl

oyee

sag

ains

tagr

oup

ofirr

epla

ceab

leex

peIi

ence

dle

gals

ecre

tarie

san

dpa

rale

gals

,the

reis

noch

oice

.You

'reou

t.A

sth

e"F

ive

Stag

es"

illus

trat

e,m

istr

eatin

gth

est

affc

anbe

detr

imen

talt

oyo

urpr

ofes

sion

alhe

alth

.Le

t'sse

ew

haty

ouha

veto

dow

hen

itco

mes

tode

alin

gw

ithsu

ppor

tsta

ff:

1.R

emem

bert

hatt

hey

can

be

help

fult

oyo

uin

am

illio

nsu

btle

way

s.

Whe

nyo

ust

arto

utas

ala

wye

r,th

ere

are

abW

lch

of~

you

don'

tkn

owab

outp

ract

icin

gla

w.

It's

fair

tosa

yth

atsu

ppor

tsta

ffer

sw

ho'v

ebe

enw

ithyo

urem

pioy

erfo

ra

whi

lekn

owm

ore

abou

tbei

nga

law

yer

than

you

do.

Rea

les

tate

para

lega

ls,

for

inst

ance

,ca

nha

ndle

clos

ings

them

selv

es!

The

secr

etar

ies,

rece

ptio

nist

s,w

ord

proc

esso

rs,c

opy

room

staf

fers

,offi

cego

pher

san

dru

nner

s,th

em

allro

omcl

erks

-the

yca

nsa

veyo

ursk

inin

abu

nch

ofw

ays.

a.Th

eyca

nru

nin

terf

eren

cefo

ryou

.

"Ify

our

secr

etar

ylik

esyo

u,an

dyo

ute

llth

em,'

Iha

veto

buy

a30

than

nive

rsar

ygi

ftfo

rmy

pare

nts'

or'I

have

toru

nou

tfor

aca

ke

~S

MA

RT

HU

MA

NT

RIC

K.

New

asso

ciat

eat

ala

rge

New

Yor

kfir

m.

He

gets

tokn

owth

een

tire

staf

fin

the

first

two

wee

kshe

'sat

wor

k.T

heot

hera

ssoc

i­at

esla

ugh

athi

m,

butt

hrou

ghth

isne

twor

khe

find

sou

ttha

t

poin

tsou

ttha

tyou

have

to"U

nder

stan

dth

edi

ffer

ence

betw

een

pow

eran

dau

thor

ity.S

taff

mem

bers

can

have

alo

tofp

ower

even

ifth

eydo

n'th

ave

muc

hau

thor

ity.I

fyou

'reco

mfo

rtabl

eta

lkin

gto

the

boss

'sse

cret

ary,

she

can

tell

you

whe

nit'

sa

good

time

ora

ba

dtim

eto

talk

toth

ebo

ss.T

hIs

can

beve

ryva

luab

lein

form

atio

n.V

ouca

nal

sofin

dou

twhe

n'(s

)he

will

beou

toft

heof

fice

and

wha

tthe

irpe

t pee

ves

are.

Man

yan

alum

has

told

me

that

they

aske

dfo

rra

ises

and

sche

dule

dth

eirt

ime

offb

ased

onth

is'in

side

rin

form

atio

n.'I

nad

ditio

n,G

eorg

etow

n's

Mar

ilyn

Tuc

ker

poin

tsou

t,"E

xper

ienc

edsu

ppor

t sta

ffer

sw

illkn

owth

efo

rmat

docu

men

tssh

ould

take

,th

enu

mbe

rofc

opie

sre

quire

dfo

rdi

ffer

entc

ourts

,and

man

yot

her

sim

·

ilarly

criti

cald

etai

ls."

Geo

rget

own'

sA

nna

Dav

ispo

ints

outt

hat"

Ifyo

u're

nice

toth

em

ailr

oom

guys

,the

y'll

look

outf

oryo

u.W

hen

you

goto

send

som

ethi

ngou

t,th

ey'll

tell

you,

'Hey

-yo

ufo

rget

this

onth

een

velo

pe!'"

One

law

yer

talk

edab

out

her

expe

rien

cew

orki

ngfo

ra

"ver

yin

timid

atin

g"lit

igat

ion

depa

rtm

enth

ead.

"He

told

me,

'Ine

edth

ism

emo

fort

heco

urtf

rom

you.

Ionl

yw

antt

wo

page

s.M

ake

itbr

ief.'

Ires

earc

hed

itan

dw

rote

it,bu

titc

ame

out

four

page

slo

ng.I

nste

adof

editi

ngit,

Itho

ught

Icou

ldju

stsi

ngle

'sp

ace

itto

mee

tthe

two'

page

cuto

ff.W

hen

Itoo

kit

tohi

sse

cret

ary,

she

said

,'O

h,no

-ple

adin

gsha

veto

bedo

uble

-spa

ced.

Co

and

reodo

it'I

fshe

hadn

'tto

ldm

eth

at,I

wou

ldha

vebe

ento

ast"

d.T

hey

list

ento

the

jung

ledr

ums.

Ifyo

uw

antt

okn

oww

hat's

goin

gon

atw

ork,

your

secr

etar

yis

your

first

line

ofof

fens

e.A

sW

endy

Wer

ner

poin

tsou

t,"T

hey'

llkn

owbe

fore

anyb

ody

whi

chcl

ient

sar

eco

min

gan

dgo

ing,

who

are

pred

omin

antb

usin

ess

gette

rs,w

hatd

epar

tmen

tgen

erat

esth

em

ost

reve

nue,

who

lose

sth

em

ost(

and

leas

t)as

soci

ates

.'

27

917

Je'P

eopl

e'Pa

rtO

fWad

<.It'

sNot

fWJa

tYou

'relik

e..

.W

lIAT

LAw

ScH

oo

lD

oesN

'rTE

ACH

You

•••

BurY

ouR

EALI

YNE

EDTO

KNow

form

yhu

sban

d's

bint

.day

part

y,'t

hey'

llof

ten

tell

som

eone

look

ing

fory

outh

atyo

u're

ina

mee

ting,

"sa

ysD

enve

r'sJe

nnife

rLou

dU

ngar

.If

you'

rew

orki

ngin

apu

blic

inte

rest

job,

ifa

secr

etar

yor

inta

kew

orke

rlik

esyo

u,th

ey'll

field

your

calls

.For

inst

ance

,ifi

t'sa

Soci

alSe

curit

ym

atte

r,th

eyca

nan

swer

peop

le's

ques

tions

.The

ykn

owa

loto

fthe

answ

ers.

In'th

epr

ivat

ew

orld

,ifa

clie

ntca

llsyo

u,yo

uha

veto

retu

rnth

eir

call.

The

y're

payi

ng.I

nth

epu

bliC

aren

a,se

cre­

tarie

san

din

take

wor

lcer

sca

nfie

ldyo

urca

lls.T

hey

can

mak

eyo

uor

brea

kyo

u."

b.T

hey

can

help

you

mee

tde

adli

nes

that

you'

dot

herw

ise

mis

s. Law

yers

atC

ouls

ton

Stor

rspo

into

utth

at"W

hen

you

ask

som

e­on

e-to

stay

late

orde

liver

orco

pyso

met

hing

for

you

ona

rush

basi

s,yo

urre

latio

nshi

pw

ithth

atpe

rson

islik

ely

goin

gto

beth

eon

eth

ing

that

dete

m:1

nes

whe

ther

that

pers

onw

illhe

lpyo

uo

ut

Law

yers

with

poor

rela

tions

hips

with

supp

orts

taff

ers

will

suff

er.'

As

Bro

okly

n'sJ

oan

Kin

gsa

ys,"

Ifyo

u're

resp

ectfu

lto

the

wor

dpr

o­ce

ssin

gsta

ff,it

pays

divi

dend

sat

2a.

m.,

whe

nyo

urdo

cum

ents

get

push

edah

ead

ofso

mEO

neel

se's.

"O

nela

wye

rta

lked

abou

thav

ing

toge

tsom

eim

port

antp

aper

sou

tto

acl

ient

He

was

cert

ain

that

he'd

mis

sed

the

FedE

xde

adlin

e.H

ew

ent

toth

em

ailro

omto

chec

k.Th

em

ailro

om.~

smile

d,an

dsa

id,"

Com

eon

.I'll

help

you

out."

He

drov

eth

ela

wye

rto

the

airp

ort,

and

took

him

toa

secr

eten

tranc

ean

dgo

tthe

l'edE

xof

f,ev

enth

ough

the

"tec

hnic

al"

dead

­lin

eha

dpa

ssed

.If

you'

rea

new

law

yer

and

you'

resh

arin

ga

secr

etar

yw

itha

bunc

hof

othe

rpe

oplE

,Hof

stra

'sR

ebec

caK

atz-

Whi

tere

min

dsyo

uth

at"y

ourw

ork

has

the

low

estp

riorit

y.So

me

new

law

yers

have

tosh

are

ase

cret

ary

With

four

othe

rpeo

ple!

Vou

'relo

wpe

rson

onth

eto

tem

pole

,and

that

IJea

ns

that

ifyo

uar

en't

nice

toth

ese

cret

ary,

you

won

'tge

tan

yth

illg

do

ne

."

c.T

hey

can

save

you~:om

look

ing

stup

id.

Whe

nyo

u're

ane

wla

wye

r,th

ere

are

alo

tof

deta

ilsth

atyo

udo

n'tk

now

-but

supp

orts

taff

ers

do.

Pepp

erdi

ne's

.Car

olA

Ilem

eier

278

280

WHAT

LAw

ScHo

oLDO

ESN'T

TEAC

HYo

u••

•Bu

r You

REA

WNE

EDTO

KNow

The

'Peo

ple'

Part

OfK

bnI-.

/t'sN

otIt7

zat Y

ou're

like

. ..

281

the

firm

isth

inki

ngof

addi

ngan

asso

ciat

eat

itsL

ondo

nof

fice.

.H

efin

dsou

t who

isdo

ing

the

hiri

ng,

goes

toth

em, a

ndsa

ys,

'Tak

em

e."

No

othe

ras

soci

ate

had

even

hea

rdab

out t

he

plum

ll$Si

gnm

ent.l

t p"Y

So

ff.

He

gets

the

job.

2.S

uppo

rtst

affe

rsca

nb

epo

wer

fu1l

nW

iffS

you

can'

t im

agin

e.A

sS

t Tho

mas

' Mid

lelle

Fong

yee

poin

tsou

t,"D

on't

star

t with

ahi

er­

arch

yIn

min

d,'M

eI•.

wye

r-yo

use

cret

ary.

' Sec

reta

ries

have

alo

tof

pow

erth

atne

was

socI

ates

don'

t app

reci

ate.

"K

entu

cky'

sD

rnsi

IlaB

aker

tec

hoes

that

, say

ing,

"Don

'tbe

delu

ded

Into

thin

kin

gth

atju

stbe

caus

eyo

urtim

eis

billa

ble

a:ld

thei

rsis

n't t

hat y

ou're

bette

rth

anth

eyar

e."

Gun

stle

r,Y

oakl

ey's

Kel

lyTo

ole

says

that

"you

r sec

reta

ryw

asth

ere

befo

reyo

u,an

dsh

e'll

beth

ere

whe

nyo

ule

ave.

She

can

bea

grea

t res

ourc

e,or

your

wor

sten

emy.

"If

you

trea

t sec

reta

ries

badl

y,yo

urw

ork

will

sud­

denl

ybe

onth

ebo

ttom

ofth

epi

le. I

fyou

'reru

deto

wor

dpr

oces

sing

pe0­

ple,

"Tha

t brie

f you

n~ed?

Sudd

enly

they

've

got a

proj

ect t

hat's

mor

eim

port

ant

than

your

s!' s

ays

Dru

silla

Bak

ert.

Ror

ida

Stat

e's

Step

hani

eR

edfe

arn

poin

tsou

t tha

t "M

any

runn

ers

are

the

child

ren

ofpa

rtne

rsor

big

clie

nts.

Atto

rney

ssh

oot t

hem

selv

esin

the

foot

whe

nth

eytr

eat r

un·

ners

badl

y.Th

eki

dgo

esho

me,

and

over

dinn

erte

llsD

addy

, 'So

-and

-so

isa

jerk

.'"O

nere

crui

ting

coor

dina

tor

com

men

ted

that

"The

man

agin

gpa

rtner

'sse

cret

ary

isth

em

ost p

ower

ful p

erso

nIn

our

firm

.H

ere

lies

onhe

rfo

rth

ein

Side

scoo

pon

ever

ythi

ngth

atgo

eson

Inth

eof

fice.

Atto

r­ne

yson

her

bad

side

are

toas

t.Sh

eha

sth

em

anag

ing

part

ner's

ear.

Inso

me

way

s,he

'sdo

ser

tohe

r tha

nhe

isto

his

wife

!"A

t ano

ther

firm

, the

secr

etar

yfo

rth

ehe

adof

the

litig

atio

nde

partm

ent h

adth

esa

me

role

. As

anas

soci

ate

inth

ede

partm

ent t

ells

it,"S

he'll

tell

him

thin

gslik

e,'I

don'

tlik

eth

atas

soci

ate.

He's

snea

ky.'

And

that

asso

ciat

ew

illha

vea

blac

km

ark

agai

nst h

im. A

ndon

the

f1ip

side

ofth

at, s

heco

ntro

lsth

ego

odie

s.If

the

part

ner

can'

t mak

ea

bask

etba

llga

me,

she

deci

des

wilo

gets

his

sea·

son

ticke

ts. S

he's

asm

art p

erso

nto

befii

end.

"M

cDon

nell

Boe

hnen

'sBr

adH

ulbe

rtpo

ints

out t

hat "

The

arro

gant

law

yer w

hofo

rget

sth

atse

cret

arie

sar

ean

esse

ntia

l par

t of I

hete

amis

inev

itabl

ypu

nish

ed. '

Oh,

I did

n't k

now

that

you

wan

ted

the

atta

chm

ents

actu

ally

atta

ched

toth

ebr

iefl

'"A

t

anot

her f

irm,

ase

nior

asso

ciat

ew

asas

ked

tole

ave

beca

use

helo

sttw

ose

cret

arie

sIn

aro

w.

Rem

embe

rab

ove

all t

hat s

ecre

tari

esta

lk.

Wha

t the

ysa

yab

out y

ouhe

lps

deve

lop

your

repu

tatio

n,no

t jus

t with

othe

rse

cret

arie

sbu

t with

law

yers

asw

ell.

Ifyo

utr

eat t

hejo

hnas

are

adin

gro

oman

dsp

end

alo

t of

time

Inth

ere,

your

bath

room

habi

tsw

illso

onge

t spr

ead

arou

ndth

efu

m.

At o

nefir

m, o

nepa

rtne

r was

noto

rious

for

havi

nglu

nch

athi

sde

skan

dpu

tting

his

dirt

yw

rapp

ers

and

plat

esIn

his

out b

oxfo

rhi

sse

cret

ary

todi

spos

eof

, rat

her

than

just

dum

ping

them

Inhi

sw

aste

bask

et. T

hat r

epu­

tatio

nfo

llow

edhi

mfo

r yea

rs;

ever

ytim

ehi

sna

me

cam

eup

, tha

t'sw

hat

peop

lew

ould

thin

kof

first.

The

botto

mlin

e:m

istre

atin

gth

esu

ppor

t sta

ffca

nki

llyo

u.Th

eyre

ally

doha

veth

atm

uch

pow

er.

~CAREER

LlM

:IT

ING

MO

VE

••

Rai

nmak

ing

part

ner

ina

larg

efir

m.

He

isre

noW

ned

for

trea

ting

supp

ort

staf

fers

badl

y,bu

tbe

caus

ehe

'ssu

cha

grea

tso

urce

ofbu

sine

ss,

his

beha

vior

isto

lera

ted

for a

long

time_

One

day;

heis

havi

nga

mee

ting

inth

efir

m's

conf

eren

cero

omat

lunc

htim

ew

ithso

me

dien

ts.

He

tells

his

secr

etar

y,'O

rder

asa

ndw

ich

plat

ter f

rom

the

de6.

for m

ysa

ndw

ich,

you

know

wha

t Ilik

e.Te

llth

emn

om

ayon

nais

e.G

otit?

No

may

onna

ise.

"W

ell,

duh,

yeah

-she

'sno

t dea

f.Sh

eor

ders

the

sand

wic

hes,

mak

ing

asp

ecia

lpo

int t

oth

ede

lito

leav

eth

em

ayon

nais

eof

f of

this

part

ner's

sand

wic

h.W

hen

the

sand

wic

hes

are

deliv

ered

toth

eco

nfer

ence

room

,su

reen

ough

-his

sand

wic

hha

sm

ayon

nais

eon

it.H

ege

tson

the

inte

r­co

mw

ith

his

secr

etar

yan

dsa

ys--

lnfr

ont o

f the

c1ie

nts-

"My

sand

wic

hha

sm

ayon

nais

eon

itl"

She

apol

ogiz

espr

ofus

ely

and

expl

ains

that

she

did

give

the

corr

ect d

irec

tions

toth

ede

li.Sh

ete

llshi

m, "

I'll

go

dow

nth

ere

and

get y

ouan

othe

r san

dwic

h."

He

snap

s,N

No

you

wo

n't

You

'llco

me

inhe

rean

dw

ipe

off t

hem

ayon

nais

eyo

urse

lf.N

The

reis

stun

ned

sile

nce

inth

eco

nfer

ence

room

, and

she

isin

shoc

k.W

hat s

hetf

tlnk

sis,

"You

bette

r han

gon

toth

atm

ayon

nais

e,be

caus

eif

you

mak

em

ego

inth

ere,

you'

rego

ing

tone

edal

l the

lubr

icat

ion

you

can

get."

Wha

t she

do

es

isto

calm

lypi

ckup

her p

urse

and

leav

eth

eof

fice.

282

WIlI

JLA

wSC

HOOl

.DoE

SN'T

TEAC

HYO

U..

.Bu

rYou

REA

LlY

NEED

TOKN

owTh

e'P

eopl

e'Pa

rtO

fWor

k.It

sNot

K?Ja

tYou

'relik

e..

.28

3

It's

the

last

stra

w.T

heo

ther

par

tner

sas

kth

isp

artn

erto

leav

eth

e

firm

.

3.D

on't

forc

eyo

ursu

peri

ors

toch

oose

side

sbe

tWee

nyo

uan

da

supp

orts

taff

er.

As

Wak

eFo

rest

'sB

illB

arre

ttw

arns

,"Y

oung

asso

date

sw

illbe

out

befo

reth

epa

rtner

'sse

cret

ayle

aves

.Sec

reta

ries

and

offic

em

anag

ers

run

the

offic

e!"

Bak

erD

onel

soIi'

sSu

eH

unte

radd

sth

at"I

t'sa

bad

idea

toge

tto

obi

gfo

ryou

rbr

itche

s.It'

sa

lote

asie

rto

lind

good

atto

rney

sth

anit

is

tolin

dgo

odse

cret

arie

s!"

Den

nis

Ker

med

yadv

ises

that

you

"Lea

rnyo

urpl

ace

inth

epe

ckin

gor

der.

Ius

edto

joke

inth

ehi

ring

proc

ess

that

we

shou

ldhi

rem

ilita

ryve

tera

lSbe

caus

eth

eykn

ewth

atyo

ust

arte

dat

the

botto

man

dea

rned

your

W<y

upth

ela

dder

.Eve

ryon

eat

the

offic

epl

ays

adi

ffer

ent r

ole

and

the

valu

eof

thos

ero

les

isno

tdet

erm

ined

bytit

le.I

fyo

u've

been

ata

firm

fora

lew

mon

ths

and

geti

nto

asi

tuat

ion

whe

reyo

ufo

rce

apa

rtner

toch

oose

b,!tw

een

supp

ortin

gyo

uor

the

secr

etar

y(s

)he's

had

for

ten

year

san

dre

lies

onin

way

syo

uca

n't

even

imag

ine

(unt

ilyo

u'll

eha

da

secr

etar

yyo

u've

relie

don

fort

enye

ars)

,Igu

aran

tee

that

ahu

ndre

dpe

rcen

toft

hetiI

Teth

epa

rtner

will

supp

ortt

hese

cret

ary.

It's

ash

owdo

wn

you

can'

tWin

.Don

'ttry

tofo

rce

it"

~CAREER

UM

I'i1

l11

GM

OV

E

Asu

mm

ercl

erk.

His

firs

td

ayat

his

sum

mer

empl

oyer

.H

ew

alks

into

the

man

agin

gpa

rtne

r's

c,ff

ice

whi

leth

em

anag

ing

par

tner

ista

lkin

g

wit

hhi

sse

cret

ary.

The

sum

mer

cler

kin

terr

upts

,say

ing,

"Hel

lo,

Sir.

It's

nice

tom

eety

ou

.It

'sm

yfi

rst

day

...

"T

hep

artn

ergi

ves

him

aco

ld

look

and

says

,"I

amin

the

mid

dle

of

talk

ing

tom

yse

cret

ary,

Mis

s

Hat

haw

ay.

She

ism

ore

impo

rtan

ttha

nyo

uw

illev

erbe

."

4.D

on't

thin

kth

atyo

ursu~Jeriorsw

illr

espe

ctyo

ufo

rlo

rdin

git

over

the

supp

ort s

taff.

Don

'tw

orry

.Eve

rybo

dyat

wor

kas

sum

esth

atyo

u're

smar

tand

capa

·bl

e.Y

oudo

n'th

ave

totr

eats

uppo

rtst

affe

rslik

edi

rtto

burn

ish

your

posi

tion.

And

ifyo

udo

,it'

llhu

rtyo

u.La

wye

rsat

Lord

Biss

ellp

oint

out

that

"No

mat

terh

owsm

arts

omeo

neis

and

how

tech

nica

llysa

vvy

they

may

beas

ala

wye

r,if

they

trea

tthe

stal

lWith

disr

espe

ctth

eyw

on't

succ

eed.

"A

law

yer

atSh

ook

Har

dyad

ds,

"Nob

odywan~

prim

ado

n­na

s."

Den

ver's

Ann

eSt

ark

Wal

ker

poin

tsou

ttha

t"A

few

inst

ance

sof

brO

W-b

eatin

ga

secr

etar

y,or

bera

ting

anof

fice

mes

seng

er,c

ando

per.

man

ent d

amag

eto

your

repu

tatio

nat

the

offic

e."

5.If

the

firm

cult

ure

isto

trea

tsta

ffba

dly

and

/orm

ake

sexi

stco

mm

ents

arou

ndth

em-f

or

gosh

sak

esig

no

reth

efir

mcu

lture

!

D.o

n'tt

ake

,you

::be

havi

oral

cues

from

peop

lew

hobe

have

badl

y.A

sle

WIS

&C

lark

sLis

aLe

sage

poin

tsou

t,"D

on't

pay

atte

ntio

nto

how

sen.

ior

partn

ers

trea

tthe

irse

cret

arie

s!"

Ham

line's

Vm

ceTh

omas

adds

that

"Lot

sof

peop

lear

esh

ortw

ithsta

ff,an

dse

Xist

ina

frat

boy

kind

ofw

ay.I

tal

way

sco

mes

back

tobi

teyo

u."

Rem

embe

J;if

you

see

atto

rney

sat

wor

ktre

atin

gth

eir

staf

fers

badl

y,it

tells

you

som

ethi

ngyo

ure

ally

don'

twan

tto

know

abou

tthe

m.A

ndif

you

geti

nto

the

good

01'b

oym

enta

lity

whe

nIt

com

esto

hand

ling

"the

girls

,"yo

u're

notj

ustb

eing

stup

id-y

ou're

open

ing

upyo

urem

ploy

erto

the~eat

ofa

sexu

alha

rass

men

tsui

t,an

dId

on't

have

tote

llyo

uth

attb

ats

rea1

1yba

dne

ws.

Furth

erm

ore,

ifyo

ufla

tterp

artn

ers

and

then

treat

supp

ort s

taff

ers

badl

y,it

will

expo

seyo

uto

ever

yone

atth

eof

fice

asa

phon

y.T

hat's

aba

dre

puta

tion

toha

ve.

Sofo

llow

asi

mpl

eru

le:

trea

tsup

port

staf

fers

with

resp

ectn

om

atte

rho

wan

ybod

yels

etre

ats

them

,and

you

can'

tgo

wro

ng.

6.R

emem

ber

that

litt

leth

ings

mea

na

lot.

Trea

tthe

supp

orts

taff

wel

lfro

mda

yon

e.Th

eve

ryfir

stda

yat

wor

k"I

ntro

duce

your

self

toth

emim

med

iate

lyan

dbe

cert

ain

tole

arneac~

pers

on's

nam

e,"

says

Mar

ilyn

Tuck

er.

At

one

firm

,a

new

asso

date

~rought

ina

box

ofm

uffin

son

his

first

day

for

allo

fthe

supp

orts

taff

ers.

Now

hege

tsev

eryt

hing

hew

ants

imm

edia

tely

,'co

mm

ente

dth

efin

n's

hirin

gpa

rtner

.

Whe

nyo

u're

bran

dne

w,a

ckno

wle

dge

toyo

urse

cret

ary

that

you'

vego

talo

tto

lear

n.A

sA

rizon

a'sM

ary

Birm

ingh

amsu

gges

ts,"

Say

toyo

ur

284

WH

AT

LAw

ScH

OO

L[lO

ESN

'TTE

ACH

You..

. BU

TYo

uRE

ALDl

NEE

DTO

KNow

The

'Peo

ple"

PartO

fWO

Jic.lt

'sN

otW

hat Y

ou're

Like

. ..

285

secr

etar

y,'I'

mgo

nna

<sk

you

ato

nof

dum

bqu

estio

ns, a

ndI h

ope

that

'sO

K, b

ecau

seI'm

tryi

ngto

lear

nth

ero

pes,

'"A

t one

firm

,on

her

first

day

ofw

ork

anas

soci

ate

wal

ked

upto

her

extr

emel

yex

peri

ence

dse

c·re

tary

.and

said

,"L

ook,

Ikn

owyo

u've

been

doin

gth

islo

nger

than

Iha

ve. I

know

Ipr

obab

lyca

nle

arn

ath

ing

ortw

oab

out p

ract

icin

gla

wfro

myo

u."

As

aco

lle'lg

ueof

hers

poin

ted

out,

"It s

eta

tone

ofm

utua

lre

spec

t fro

mth

eouts.~t."

At

anot

her f

irm,

ane

was

soci

ate

reca

llsth

at"I

was

war

ned

that

I'dbe

enas

sign

eda

crot

chet

yse

cret

ary

who

rese~ted

wor

king

for

som

eone

who

was

one-

thir

dhe

rag

e.K

now

ing

this

, Ito

okhe

r flo

wer

.;,an

dsa

id, '

Ilo

okfo

rwar

dto

lear

ning

from

you.

Ikn

owth

atyo

ukn

ow:n

ore

abou

t the

prac

tice

ofla

wan

dth

isfir

mth

anI

do.'

Afte

rth

at,

I had

notr

oubl

ege

tting

my

wor

kdo

ne. T

hefa

ctis

,w

hen

you'

rede

alin

gw

ithyo

urse

cret

ary

you'

vego

t to

put y

our

infla

ted

ego

asid

e.Y

ouca

n't a

lsum

eyo

u'll

win

piss

ing

cont

ests

with

secr

etar

ies,

beca

use

you

won

't"If

secr

etar

ies

atyo

urof

fice

are

refe

rred

toas

"ass

ista

nts,

"do

n't

ever

call

them

secr

etar

ies;

bey

hate

itLo

yola

'sPa

mO

cchi

pint

i tel

lsyo

u,"N

ever

forg

etSe

cret

arie

s'D

ay. I

t'sso

impo

rtant

toth

em!"

Sim

ilarly

, rem

embe

r you

rse

cret

ary'

sbi

rthda

y.If

(s)h

eha

sa

pers

onal

mge

dy, s

end

aco

ndol

ence

card

and

flow

ers.

Mak

ea

poin

t of g

ettin

gto

know

all

ofth

esu

ppor

t sta

ffer

s,no

t jus

tth

ese

cret

arie

s.A

sH

amlin

e's

Vin

ceT

hom

assa

ys,

"At

my

firm

,ou

rw

ord

proc

essi

ngae

part

men

t pro

duce

dre

ally

long

docu

men

ts. O

nce

ina

whi

le, i

nste

adof

leav

ing

thin

gsin

the

pick

-up

box,

I'dw

alk

my

wor

kdo

wn

toth

eman

ds\

l€nd

afe

wm

inut

esch

attin

g.T

hey

obvi

ousl

yap

pre­

ciat

edit.

They

wer

eso

used

toha

ving

thei

rco

ntac

t with

atto

rney

sco

n­si

stof

peop

lest

orm

ing

dow

nto

them

and

scre

amin

g'Y

ousc

rew

edth

isup

l'" Whe

nyo

urse

cret

aly-

oran

yot

her

supp

ort s

taff

er-d

oes

som

ethi

ngfo

r you

, don

'tfo

rget

tosa

y"t

hank

you.

"A

ndfin

ally

, be

apPl

ecia

tive

ofth

eir t

ime

and

sens

itive

toth

eir w

ork­

load

. Be

will

ing

topi

tCl i

nan

dhe

lpth

emou

twhe

nth

esi

tuat

ion

calls

for

itA

sB

art S

Cho

rsch

wit

esin

The

Stud

ent L

awye

r,"A

few

min

utes

help

­in

gto

arra

nge

afil

eor

sift

thro

ugh

docu

men

tsm

ight

payo

fffo

r you

late

r,ei

ther

inex

perie

nce

orfa

mili

arity

with

aca

seor

prob

lem

."

'gS

MA

RT

HU

MA

NT

RIC

K•••

Juni

oras

soci

ate

ata

larg

efi

nnw

ith

seve

ral

offi

ces.

Aft

era

year

aton

eof

the

firm

'sof

fice

s,he

gets

tran

sfer

red

toa

diff

eren

t off

ice.

On

his

last

day,

hebu

ysfl

ower

sfo

rhi

sse

cret

ary.

Ash

esa

ys,

"I'd

neve

rha

da

sec·

reta

rybe

fore

,an

dI'd

been

very

happ

yw

ith

her

wor

k.So

I pu

t ano

teo

nth

efl

ower

sth

atsa

id'T

hank

sfo

rbe

ing

soki

ndto

me:

Lat

erth

atw

eek,

we

had

afi

nn-w

ide

even

t with

. all

ofth

ela

wye

rsan

dsu

pp

ort

staf

f.A

llof

the

fem

ale

law

yers

from

my

oid

offi

cera

nu

pto

me

and

said

,W

ow!

Wha

t ani

cegu

y!Y

oum

ade

her

day!

' Thi

sse

cret

ary

told

ever

ybod

yab

out t

hose

flow

ers.

I've

neve

rha

dan

ypr

oble

mw

orki

ngw

ith

ase

cret

ary

sinc

e.I h

ones

tly

did

itju

stbe

caus

esh

ew

asni

ceto

me,

bu

tto

tell

you

the

tru

th,

that

was

sixt

ybu

cks

wel

lsp

en

t-th

ego

odw

illit

gene

rate

dw

aspr

icel

ess!

"

~CAREER

LIM

IT

IN

GM

OV

E

Firs

t yea

ras

soci

ate

ata

very

larg

eM

idw

este

mfin

n_T

hefi

nnha

ndle

sen

orm

ous

deal

sw

hich

invo

lve

ton

sof

pape

rwor

k.O

ne

nigh

t,th

epa

rale

gals

and

law

yers

are

ther

eal

lni

ght w

orki

ngon

20

0d

ocu

men

tse

tsfo

ra

deal

. Ap

age

inev

ery

set

has

tob

ere

plac

ed,

and

the

firs

tye

aras

soci

ate

deci

des

that

even

thou

ghit

'scr

unch

tim

e,it

'sbe

neat

hhi

mto

help

take

stap

les

ou

tof

the

do

cum

ent

sets

tom

ake

the

repl

acem

ent.

Hal

fan

hour

late

r,a

mid

-lev

elas

soci

ate

wal

ksin

toth

ero

om,

and

asks

,'W

hat's

goin

gon

here

?'W

hen

the

para

lega

lste

llh

imab

out t

he

mis

take

,he

rolls

up

his

slee

ves

tohe

lp. A

so

ne

ofth

epa

ra­

lega

lspo

ints

out,

"Wit

hth

ato

ne

sim

ple

act

the

mid

-lev

elas

soci

ate

go

tkn

own

asa

pers

onto

wor

kfo

r.A

sim

ple

act

like

that

gets

you

fur­

ther

than

all

ofth

ebl

ack

lett

erla

wyo

ukn

ow. T

hefi

rst y

ear?

He

was

blac

k-ba

lled.

"

1.

Wh

eny

ou

're

new

.b

efr

iend

lyw

ith

sup

po

rtst

alIe

rs, b

ut b

eca

refu

l ab

ou

t hav

ing

the

sho

uld

ery

ou

r sec

reta

rycr

ies

on

.

286

WH

AT

LAw

ScH

OO

LD

oES!

"'TTE

ACH

YO

U••

•B

lITYo

uRE

ALIY

NEE

DTC

KNow

The

'Peo

ple"

Part

OfW

ork.

It's N

otm

Jat Y

ou're

Like

_,.

287

I've

alre

ady

stre

ssed

tl!e

impo

rtanc

eof

bein

gfr

iend

lyw

ithsu

ppor

tst

affe

rsbu

t as

Hof

stra's

Re:

Jecc

aK

atz-

Whi

tepo

ints

out,

"Be

care

ful a

bout

bein

g~e

one

your

assi

sta:

ltco

mes

toto

talk

abou

t per

sona

l iss

ues.

You

can'

t affo

rdto

bein

that

rcle

o"Th

efa

ctis

, ify

our s

ecrE

tary

com

esto

you

and

lean

son

you

for

advi

ceab

out h

is/h

erpe

rson

alli'

e,it'

sa

min

efie

ld. N

umbe

ron

e,it'

llta

keup

your

valu

able

offic

etim

e.N

umbe

rtw

o,yo

urat

titud

eab

out y

our s

ecre

­ta

ryw

illcb

ange

. But

beca

use

you'

rehu

man

, you

'refla

ttere

dw

hen

som

e·on

ew

ants

your

advi

ce. W

atch

out!

You

need

tobe

hum

ane

but w

ary.

Giv

eyo

uras

sist

ant t

heti

neto

get h

elp,

sayi

ngso

met

hing

like,

"I'd

love

tohe

lpou

t but

I'mno

t apr

ofes

sion

al,"

and

refe

r the

mto

ath

erap

ist.

You

can

beun

ders

tand

ing,

but y

ouca

n't b

ea

psyc

holo

gist

.T

his

soun

dsco

ld, b

utre

mem

ber t

hat I

'mon

lyta

lkin

gab

out t

hesi

tua­

tionwh~re

you'

rea

bran

d-ne

wla

wye

r.A

fter

aw

hile

you'

llha

vea

track

reco

rdw

ithyo

urse

cret

aysu

chth

atyo

u're

ina

posi

tion

tokn

owth

atth

ey'll

bepr

ofes

sion

alw

hen

they

get t

heir

prof

essi

onal

life

toge

ther

, and

you

can

bem

uch

mor

efle

xibl

e.B

utw

hen

you'

rest

artin

gou

t,yo

udo

n't

know

that

, so

you

can'

t ta~e

the

chan

ce. T

hink

oftr

ying

toex

plai

nto

your

supe

rvis

ing

atto

rney

, "I'm

sorr

yI'm

goin

gto

mis

syo

urde

adlin

e,bu

t my

secr

etar

yha

sbe

encr

ying

onm

ysh

ould

erab

out h

erdi

vorc

e,so

I did

n't

get a

chan

ceto

writ

eth

em

emo

and

she

didn

'tge

t ach

ance

toty

peit.

"

8.F

igu

rin

gou

t exa

ctly

wha

t the

heck

itis

that

secr

etar

ies

do,w

hen

you'

vene

ver h

ada

secr

etar

ybe

fore

As

Car

lton

Fiel

ds' E

ri: A

dam

spo

ints

out,

"It's

hard

tole

arn

dele

ga­

tion.

Whe

nyo

uge

t out

,)fla

wsc

hool

, you

'reus

edto

bein

gth

ede

lega

-te

e." W

hat s

ecre

tarie

sac

tual

lydo

varie

sfro

mem

ploy

erto

empl

oyer

, and

thei

rdu

ties

have

evol

ved

over

time.

As

Aki

nG

ump'

sJ.D

. Nea

rysa

ys,

"The

ydo

diff

eren

t thi

ng';

now

than

typi

ng!"

For i

nSta

nce,

they

'llty

piCa

!l!he

lpyo

uw

ithyo

urtim

esh

eets

.T

hey

revi

sedo

cum

ents

(alth

ough

ifyo

u've

only

mad

esm

all m

ista

kes,

it's

prob

ably

fast

erto

jum

p.o

nto

the

com

pute

ran

dm

ake

the

chan

ges

your

self.

As

St.

Tho

mas

'M

iche

lleFo

ngye

epo

ints

out,

"Yo'

l!se

cret

ary

isn'

t sitt

ing

ther

ew

aitin

gfo

r you

toco

me

upw

ithw

ork.

Som

etim

esit'

sea

sier

todo

ityo

urse

lf."]

. You

can

expe

ctth

emto

help

out w

ithdi

strib

utio

ns,

putti

ngon

eof

each

docu

­m

ent i

nto

each

pack

et. T

hey

can

help

draf

t,or

edit

ifyo

udi

ctat

eyo

urdo

cum

ents

.Er

icA

dam

spo

ints

out

that

"The

y're

grea

tpr

oofr

eade

rsbe

caus

eth

eyar

en't

law

yers

. The

y'll

catc

hst

uff t

hat y

ou'll

mis

sbe

caus

eyo

u're

too

fam

iliar

with

your

own

wor

k."

The

yal

soac

t as

liais

onw

ithop

posi

ngco

unse

l and

they

'llhe

lpou

t with

sche

duli

ng.

You

shou

ldal

sore

mem

ber

that

your

secr

etar

yis

your

only

line

ofde

fens

ew

hen

peop

lear

elo

okin

gfo

ryo

u.A

lway

ste

llyo

urse

cret

ary

whe

reyo

uar

e,w

heth

erit'

sth

elib

rary

, atra

inin

gse

ssio

n,th

eba

thro

om,

anyw

here

.H

ofst

ra's

Reb

ecca

Kat

z-W

hite

sugg

ests

that

you

"he

prep

ared

todo

your

own

wor

dpr

oces

sing

toav

oid

rely

ing

ona

secr

etar

y.A

skyo

urse

cre­

tary

tote

ach

you

shor

tcut

san

dfu

nctio

nke

ysto

limit

the

amou

ntof

time

your

secr

etar

yw

ill

have

tosp

end

onyo

urw

ork.

You

rse

cret

ary

wil

lap

prec

iate

it."

As

ane

wla

wye

r you

'relik

ely

tobe

shar

ing

ase

cret

ary

(ifyo

uge

t one

atal

l).

The

pers

on(o

rpe

ople

)yo

u're

shar

ing

with

will

bem

ore

seni

orth

anyo

u.Y

ouha

veto

bem

indf

ulof

this

for

two

reas

ons.

Num

ber o

ne, a

sR

ebec

caK

atz-

Whi

tepo

ints

out,

"You

need

tobe

caut

ious

not t

ost

epon

the

toes

ofth

em

ore

seni

orpe

rson

."Be

cons

ciou

sof

whe

n,an

dho

w, t

he'

othe

rla

wye

rsus

eth

ese

cret

ary.

Also

rem

embe

rth

atth

ese

cret

ary

wil

lha

vein

fluen

cew

ithth

ela

wye

rsw

ithw

hom

you

shar

ehi

mor

her.

As

one

law

yer p

oint

sou

t,"W

hen

I was

ane

was

soci

ate,

I sha

red

ase

cret

ary

with

apo

wer

ful

partn

er.

Iga

vehe

ra

Chr

istm

aspr

esen

tan

dm

ade

abso

lute

lysu

reth

atsh

elik

edm

e,be

caus

esh

eha

dth

epa

rtner

'sea

r."Fi

nally

, don

'tov

erlo

okpe

rhap

sth

em

ost v

alua

ble

cont

ribu

tion

your

secr

etar

yca

nm

ake:

(Sjh

e'll

prob

ably

bepl

ugge

din

toth

eem

ploy

er's

grap

evin

e,an

dca

npa

ssal

ong

toyo

uva

luab

lein

side

skin

ny. E

spec

ia11

yif

the

new

sis

bad

-it c

once

rns

som

ebod

y's

nega

tive

opin

ion

ofyo

u,fo

rin

stan

ce-b

esu

reto

say

than

kyo

uan

dno

tbe

tray

any

emot

ion.

You

need

tokn

oww

hat's

bein

gsa

id,

and

ifyo

upu

nish

your

secr

etar

yfo

rte

lling

you,

you'

lldi

scou

rage

her f

rom

telli

ngyo

uan

ythi

ngel

se.

9.L

ea

rnh

ow

long

adm

inis

trat

ive

func

tion

sta

ke,

and

act

acco

rdin

gly.

288

WIW

lAw

ScH

OO

LD

oE;N

'rTE

ACH

YOU

... B

urYo

uRE

AllY

NEED

TOKN

owTh

e"P

eopl

e"Pa

ItO

fWor

k.It'

s Not

fI1Ja

t YO/

I 're L

ike..

.28

9In

orde

r to

mak

eyo

urde

adlin

es, y

oune

edto

know

how

long

itta

kes

todo

ever

ythi

ngth

atYO

Lodo

n't d

o.Ph

otoc

opyi

ng, f

aJdn

g,w

ord

proc

ess'

ing,

enve

lope

stuf

fing

-the

yal

l tak

etim

e.A

skpe

ople

who

regu

larly

doth

ese

task

Sfo

r rul

esof

thum

bab

out h

owlo

ngth

eyta

ke. O

nce

you

know

,yo

uca

nbu

ildth

isin

form

atio

nin

toyo

ursc

hedu

leso

that

you'

reno

t ~on­

stan

tlyra

cing

tosu

ppor

t sta

ffer

s with

afr

antic

last

·min

ute

rush

proJe~.

Mos

t peo

ple

don'

tbot

hET

with

this

, and

ifyo

udo

, the

supp

ort s

taff

will

notic

ean

dap

prec

iate

it.lf

you'

rego

ing

tobe

givi

ngsu

ppor

t sta

ffer

s wor

kla

teat

nigh

t,D

en'

ver's

Jerin

ifer L

oud

Ung

arsu

gges

tsth

atyo

u"L

etsta

ffpe

ople

know

abOu~

itas

soon

asyo

uca

n.C

opy

room

peop

le, w

ord

proc

esso

rs-t

hey

appr

eCl'

ate

bein

gw

arne

d.If

yOL

don'

t giv

eth

emno

tice

up~nt,

you

riskth~

poss

ibili

tyth

atno

body

will

beav

aila

ble

tohe

lpyo

uou

t.Fu

rther

mor

e,if

you'

rego

ing

tone

edhe

lpaf

ter

hour

s-ty

pica

llyaf

ter

5p.

m. o

r so

-be

lIel

)'car

eful

. Ove

rtim

ew

ork

cost

sem

ploy

ers a

l~t o

f ~oney,.

and

itw~'t

refle

ctw

ell o

nyo

urco

mpe

tenc

eif

you'

rero

uune

lym

eurn

ngov

ertim

eex

pens

es.

10,

Le

arn

how

tous

eoI

Do!

equi

pmen

t,es

peci

aIlY

ifyou

wor

lefo

r the

gove

rnm

ent.

I kno

w, I

know

-you

':eth

inki

ng, w

hen

amI g

oing

toge

t to

the

poin

tw

here

I'mth

eon

ew

hodo

esn'

t hav

eto

know

how

offic

em

achi

nes

wor

k?Th

ean

swer

is:N

etye

t Whe

nyo

u're

new

, Mic

helle

Fong

yee

sug­

gests

that

you

"Lea

rnth

efa

Xan

dth

eco

pym

achi

ne, a

nd~ect:o

pick

upth

eph

one.

You

r sec

reta

ryca

n't p

ick

upev

ery

call,

esPe

Cla

llyif

(s)~

ew

orks

for

othe

rlawye~

asw

ell.

Try

tohe

lpou

t.Y

our

secr

etar

yW

illap

prec

iate

itan

dyo

urw

c rk

will

get d

one.

".

Ifyo

uw

ork

for

the

gove

rnm

ent,

your

secr

etar

ial h

elp

islik

ely

tobe

scan

t ind

eed.

One

gove

rrm

ent l

awye

r sai

dth

at"I

alwaY

Sdo

my

own t

yp­

ing,

copy

ing,

faxe

s,en

velo

pes.

Ever

ybod

yhe

redo

es. W

eha

vea

secr

e·ta

rybu

t she

wor

ksfo

r us

acco

rdin

gto

seni

ority

, so

whe

nyo

u're

new

you

~t

coun

t on

anyt

hing

bein

gdo

nefo

r you

. But

beca

use

ever

ybod

y's

inth

esa

me

boat

, you

don'

t fee

l lik

ea

mar

tYr-"

11.

How

toha

ndle

mis

take

syo

urse

cret

arY

mak

es

You

'repr

obab

lyth

inki

ngth

atyo

u're

wor

ried

enou

ghab

out y

our

own

com

pete

nce;

you

don'

t wan

t to

cont

empl

ate

Whe

ther

orno

t you

r sec

re­

tary

can

doa

good

job!

But

the

fact

is, y

our

secr

etar

yis

hum

an,

too.

(S)h

e'II

mak

em

ista

kes.

AsLe

wis

and

Cla

rk's

Usa

Lesa

gesa

ys,

"Don

't?a

me~ut

over

mist

akes

. Be

cons

truct

ive!

"If

you

find

that

your

secr

etar

yIS

rout

inel

ym

akin

gm

ista

kes,

beca

refu

l how

you

hand

leit

Don

'tpo

int

finge

rs.

Inst

ead,

calm

Iysa

yso

met

hing

like,

"The

last

two

brie

fsIw

rote

wen

t out

with

out t

herig

htat

tach

men

ts. P

artn

erX

real

lych

ewed

me

out.

How

can

we

mak

esu

reth

atit

does

n't h

appe

nag

ain?

Any

sugg

estio

TlS

for

how

we

can

chan

geth

ings

?"Be

care

ful

abou

tth

ech

ange

syo

uin

sti·

tute

-if y

ou're

too

anal

YOU'

lldr

ive

your

secr

etar

ycr

azy.

One

atto

rney

talk

edab

out a

colle

ague

athi

sfir

mw

hoha

dbe

enbu

rned

whe

nhi

sse

c·re

tary

put t

hew

rong

lette

rsin

enve

lope

san

dse

ntth

emo

ut A

fter t

hat

With

ever

ysu

hseq

uent

secr

etar

yhe

had,

hem

ade

sure

that

befo

reth~

secr

etar

yse

aled

any

enve

lope

, she

'dha

veto

brin

g!t t

ohi

mto

see

that

she'd

stuf

fed

them

corre

ctly

. His

secr

etar

ies

wen

t nut

s doi

ngth

is. A

sth

eat

torn

eypo

inte

dou

t,"Y

ouca

nbe

pick

y,bu

t you

have

tobe

min

dful

ofhu

man

natu

re.•

Ifth

em

ista

kes

keep

happ

enin

g-in

othe

r wor

ds, y

our s

ecre

tary

isan

idio

t-ag

ain,

don'

t be

blun

tAs

Chi

cago

·Ken

t'sSt

epha

nie

Rev

erC

husa

ys, "

Thin

kha

rdbe

fore

you

com

plai

n-yo

udo

n't w

ant t

oge

t are

puta

·tio

nas

bein

gdi

ffic

ult t

ow

ork

with

, oth

erw

ise

you'

IIge

t bou

nced

from

secr

etar

yto

secr

etar

y."

Go

toth

eof

fice

man

ager

(ifth

ere

ison

e)or

asu

perv

iSin

g.at

torn

eyan

dsa

yso

met

hing

alon

gth

elin

esof

, "I'm

havi

ngtro

uble

getti

ngm

yse

cret

ary

todo

X.C

anyo

ugi

vem

eso

me

advi

ceab

out

how

I oug

htto

hand

leit?

"Th

efa

cts

them

selv

esw

illte

llan

ybod

yex

actly

whe

reth

epr

oble

mlie

s;yo

udo

n't n

eed

toed

itoria

lize.

Ifyo

uta

keth

isap

proa

ch, Y

OU'll

solv

eth

epr

oble

mW

ithou

t see

min

glik

ea

jerk

your

self.

Inci

dent

ally

; rem

embe

r tha

t whe

nit

com

esto

wor

kth

atgo

esth

roug

hyo

urse

cret

ary,

you

're

resp

onsi

ble.

It's

effe

ctiv

ely

your

mis

take

. As

Ven

­ab

le, B

aetje

r'sSt

efan

Tuck

ersa

ys, "

Ifyo

use

nda

lette

rto

'Dea

r Dav

id' a

ndR

icha

rdSm

ithis

the

addr

esse

e,th

ere

stof

wha

t you

say

isiIT

elev

ant I

t'sea

syto

~lame

your

secr

etar

y.B

utth

ebu

ckdo

esn'

t eve

nst

opW

ithyo

u-i

tst

ops

With

your

boss

.•O

nela

wye

rta

lked

abou

t an

indd

ent w

here

her

secr

etar

yac

cide

ntal

lyse

nta

draf

tdo

cum

ent

toop

posin

l!.co

unse

l."J

290

WHK

r lA

wSc

HO

OL

DoE

SN'T

TEAC

HYo

u••

•B

urYo

oR

EA

llYNE

EDTO

KNow

The'

Peo

ple'

Parr

OfW

ork.

It's N

otM

lat Y

OUTe

like

. ..

291

look

edst

upid

. Ish

ould

n't h

a"e

allo

wed

itto

bese

nt, e

ven

thou

ghit

was

tech

nica

llym

yse

cret

ary

who

:lid

it"

12.

You

'rea

wom

an, y

our s

eaet

ary'

sa

wo

man

-yo

u'v

ego

t som

esp

ecia

l iss

ues

toco

nfro

nt.

Whe

nyo

u're

the

sam

ege

nder

asyo

urse

cret

ary,

you'

vego

t aw

hole

adde

ddy

nam

icgo

ing

on. E

spec

ially

ifyo

u're

youn

ger

than

your

secr

e·ta

ry, y

ou're

likel

yto

befa

ced

with

are

alau

thor

itypr

oble

m. I

talk

edw

ithm

any

youn

gfe

mal

eat

torn

eys

who

bem

oane

dth

efa

ctth

atth

eir

secr

e­ta

ries

just

wou

ldn'

t do

thei

rw

ork.

Una

nsw

ered

phon

es. M

essa

ges

not

take

n.W

ork

put o

nth

ebo

ttom

ofth

epi

le.

How

toha

ndle

it?Y

ou've

got a

fine

line

tow

alk.

On

the

one

hand

,yo

uca

n't b

eto

obu

ddy·

budd

y.Y

ouca

n't

let t

hem

thin

kth

atbe

caus

eyo

u're

frien

ds,

they

can

wal

kal

l ove

r you

. As o

nefe

mal

ela

wye

r poi

nted

out,

"Afte

r the

secr

etar

yth

Iow

syo

ua

baby

show

er, i

t'sha

rdto

say,

'Ine

edth

isby

10a.

m.'"

Ifyo

t've

shar

edth

ede

tails

ofyo

urpe

rson

allif

e,yo

urda

ting

fiasc

os, y

our f

am:1

ypr

oble

ms

With

your

secr

etar

y,it'

sha

rdto

asse

rtau

thor

ity. S

oyo

uw

ant t

obe

frien

dly,

but n

otfri

ends

.O

nth

eot

her h

and,

you

d,on

'tw

ant t

obe

the

quee

nbe

e.Be

sens

itive

toth

epo

ssib

ility

that

your

s~cretary

does

n't v

iew

you

asa

"rea

lbo

ss."

She

mig

htba

lkat

bein

gas

ked

orto

ldto

doth

ings

byyo

u.If

you

dete

ctth

isth

ebe

stad

vice

I hea

rdw

asto

beca

lman

dst

raig

htfo

rwar

dab

out i

t,

Hum

our

help

s.O

neyo

ung

wom

anas

soci

ate

told

ofar

rivin

gfo

r her

first

day

ofw

ork,

and

havi

nghe

rse

cret

ary

bold

lysa

y:"I

don'

t lik

ew

orki

ngw

ithw

omen

atto

rney

s."Th

eas

soci

ate

laug

hing

lyre

plie

d,"W

ell,

1don

'tre

ally

like

wor

king

with

won

ense

cret

arie

s,bu

t why

don'

t we

just

take

this

one

day

ata

time

and

see

how

itgo

es?"

They

got a

long

grea

t afte

rth

atl Geo

rget

own'

sA

bbie

Will

ard

reco

mm

ends

that

you

"Non

-thre

aten

ingl

y,an

dW

ithou

t ang

er, s

ay, '

Itw

en't

serv

eei

ther

one

ofus

ifyo

udo

n't d

om

yw

ork.

It'll

refle

cton

you.

I kno

wyo

u're

used

tom

ale

boss

es. B

utm

yw

ork

need

sto

get d

one.

I und

erst

and

it,I'v

eha

dth

ese

issue

sm

ysel

f.'Pu

t it o

nth

eta

blel

"G

eorg

etow

n's

Bel

t She

rman

sugg

ests

, "Te

nyo

urse

cret

ary,

'Ikn

owyo

u're

real

lybu

sydo

ing

wor

kfo

rX,

but

Ine

edm

yph

one

answ

ered

. How

can

we

doth

at?'"

Hof

stra

'sC

arol

ine

Levy

tells

you

to"R

ecog

nize

that

wha

t you

r sec

re­

tary

does

isan

area

ofex

perti

se. Y

ou're

wor

king

with

them

asa

team

.Sh

owde

fere

nce

tow

hat y

ouca

nle

arn

from

het A

sk, '

Can

you

tell

me

how

this

isdo

ne?'

or'D

oth

eyse

nda

cour

tesy

copy

ofth

isto

the

judg

e?'

Inst

ead

ofsa

ying

'Get

this

mot

ion

type

d!' t

ry, '

How

does

Xlik

eto

star

thi

sm

otio

ns?'

Ifyo

uin

conv

enie

nce

them

, apo

logi

zel

Say,

'I'm

sorry

, it

took

me

too

long

tow

rite

this

affid

avit,

can

you

hand

leit

for

me

this

afte

rnoo

n?A

reyo

uw

orki

ngon

anyt

hing

else

?I'

llta

lkto

the

attQ

rney

you'

redo

ing

wor

kfo

rrig

htno

w,..

' It's

real

lya

mat

ter

ofbe

ing

polit

ean

dta

ctfu

l.'"

Itm

aybe

that

desp

iteyo

urbe

stef

fOrts

, you

rse

cret

ary

isde

adse

tag

ains

t wor

king

for

aw

oman

and

ther

e's

noth

ing

you

can

doto

chan

geth

atO

nefe

mal

eas

soci

ate

talk

edab

out b

eing

assi

gned

ase

cret

ary

who

wou

ldn'

tev

enac

knO

Wle

dge

her

exis

tenc

e.Sh

etr

ied

bein

gfr

iend

ly,

plea

ding

, beg

ging

, caj

olin

g--n

othi

ng. W

hen

the

asso

ciat

esu

btly

brou

ght

upth

em

atte

r to

othe

r ass

oCia

tes,

they

bree

zily

resp

onde

d,"O

b,D

iana

hate

sw

orki

ngfo

rw

omen

. She

does

that

toev

ery

wom

ansh

e'sas

sign

edto

."Th

eas

soci

ate

wen

tst

raig

htto

the

secr

etar

ial

supe

rvis

oran

dde

scrib

edth

epr

oble

m-i

t was

n't a

surp

rise.

The

asso

ciat

epo

inte

dou

t,"I

wan

ted

tow

ork

with

her,

but s

heju

stw

asn'

t hav

ing

itm

tlmat

ely,

the

wor

k's

got t

oge

t don

e,an

dif

she

wou

ldn'

t do

it-I

need

edso

meb

ody

Who

wou

ld,"

F.B

IRD

SD

oIT

,B

EE

SD

oIT

...

TH

EIN

SA

ND

OU

TS

Of

Off

iCE

RO

MA

NC

ES

It's

too

easy

tosa

y"H

olst

eryo

urlib

ido"

whe

nit

com

esto

offic

ero

man

ces,

alth

ough

it's

true

that

abst

inen

ceis

the

only

way

togu

aran

tee

YO

U'll

neve

rge

tin

toro

man

tictro

uble

atth

eof

fice.

"Don

'tge

t you

r hon

eyw

here

you

get y

our

mon

ey"

isce

rtain

lyth

est

anda

rdto

wh

ich

you

shou

ldas

pire

. As

one

law

yer

put i

t,"L

eave

the

offic

ean

dta

kea

cold

show

er!"

I've

hear

dst

ory

afte

rst

ory

abou

t rom

ance

sgo

neba

d,an

dso

met

imes

they

invo

lve

spec

tacu

lar b

adju

dg·

men

t The

partn

erm

arrie

dto

afe

llow

parto

erw

ho's

preg

nant

, whi

lehe

'sha

v­in

ga

rom

ance

With

afe

mal

eas

soci

ate

inan

othe

rde

partm

ent a

t the

sam

efir

m.

Peop

lebr

aggi

ngab

out h

owm

any

sum

mer

cler

ksth

ey'v

e"n

aile

d."

As a

utho

r

NEW

LAWYERSURVIVAL

GUIDE

AOVICE FROM THE

TRENCHES ON HOW TO LIVE

YOUR LIFE IN THE LAW

ILLINOIS STAlEBAR ASSOCIATION

and

...ISBA MUTUALINSURANC& COMPANY

copyright Illinois State Bar Assoc1atin

R-E-S-P-E-C-TTHE PROFESSIONAL

SUPPORT STAFF

Remember lhat part of successfully working in anyoffice, public or private, requires a team approach toaccomplishing the goals of the organization. Pro­fessional support staff are just as important as attorneysin getting the job done properly. Professional supportstaff may include such persons as secretaries, paralegalsand librarians.

Wilh the propel' team approach, and by treating othersas you would wanl to be treated, you can form solidworking relationships. Remember that working withstaff is a two-way sh'eel-they are there to help you, butyou must also help them by fostering a positive workenvironment.

The keys to a solid professional relationship with sup­pOl1 staff include respect, consideration, good communi­cation, and basic courtesy.

Respect - Support staff are on the front lines for attor­neys and deserve Ihe utmost respect. They have to dealwith the public, clients, and all of the members of youroffice. Tasks often include answering phones, filing,transcribing dictation, copying, faxing, research, mail­ings, etc. These all require attention to detail and goodorganization, especially when working wilh multipleattorneys.

COllsideratioll - Be patient with staff as you get toknow one another. It takes a while for learn members toappreciate each others strengths and weaknesses. Do notoverload your support staff with tasks. When you presenitasks, be mindful of time constrains and feelings. If you

4

share support staff with other attorneys, remember thatthey all are placing similar demands on support staff, somake sure your timeframe for completing tasks is rea­sonable under the circumstances.

Good Communication - Do not expect support staffto read your mind. Give clear directions, write legibly,and prioritize your requests.

Ilujlt; Cuudf:~JI - Du HUi. Jurgd LV say piease andthank you. This may sound elemenlary, but when youtreat your co-workers with respect, it helps fosler a posi­tive team environment. Little things, such as greetingyour co·workers in the morning, showing conce11l forthem, and praising a job well done are ail ways to showcourlesy.

Second Edition

•

ro esslona• ••

es onslll

The Legal Assistant'sPractical Guide to

18\Df"""",IIIHr/fV

CU ~Yr' i y h t l\Ir"""IMUn

Center for Professional Responsibility· American Bar Association

·"'::~;:"fBII:\'J::?";.('!i·,:,,·;:,.yrr::/ ,.. :;_~...:.~" '.~_-'_~~~~~_ ;',c.,:y.·.. :::;::,'--~~.'~;~JSD:M!;&1

"""~t~~., ...•:-',i~'~,- -

\.

•D

EFIN

ING

THE

UN

AU

THO

RIZE

DPR

Aff

iCE

OFLA

w

~ ~ ~.,...

Ci::

iI

fi:t:i

i •\

~ ~.

.. ~ !U

nau

thor

ized

Pra

ctic

eo

fL

aw

*11

!.

Sim

ply

beca

use

ala

wye

rof

ten

perf

orm

Sa

cert

ain

func

­tio

ndo

esno

t nec

e$Sa

rily

mak

eit

the

prac

tice

ofla

w. B

oth

law

yers

and

lega

las

sist

ants

ofte

nfil

lin

blan

kson

sian

­da

rdize

dfo

rms,

hand

lero

utin

ete

leph

one

calls

from

clie

nts,

and

mai

ntai

nle

gal

files

.B

utle

gal

assi

stan

tsar

era

pidl

ybe

com

ing

skill

edat

prov

idin

gan

ever

-ina

easi

ngra

nge

ofIa

w-re

late

dse

IVic

es,

and

ther

efor

eid

entif

ying

whi

chse

r­vi

ces

requ

ire

ala

wye

r'se:

xper

tise

isim

po

rta

nt

Sim

ply

put,

lega

las

sist

ants

may

cond

uct

any

law

-rel

ated

serv

ices

atw

hich

they

are

com

pet<

!lll,

proI

Iided

they

dono

ten

gage

inth

e·l.

1I1a

UtM

rized

prac

tice

of

law

."T

he.

unau

thor

ized

prac

tice

ofla

w(lJ

PL)

isth

epr

acti

ceo

fla

wby

som

eone

who

does

not h

old

aa

me

n! l

awtic

:ens

e-

Whi

leth

isst

anda

rdis

easy

toar

tia1

Iale

,it

isdi

ffic

ult

toap

ply.

One

reas

onis

that

the

defin

ition

ofth

apr

actic

eof

law

vari

esfr

omju

risdi

ctio

nto

juris

dict

iOn

and

can

bequ

iteva

gue.

Ano

ther

reas

onis

that

the

line

betw

een

lega

l

• • ...

• • • • •"'~~

THE

I.w.c

Ass

1Sl!)

f(si'R

AOlC

ALGU

IDE

10PR

OF!5

S1llN

AlRE

Sl'O

NSlB

ILIT

Y

\,

""""

'es

p.-o

perl

-;co

nduc

t.'C

!b

yle

gal

ass

ista

nts

an

dth

eu

nau

tho

rize

dp

<ac

­lic

eof

law

ofte

nha

sbe

ena

mat

ter

ofco

nten

tiOn

betw

een

vario

usgr

oups

inth

ele

gal c

omm

unity

.

Itis

imp

ort

an

t to

keep

inm

ind

that

the

abilit

yto

pIaC

lice

law

lega

llyis

not

arig

ht,

but I

athe

Ta

li"""

,;egr

ente

dby

ago

vern

men

ten

tity

.E

ach

juri

sdic

­lio

nse

tsits

own

requ

iren

ents

for

alic

ense

.A

licen

seto

prac

tice

law

is,

with

limite

dex

cept

ions

,:-e

stric

led

tope

!SO

nsw

hoha

vesa

tisfie

dce

rtlin

requ

irem

ents

esta

blis

hed

byth

ehi

ghes

tco

urt

ofa

juris

dict

ion,

usua

llya

degr

eefr

oman

accr

edite

dla

wsc

hool

,a

pass

ing

scor

eon

the

juri

sdic

tion'

sba

rex

amin

atio

n,an

dgo

onno

ral c

hara

cter

.

Stat

ere

gula

lions

prot

ect

cons

umer

sby

requ

iring

ath

resh

old

leve

lof

sI<iII

and

plac

ing

ethi

cal c

onst

r.lin

tson

1aW

Y"lS

inth

eir d

eliv

ery

ofse

rvic

es.

Unt

ilre

cenI

!y,

nopa

ralle

lst

al"

regu

latio

nsap

plie

dto

nonl

aWY

"lS;

cons

umer

sw

hoob

tain

\ega

lse

rvi=

from

nonl

aWY

"lS

doso

with

out

the

bene

fit

ofst

ale-

impo

sed

safe

guar

ds. I

n20

01,

how

ever

,a

new

Cal

iforn

iala

wre

gula

t·in

gpa

rale

gals

beca

me

eff,>

Cliv

e.lIt

rem

ains

tobe

seen

whe

ther

ow

juri

s.di

ctio

nsw

illfo

llow

suit

.

•UN

AUTH

ORTZ

EDPR

ACT

ICE

OF

LAw

RU

LES

AB

AM

odel

Rul

e5.

5fO

lbid

sa

law

yer

from

assi

stin

gan

othe

r,in

clud

ing

ano

nlaw

yer,

inth

ell!

lllII

Itoriz

edpI

aClic

eof

law

.-It

does

not

defi

neth

epI

aClic

eof

law

,le

avin

gth

atto

the

indi

vidu

alju

risdi

ctio

ns.3

Asno

ted

ear­

lier,

eveI

Yju

risdi

ctio

nha

s one

orm

ore

law

spr

ohib

ilil\g

the

unau

thor

ized

prac

tice

ofla

w;

iilm

ost

plac

esit

isa

mis

dem

eano

rpu

nish

able

byM

eor

impr

ison

men

t.

Acc

ordi

ngto

Can

on' 3

ofth

eN

AlA

Cod

eo

fE

thic

san

dP

rofe

ssio

nal

Res

pons

ibili

ty,

a\e

gal a

ssis

tant

shal

l not

enga

gein

the

unau

thor

ized

'pra

c­tic

eof

law

.E

C-l

.8(a

)of

the

NFP

AM

odel

Cod

eo

fE

thic

sa

nd

Pro

fes­

sion

alR

espo

nsib

ilit

ypr

ovid

esth

ata

\ega

l ass

ista

ntsh

all c

ompl

yw

ithth

eap

plic

able

lega

l aut

hori

ty\!Q

Ve!

:nln

gth

etin

auth

oIi2

edpI

aClic

eof

law

.A

llof

thes

eru

les

allo

wa

law

yer

tode

l<>a

ate

cert

ain

worl<

toqu

alifie

dle

gal

asSs

­!a

nts

aslo

ngas

the

law

yer

supe

rvis

esth

ew

ork

and

reta

ins

resp

onsi

bilit

yfo

rth

ew

ork

prod

uct.

Ii:;:I

i

I±+i

I.J:

.,

IiiI

l.,;

,.a

-...

;..i

g, - -=- ........

.~ a;

gf i

R:t3, i

11::i:

iI.·. I

•, ­ ~ -+!a .

. J ~

• • • • •U

naut

horiz

edP

ract

ice

ofL

aw@

.B

eca

use

the

lega

las

sisl

=t's

wor

kis

depe

nden

tup

onth

ela

wye

r'ssu

peM

­si

on, t

hela

wye

r mus

t be

iila

posi

tion

toas

sum

ere

spon

sibi

lity

for

the

wor

k.Th

us,

for

exam

ple,

if·th

ela

wye

r'slic

ense

has

been

susp

ende

d,th

ele

gal

assi

stan

tm

ayno

tco

ntin

ueto

perf

orm

dutie

son

beha

lfof

the

law

yer

that

are

pa

rio

f the

busi

ness

man

ageT

nent

ofa

law

pIaC

lice,

such

aspr

oduc

ing

and

com

mun

icat

ing

abou

t ple

adin

gs, i

nfor

min

gcl

ient

sof

upco

min

ghe

arin

gda

tes,

orap

pris

ing

clie

nts

ofth

est

atus

ofth

eir

lega

lm

atte

rs.4

Asu

spen

ded

law

yer

shou

ldm

ake

plan

sfo

ran

othe

rla

wye

rto

assu

me

resp

onsi

bilit

yfo

rth

ew

ork

ofth

ele

gal a

ssis

tant

.O

theI

Wise

, the

lega

l ass

ista

ntco

uld

begu

ilty

ofth

eun

auth

oIi2

edpr

actic

eof

law

.

•TH

EPR

Am

CE

OFLA

wA

ctiv

i!:y

that

cons

titut

esth

epr

actic

eof

law

ises

tabl

ishe

dby

each

juris

dic­

tion,

and

the

defi

nitio

nva

ries

from

juris

dict

ion

toju

risdi

ctio

n.s

Whi

leso

me'

juris

dict

ions

have

crea

ted

prec

ise

defin

ition

s,w

ithsp

ecilic

exce

ptio

ns,

man

yof

the

curr

ent

defin

ition

sar

eop

en-e

nded

, with

cour

tsde

edin

gon

aca

se-b

y-ca

seba

sis

whe

theT

ane

wfo

rmof

deiro

eIy

ofle

gal s

ervi

ces

does

ordo

esno

t con

stitu

teth

epr

actic

eo

f law

.

Inei

ther

even

t,th

ere

are

thre

ety

pes

ofac

tiviti

esth

atar

em

ost

com

mon

lyci

ted

asbe

iilg

the

prac

tice

ofla

w. T

hey

are:

givi

ng\e

gal a

dvic

e,re

pres

entin

ga

part

yiil

c:ow

t,an

dpr

eper

ing

lega

ldo

cum

ents

.6A

lmos

t all

activ

ities

that

can

beco

nsid

eTed

the

prac

tice

ofla

war

een

com

pass

edw

ithin

thes

eth

ree

cate

gori

es, w

hich

are

disc

usse

dbe

low

. Thi

slis

t.ho

wev

er,

isno

t all-

incl

usiv

e,an

dco

urts

have

held

thet

othe

r act

iviti

esal

soco

nstit

ute

the

prac

tice

ofla

w.

•G

IVIN

GLE

GAL

AD

VIC

E

The

tem

ptat

ion

togi

vele

gal

advi

ceis

ach

aRen

geth

atal

mos

tev

eIY

lega

las

sist

ant.

enco

unte

rsda

ily.

Dur

ing

the

span

ofa

care

er,

lega

las

sist

ants

beco

me

quite

fam

iliar

with

cert

aiil

prac

tice

area

s.T

hey

lear

nth

ean

swer

sto

man

yco

mm

oncl

ient

ques

tions

.

IIca

nbe

veIY

teTn

ptin

gto

resp

ond

toa

clie

nt's

inqU

iryw

han

one

belie

ves

thel

heor

she

know

sth

ean

swer.

Thi

sis

espe

cial

lybu

ew

hen

acl

ient

is

• • • • •TH

E!..£

GAL

Ass!5

rAHr

'sPR

ACl

IEA

lGU

IDE

roPR

OFE

SSlO

llAl

RESP

OlIS

IBIll

1Y

<-ke

ptw

aitin

gun

tila

law

yEri

sav

aila

ble

toan

swer

the

ques

tion.

How

ever

,the

..le

gal

...._

,an

dth

ele

gal

assi

sian

tsho

old

resp

onse

may

amou

nttc,

gMrlg

auv,

"",

.,

.re

fert

hequ

estio

nto

the

law

yerw

itha

stat

emen

tsuc

has

Tha

tsa

ques

tion

you

shou

lddi

scus

sw

ithth

ela

wye

r.'

l.

Cou

rtsha

vetr

aditi

onal

lyap

plie

dth

ree

test

sto

dete

rmin

ew

heth

erco

nduc

tco

nstit

utes

the

givi

ngof

lega

lad

vice

.T

hefu

stte

stis

whe

ther

the

advi

ce

give

nis

genera

l1lru

nd

""to

od

tore

quire

lega

lsk

illor

Imbw

iedge

.7T

hese:

and

test

isw

heth

erth

eco

nver

satio

nin

volv

esad

visi

ngso

meo

neof

thei

rle

gal

right

s.8

Mos

tco

urt;

reco

gniz

ea

stan

dard

eKC

eptio

n,a

resp

onse

toa

clie

nt's

inqu

irydo

esno

tco

nstit

ute

the

rend

ition

ofle

gal

advi

cew

hen

the

Iega

iass

isia

ntm

erel

yac

tsas

aco

ndui

tof

adui

cebe

twee

na

law

yer

and

acl

ient

'Ifa

lega

las

sist

aIJt

does

notc

onve

yan

yth

ough

tsor

advi

ceof

his

orhe

row

n,th

enhe

orsh

eis

notg

ivin

gle

gal

advi

ce,

and

ther

efor

e,no

tpra

c­tic

ing

law

.T

hus,

lega

lass

ista

nts

deliv

erin

gin

form

atio

np

urs

ua

ntt

oin

stru

c­tio

nan

don

beha

lfof

ala

wye

rsh

oold

alw

ays

bece

rta

into

mak

etl

clea

rto

the

clie

ntth

atth

ela

wye

'is

the

sour

ceof

the

info

rmat

ion.

The

third

test

isw

he\h

e'th

ead

vice

give

nis

not

norm

ally

give

nby

ano

n­la

wye

ras

part

ofan

othE

rbus

ines

sor

tran

sact

ion.

10

Ifso

meo

new

hois

not

aIa

wye

i-di

spen

ses

Jaw

-r2la

ted

adui

cein

furt

hera

nce

ofth

eor

dina

ryco

urse

ofhi

sor

her

regu

larj

ob,

itm

ayno

tam

ount

toth

epr

actic

eof

law

.

Fore

xilff

iple

,man

yba

nl:e

rsan

dfin

anci

alpl

anne

rsre

gula

rlydi

spen

sead

vice

thet

invo

lves

lega

las

pect

sof

inve

stm

enta

ndta

xsi

tuat

ions

.Li

kew

ise,

real

esta

tebr

oker

sro

utin

ely

'illou

tpre

prin

ted

real

esta

teco

ntra

cts

onbe

half

ofth

eir

cust

omer

sas

part

"fth

esa

les't

rans

actio

n.B

ecau

seal

lof

thes

eac

tivi­

ties

are

pa

rtof

the

regu

lars

ervi

ces

prov

ided

byth

ese

prof

essi

onal

s,th

eyfa

llou

tsid

eth

ebo

unda

ries

cfth

ele

gal

advi

cete

st

•RE

PRES

ENTA

TIO

NIN

COUR

T

The

ligh

tto

appe

arbe

fore

aco

urta

ndac

ton

beha

lfof

anot

heri

scu

stom

­a

rily

rest

rict

edto

licen

sed

law

yers

.Th

ere

are

man

yre

ason

sof

fere

dfo

rth

isre

stri

ctio

n.F

irst

amon

gth

emis

that

tha

righ

tsan

din

tere

sts

ofth

epa

rties

bein

gre

pres

ente

dm

ayno

tbe

fully

safe

guar

ded

whe

nle

ftin

the

hand

sof

anun

trai

ned

pers

on.1

1!t

isal

soof

ten

sugg

este

dth

atth

ead

min

istr

atio

nof

iijJ

I~...,

..E

:dI

E;:

fI

I:;:

fI.1

i::fI

R::!

I-=

sa:

a~ ~ ~ ~

;

I±I

! ;

~,

• • · • • ·U

natJ

thor

ized

Prac

tice

ofL

awe

just

ice

ism

ore

effi

dent

whe

nco

nduc

ted

byla

wye

rssi

nce

they

are

skill

edin

the

rule

sof

evid

ence

and

subs

tant

ive

law

.

The

proh

ibiti

onag

ains

tno

nlaw

yers

actin

gon

anot

her's

beha

lfis

not

rest

ricte

dto

trial

orap

pella

tear

enas

.In

som

ejU

risdi

ctio

nsac

tiviti

essu

chas

answ

erin

gdo

cket

calls

and

requ

estin

gco

ntin

uanc

esar

eal

sopr

ohib

ited.

l2

The

reis

asp

litof

auth

ority

asto

whe

ther

ano

nlaw

yer

may

repr

esen

ta

cred

itora

ta

cred

itors

'mee

ting

inba

nkru

ptcy

proc

eedi

ngs.

IS

Lega

lass

ista

nts

shou

ldde

tenn

ine

wha

t~ctions

are

perm

issi

ble

inth

eir

jum

­

dict

ion.

Ifth

ele

gala

ssis

tant

'ssu

perv

isin

gIa

wye

i-as

ksth

eas

sist

antt

om

ake

anap

pear

ance

that

ispr

ohib

ited

tono

nlaw

yers

inth

eju

risd

ictio

n,th

ele

gal

assi

stan

tsho

uld

insi

stth

ata

law

yer

appe

arin

stea

d.

The

rear

eso

me

exce

ptio

nsto

the

rule

that

nonI

awye

rsm

ayno

tap

pear

inco

urt.

The

mos

tnot

able

exce

ptio

nis

the

right

ofse

ll-re

pres

enta

tion,

whi

ch.

exis

tsby

stat

ute

infe

dera

lco

urts

"an

dha

sbe

enhe

ldby

the

U.S

.Su

prem

eC

ourt

toap

ply

inst

ate

crim

inal

cour

ts.1

S.

The

tigh

tof

sell-

rePr

esen

tatio

nin

stat

eci

vil

proc

eedi

ngs,

thou

gh,

isle

ssco

ncre

te.S

ome

juris

dict

ions

allo

win

diV

idua

lsto

repr

esen

tthe

mse

lves

whi

leot

heIS

dono

t.'6

The

U.S

.Su

prem

eC

ourt

has

notd

ecid

edth

isis

sue.

Ano

ther

eKC

eptio

nis

the

perm

issi

onth

atno

nIaw

yers

are

gran

ted

tore

pre­

sent

indi

vidu

als

befo

rece

rtai

nad

min

istra

tive

agen

des.

Som

eju

Iisdi

ctio

nsp

erm

itla

yre

pres

enta

tion

befo

resp

ecif

ied

stat

eag

enci

es,

thou

ghth

eco

wts

and

legi

slat

ures

ofm

any

ofth

ese

juris

dict

ions

are

divi

ded

on

the

issu

e.'?

Non

law

yer

repr

esen

tatio

nbe

fore

adm

inistr

ative

orqu

asi-j

udic

ialm

es

is

gene

rally

notp

erm

itte

dw

hen

tlw

ould

requ

ire

the

appl

icat

ion

ofle

gal

prin

-'ci

ples

affe

ctin

gth

erig

hts

and

oblig

atio

nsof

the

clie

nt18

Alth

ough

they

have

onoc

casi

onat

tem

pted

todo

so,

stat

esm

ayno

tin

ter­

fere

with

ala

ype

rson

'sri

ght

ofre

pres

enla

tion

befo

refe

dera

lag

enci

eslo

cate

dw

tlhin

thef

rju

tisdi

ctio

nif

such

pra

ctic

eis

per

mit

ted

by

fede

ral

Jaw

.Fo

rin

stan

ce,

ast

ate

may

not

proh

ibit

nonl

awye

rsw

hoar

ere

gist

ered

top

ract

ice

befo

reth

eU

.S.P

aten

tO

ffice

from

perf

orm

ing

task

sas

soci

ated

with

prep

arin

gan

dpr

osec

utin

gpa

tent

appl

icat

ions

,ev

enth

ough

such

activ

ities

cons

titut

eth

epr

actic

eof

law

inth

atst

ate.

"Le

gal

assi

stan

ts

Afin

alex

cept

ion

invO

lves

nonl

awye

rre

pres

enta

tion

ofco

rpor

atio

ns.

Thi

sex

cept

ion

can

seem

p=

lin

gbe

caus

eco

rpor

atio

nsar

eno

tin

divi

dual

s.C

orpo

ratio

nsar

ecr

eatu

re, o

fst

atut

ean

dar

ese

para

tele

gal

entit

ies

from

the

pers

ons

who

form

.them

.A

ssu

c:h,

they

have

noin

here

ntri

ght

ofse

lf­re

pres

enta

tion.

Juri

sdic

tions

that

perm

itco

rpor

atio

nsto

repr

esen

t the

mse

\ves

requ

ire

them

toap

Pea

r thr

ough

.;, o

ffie

..or~Ioyee

(law

yer

orno

nlaw

yer)

and

usua

llyon

lyw

hen

repr

esen

ting

th,

corp

orat

ion

on

am

atter

invo

lvin

gits

own

busi

­ne

ss.21

1O

ther

juri

sdic

tion;

fOlb

idco

rpor

atio

nsto

appe

arth

roug

hno

n­la

wye

rs, r

equl

ring

them

tobe

repr

esen

ted

bya

ncen

sedIa

wye

r.2l E

ach

jurt

s­di

ctio

nha

sits

own

UPL

rule

san

dex

cept

ions

.Le

gal

assi

stan

tsm

ust

ther

efor

ebe

fully

fam

iliar

with

the

rest

rict

ions

inth

eir j

Uris

dict

ion.

22

•PR

EPA

RATI

ON

OFLE

GA

LDO

CUM

ENTS

Prep

arat

ion

ofle

gal

docu

nent

sth

ataf

fect

the

lega1

right

san

dre

spon

sibi

li­tie

sof

othe

r.;

isan

activ

i'li

ofte

nre

striC

led

tola

wye

rs."

Yet

wh

enle

gal

assi

stan

tsw

orki

ngin

ale

wfu

mpr

epar

epr

omis

sory

nete

s,de

eds,

will

s,co

otra

cts,

and

othe

rdo

cum

ents

itis

not c

onsi

dere

dth

eun

auth

omed

pIa

C­

tice

ofla

w.

The

reas

onn""

inth

esu

perv

isor

yro

lepl

ayed

byth

ela

wye

r,w

hom

ust r

evie

wth

edo

cum

ent

and

isul

!irna

tely

acco

unla

ble

for

its

accu

­ra

cyan

def

fect

iven

ess.

24"fb

isre

quir

emen

tfo

rsu

perv

isio

nw

ascr

eate

dby

AB

AM

odel

Rul

e5.

3re

gard

ing

ala

wye

r'sre

spon

sibi

lity

tosu

perv

iSe

non­

law

yer

empl

oyee

s.A

leg<d

assi

stan

tw

oTki

ngfo

ra

law

yer

inco

mpl

ianc

ew

ithth

isru

leca

npr

epar

edo

cum

ents

with

out

fear

ofU

PLvi

olat

ions

.It

isth

eob

ligat

ion

ofth

eIe

ga1

assi

Slan

tan

dth

ela

wye

rto

mak

esu

reth

ew

ork

prod

uct i

sre

view

edb

yth

ela

wye

r bef

ore

itis

Iiled

with

aco

urt O

r age

ncy

orsh

own

toa

clle

ntor

thir

dpa

rty.

The

nego

tiatio

nth

atle

ads

toth

epr

epar

atio

nof

ale

gal d

ocum

ent,

is,

how

­ev

er,

adi

ffer

ent

mat

ter.

1hus

,it

has

been

held

that

itis

the

unau

thom

oopr

actic

eof

law

whe

na

nm

wy

erem

ploy

eeof

a'la

wfin

nne

goti

ates

,on

beha

lfof

acr

edito

r,th

e"a

ffir

mat

ion

ofa

debt

that

may

othe

rwis

ebe

dis-

· • • • • •U

naut

hori

zed

Prac

tice

ofLa

w~

char

geab

lein

aba

nkru

ptcy

case

, eve

nth

ough

ala

wye

r for

the

cred

itor l

ater

revi

ewed

the

docu

men

t2S

•O

THER

Am

VI1

1ES

The

prac

tice

ofla

win

clud

esa

host

ofot

her

activ

ities

,so

me

ofw

hich

,by

stat

ute

orcu

stom

,m

aybe

perf

onm

edby

lega

las

siSl

ants

ince

rtai

nju

risdi

c­tio

ns.

For

exam

ple,

inW

ISC

Ons

inan

dK

entu

cky,

lega

las

sist

ants

may

atte

ndre

ales

tate

clos

ings

on

beha

lfof

thei

rem

ploy

ing

law

yers

,26

whi

lein

Sou

th.

Car

olin

ait

isim

perm

issi

ble

for

ano

nlaw

yer

toha

ndle

acl

osin

g.27

And

. whi

lein

som

est

ates

ale

gal

assi

stan

t may

atte

nda

depo

sitio

nin

plac

eof

ala

wye

r,N

ewY

ork,

Ore

gon,

and~

forb

idth

ispr

acti

ce."

Unf

ortu

nate

ly, t

here

are

few

brig

htlin

esto

guid

eIe

ga1

assi

stan

tsth

roug

hth

em

aze

ofva

riou

sju

rlsdi

ctio

';"ru

les,

case

law

,an

det

hics

opin

ions

.B

efor

ea

Iega

1as

sist

ant u

nder

take

sa

new

task

, he

orsh

esh

ouJd

chec

k.th

eru

les

ofth

eju

risdi

ctio

nto

conf

irm

that

the

activ

ityis

not t

hepr

acti

ceof

law

.

•M

ISRE

PRES

ENTA

TIO

NOF

STAT

US

M"l

Srep

reSe

rJla

tion

ofon

e's

stat

usis

afor

mof

UP

LT

heul

timat

epu

rpos

eof

all r

ules

ofpr

ofes

sion

alco

nduc

t is

the

prot

ectio

n01

the

publ

ic.If

acl

ient

ism

isled

tobe

lieve

that

ale

gal

assi

stan

tis

ala

wye

r,th

ecl

ient

will

expe

ctth

ele

gal

assi

stan

t to

beab

le10

take

ceri

ain

actio

nsto

adva

nce

his

orhe

rca

seth

atth

ele

gal

assi

stan

t may

eith

erbe

insu

ffic

ient

lyIm

owle

dgea

ble

toun

der­

take

orex

pies

sly

proh

ibite

dfr

omta

king

. Suc

hm

isund

erstan

din, w

heth

eroq

:mrin

gin

noce

ntly

or

asth

ere

sult

ofde

liber

ate

clec

eptio

n,m

ayre

sult

inha

rmto

the

cUen

t and

dam

age

toth

ere

puta

tion

ofth

ele

gal p

rofe

ssio

n.

Inor

der t

opr

even

t suc

hm

isun

ders

tand

ings

from

occu

rdng

, the

lega

las

sis­

tant

shoU

ldal

way

sdi

sclo

seth

efa

ctth

athe

orsh

eis

not a

law

yer d

urin

gin

i­tia

l con

tact

with

cIie

nls

orpo

tent

ial c

lient

s.

Inad

ditio

n,be

caus

epe

rson

sw

hore

ceiv

ea

lette

ron

law

firm

stat

ione

rym

ayas

sum

eth

atth

epe

rson

sign

ing

the

lette

ris

ala

wye

rw

ithth

efir

m,

aIe

ga1

assi

stan

tsh

ould

alw

ays

sign

corr

espo

nden

ceb

yin

dica

ting

his

orhe

r

• • • • •~

THE

LEG

AlAs

s!sTA

NI's

PR

Arn

CA

lG

UIDE

TOP

"''''

''ON

Al

RESP

ONS

IBIU

TY

posi

tion

with

the

firm

.F

aiur

eto

doso

cons

titut

esm

isre

pres

enta

tion

ofon

e's

stat

us,

whi

mis

the

lIna

utho

rize

dpr

actic

eof

Iaw

.29

Sud

lm

isre

pre­

sent

atio

nol

som

ayle

adto

seve

reec

onom

icre

su1t

s'fo

rth

ela

wfir

m,

asin

the

case

ofa

clas

sac

tion

settl

emen

trel

ated

toal

lege

dvi

olat

ions

ofth

eFa

irD

ebtC

olle

ctio

nPr

actic

esA

:l.30

•NO

NLAW

YER

CO

NTR

IBU

TIO

NS

ENCO

URAG

EO

Alth

ough

unau

thor

ized

prac

tice

ofla

wpr

ohib

ition

sdo

setl

imits

ona

lega

las

sist

ant's

acIi

viti

es,

the

roIe

ofle

gal

assi

staI

IIsin

the

deliv

eIy

ofle

gal

ser­

vice

sis

cons

tant

lyex

pand

ing.

The

rear

em

any

situ

atio

nsin

whi

ma

lega

las

sist

ant's

effo

rtsca

nhe

lplO

WEr

lega

lco

sts

and

incr

ease

publ

icac

cess

tole

gals

ervi

ces.

The

AB

AC

omm

issi

onon

Non

law

yer

Prac

tice

unde

rtoo

ka

natio

nwid

est

udy

ofth

eev

olvi

ngro

leof

lega

las

sist

ants

.3l

Aft

erex

tens

ive

rese

arch

,nu

mer

ouS

publ

iche

arin

gs,

and

care

fuld

elib

erat

ions

,the

AB

AC

omm

issi

onca

me

toth

efo

llow

ing

cond

usio

nsre

latin

gdi

rect

lyto

nonl

awye

rpr

actic

e:

--L

.In

crea

sing

acce

ssto

affo

rdab

leas

sist

ance

inID

w-re

later

Jsi

tuat

ions

isan

urge

ntga

olo

fthe

lEga

lpro

fess

ion

and

the

stat

es;

---.2

..Pr

otec

ting

the

publ

icfro

mha

rmfr

ompe

r.;on

spr

ovid

ing

assi

stan

cein

IDw

-rel

ated

situ

atio

ruis

also

anur

gent

goal

;

--.b

.W

hen

adeq

uate

prot

ectio

nsfo

rth

epu

blic

are

inpl

ace.

nonl

awye

r.;ha

veim

portD

rrtr

olEs

tope

rfor

min

prov

idin

gaf

ford

ablE

acce

ssto

just

ice.

32

Tho

ugh

the

repo

rtan

ditS

conc

lusi

ons

have

notb

een

adop

ted

as!'J

3Ap0

l­

icy,

the

Com

mis

sion

issu

edre

com

men

datio

nsre

gard

ing

nonl

awye

rinv

olve

­m

ent

inth

ede

livet

yof

leja

lse

rvic

es.

(See

the

side

bar

onR

ecom

men

da­

tions

ofth

e!'J

3AC

onun

is::i

onon

Non

law

yer

Pra

ctic

eon

page

33.)

Inof

ferin

gIh

ese

reco

mm

mda

tiollS

,th

eC

omm

issi

onno

ted

the

exte

ntof

nonl

awye

rpr

actic

eto

day

,mel

the

expa

ndin

gfo

rms

ofno

nlaw

yer

acl

ivily

inth

ele

galf

iekl

.sa

The

Com

niss

ion

expr

esse

dho

peth

atth

ese

reco

mm

enda

­tio

nsw

ould

help

juriS

dict

ions

addr

ess

ques

tions

'of

incr

ease

dno

nlaw

yer

pra

ctic

ean

dde

man

dsfo

rac

cess

tole

gal

serv

ices

.34

~ -;-;;

II :ti"

"

.,

t

I~

I

~ ~ ~ atg -, ~ i ~ ; ~ t~ ;

II;t:m i

aj:

g.j~

• • • •U

naut

horiz

edPr

actic

eof

Law.~

• • ••

THE

lEGAL

Ass1

srArn

'sf'R

Acnt

AlGU

IIl€

roI'R

OfES

SJDN

AlRE

sP01

tSlBI

UlY

(;2]

Lega

lass

ista

nts

may

cond

ucta

nyla

w-r

elat

edse

rvic

esat

wm

chth

eyar

eco

mpe

tent

,pr

ovid

edth

eydo

not

enga

gein

the

unau

thor

ized

prac

tice

ofla

w(U

PL).

Q]

Ever

yju

risd

ictio

nha

sor

eor

mor

ela

ws

proh

ibiti

ngth

eun

auth

oriz

edprac~

tice

ofla

w;

inm

ost

plac

esit

isa

misd

emea

nor

puni

shab

leby

fine

or'

impr

ison

men

t.

(;2]

The

mos

tcom

mon

lyci

ted

type

sof

activ

ities

invo

lved

inth

ede

finiti

ono

f

the

pJac

tice

ofla

war

e~iving

lega

ladv

ice..

repr

esen

ting

apa

rty

inco

urt,

and

prep

arin

gle

gald

oa:m

ents

.

(;2]

Ala

wye

rm

ayde

lega

te<e

rtEin

worK

toqu

alifi

edle

gala

ssis

tant

sas

long

asth

ela

wye

rsu

perv

ises

tfJe

wor

kan

dre

tain

sre

spon

sibi

lity

fur

the

wor

kpr

oduc

t.

ole

gala

ssis

tant

sde

liver

ing

info

rmat

ion

purs

uant

toin

stru

ctio

nan

don

beha

lfof

aLa

wyer

shou

ldal

way

sbe

cert

ain

tom

ake

itde

arto

the

clie

ntth

atth

ela

wye

ris

the

scui

t:eof

the

info

rmat

ion.

(;2]

Ifth

ele

gala

ssis

tant

'ssu

perv

isin

gla

wye

ras

ksth

eas

sist

antt

om

ake

anap

pear

ance

that

ispr

ohiJ

ited

tono

nlaw

yer-

iin

thejurisdietion~~

assi

s­ta

nt

shou

ldin

sist

that

ala

wye

rap

pear

inst

ead.

(;2]

Ale

gala

ssis

tant

woT

kinr

for

ala

wye

rcan

prep

are

doC

Jmen

tsw

ithou

tfea

ro

fUPL

viol

atio

ns.I

tis~le

oblig

atio

no

fthe

lega

las

sist

anta

ndth

ela

wye

rto

mak

esu

reth

ew

ork

prod

ucti

sre

view

edby

the

law

yer.

(;2]The.leg~l.~nt

shO

Uld

disc

lose

the

fact

that

heor

she

isno

tala

wye

rdu

nng

mm

alco

ntac

tw

ithcl

ient

sor

pote

ntia

lclie

nts.

......

......

......

"··

···0

•N

OTE

S

1.Se

eC

AuF

oRN

!A!l<

Jsile

;AND

!'RoF

EssIo

NsCo

oES

edio

ns64

50th

roug

h64

56,

avai

labl

eat

hllp

://1l

oWW

.legn

fO.c

a.g O

V/C

Qi-b

in/d

ispIa

yood

e?se

cliO

l1'=

bpc&

grou

p=06

001·

<l7O

OO

&Jl

1e-6

4SO

.6S6

.

2.A

BA

MoD

aRw

sO

fi'l

lOFE

SSlO

NA

LCo

ND

ucrR

ule5.

5(a)

(200

4).

~'

.i::F.iI

I:F+I

.~

~ --H

i!

~ ~ ~ .~

~ ~ II:+J~ ~ ~ ~

!-.-

· • · •U

naut

hori

zed

I'n1d

ice

atlll

w•

3.In

Aug

ust

2003

,the

ABA

Hou

seof

Del

egat

esad

opte

dlb

eIle

com

men

d<t­

lion

ofth

eT

ask

Fon:

eon

the

Mod

elD

elin

ition

ofth

ePr

actic

eof

LaW

,the

first

Res

­ol

utio

nof

whi

chsl

ated

that

"the

Am

eric

anB

arA

ssod

aIio

nre

com

men

ds!h

atev

ery

slat

ean

dte

nito

ryad

opta

defin

ition

ofth

epr

ad:ic

:eof

law

."Se

eht

tpJ/

ww

w.a

bone

t.0

rg/c

pr/m

odek

fef/

task

forc

e_tp

L42

9.pd

f.4.

See

Mat

tm-o

fTho

nert

,69

3N

.E.2

d55

9(I

nd.

1998

).5.

AB

AM

ODEl

.Rul

Es

Of

PROF

ESSiO

NAL

CoN

Duc

TR

ule

5.5

ant

[2](

2004

1.A

lso

see

http

'//\W

IW.a

bane

t.org

/cpr

/mod

eI-d

efIr

oode

l.d.C

stat

ules

.pdf

iora

com

­pi

latio

nof

stat

ede

finiti

ons

ofth

epr

acIic

eoi

law

.6.

A.B

AIB

NA

Law

yers

'Man

ual

onPr

ofes

sion

alC

ondu

ct21

,800

1,80

04(1

2-22

·199

9).

7.B

aron

v.O

tyoi

Los

Ang

eles

,469

P.2d

353

(CaL

1970

);A

BA

IBN

AL

awye

rs'M

onua

lon

Pro

fess

iono

lCon

duct

21,8

004-

05,8

021

(12-

22-1

999)

.8.

Ken

nedy

v.Ba

rkin

oiM

ontg

omer

yC

ount

y,ln

c..5

61A

2d

200

(MdA

pp.1

989)

.9.

See

gene

rally

Qw

us

WW

OlFR

AM,M

OllE

RNI.£

GAt.

ETHI

CS,8

36-3

7(1

986)

.10

.A

BA

IBN

AL

a_

rs'

Man

ual

onPr

ofes

sion

alC

ondu

ct21

,800

1,80

04.

8007

-00

(12-

22-1

999)

;se

eSt

ate

Ba

rof

N.M

.Y

.G

uaJr

lian

Abs

tract

and

TrtIe

Co.

,57

5P.

2d9

43

(N.M

.197

8);I

nre

Ber

cu,

78N

.Y.S

.2d

209

tN.Y

App

.Diy

.19

48).

11.

WO

l.RlA

M,s

upra

0.9.

at82

9.12

.A

dvis

ot;I

Com

mitt

ee,M

o.S

tate

Bar

Ad

-.,

lnfo

rmal

cp.

1{1

982)

.13

.Se

eL

awye

r.;'

Man

ua'o

nP

rofe

ssio

nal

Con

duct

,21

,801

6(l

2-22

-199

9).

14.

See

28U

.S.C

.16

54(1

994)

.15

.Fa

retta

v.C

alifo

rnia

,42

2U

.S.8

06(1

975)

.16

.Th

eio

IIow

ing

case

sdi

scus

sth

eri

ght

ofse

If-r

epre

sent

atio

nin

civi

lmat

t""

hear

din

stat

eco

urts

,Col

orad

oY

.D

unla

p.62

3P.

2d40

8,41

0(C

olo.

1981

)(c

ou

rt

may

impo

sere

s1Iic

lions

onri

ghti

non

i....

tom

aint

ain

cont

rol

inco

urtro

oml;

Dol>

­bi

nsv.

Dob

bins

,216

S.E

.2d

102,

103

(Oa.

1975

)(r

ight

ofse

Il-r

epre

sent

angu

ar­

ante

edby

Geo

rgia

Con

stitu

tion)

;A

rmA

rbor

Bank

v.W

eber

.61

N.W

.2d

84,8

6(M

ich.

1953

)(r

ight

ofse

If-r

epre

sent

atio

ngu

arm

rtee

dun

derM

ichi

gan

Con

stitu

tion)

;6I

airY

.M

ayna

ro,

324S

.E.2

d39

1(W

.Va.

1984

)(r

ight

oise

H-r

epIe

SeIll

atio

nin

civi

lpr

ocee

ding

sis

fund

amen

talr

ight

unde

rWes

tVirg

inia

Con

stitu

lion)

.17

.AB

AIB

NA

Law

yer's

Man

ual

onP

rof=

iona

lC

ondu

ct21

,800

9(1

2-22

­19

99).

See

Bel.

ofEd

ucat

ion

v.N

ewYo

rl<S

tate

Publ

icE

mpl

oym

entR

elat

iOns

Bel••

649

N.Y

.5.2

d52

3(N

.YA

pp.

Div

.19

96);

Inre

B=

on

,90

9S~

W.2d

768

(fen

n.19

95).

18.

A.B

AIB

NA

Law

yer's

Man

ual

onP

rofe

ssio

nol

Con

duct

21,8

009

(12-

22­

1999

).•

19.

Spe

nyv.

Har

m,3

73U

.S.

379

(196

3).

20.

AB

AIB

NA

Law

yers

'Man

ual

onP

rofe

ssio

nal

Con

duct

21,8

020

(12-

22­

1999

).21

.Se

e,e.

g.,

Gre

erv.

Ludw

ick,

241

N.E

.2d

4(II

l.App

.19

68),

22.

The

AB

AC

ente

riOT

Proi

essi

onal

Resp

onso

Oili

ty,i

nco

njur

Jclio

nw

ith1h

eAB

ASt

andi

ngC

omm

ittee

onla

wye

rs'R

espo

nsib

ility

lorC

lient

Pro

tect

ion

has]

:XJb

lishe

da

• • · • ••

THE

UGAL

Assis

rANT

'sPR

ACTI

CAL

GUI

DETO

PROF

ESSI

OICA

LRE

SPO

rcsm

IUTY

com

pila

tion

ofst

ate-

by..t

ale

rule

son

the

unau

thor

ized

prac

lice

ofla

w.T

he19

94SI

JR\IE

YAN

DR

a!rrE

oM

AlEl

lli\LS

ON1H

SUI

lAlJl

liORl

ZED

PRAc

nc£

OF!.A

IvIN

ON

­I.

.AW

'mI.

PRAC

TICE

mdu

des

abr

iefh

isto

ryof

UPL

,the

AB

AM

odel

Rul

esfo

rA

duis

ory

()pi

nion

son

UPL

and

stat

e-by

-sta

teS

UIv

eyre

sults

conc

erni

ngU

PLde

finiti

on,

enfo

rcem

ent,

rem

edie

s,an

dgu

idel

ines

.23

.Se

e,e.

g.,

R.L

Sup

.C

t,Gu

IDEU

NES

FOR

USE

OF!.E

GAL

Ass

JsrA

ms,

Prov

i­si

onal

Ord

erN

o.18

(198

3).B

utse

e,A

rizon

aC

ode

ofJu

dici

alA

dmin

istrW

oo,

Part

7,C

h.2,

§7-

208,

Leg

alD

oaJm

entP

repa

rer

(effe

ctiv

eA

pril

I,20

03),

whi

chpe

rmit

sin

dMdu

ais

certi

fied

purs

uant

toth

atiie

dion

"to

prep

are

orpm

vide

lega

ldoc

umen

ts,

with

outt

hesu

perv

isio

nof

anat

torn

ey,

for

anen

tity

orm

embe

roft

hepu

blic

who

isen

gagi

ngin

self"

ep:e

sent

atio

nin

any

lega

lmat

ter.

·24

.A

BA

CoI1

UI'-

onE

ihic

san

dPr

ofes

sion

alR

espo

ns;b

ility

,F

orm

alO

p.31

6(1

967)

.A

tle

ast

one

cour

tha

sre

ferr

edto

this

prO

O3S

Sas

the

""'-Y

erad

opti

ngth

eno

nlaw

yer's

wet

!<as

the

""'-Y

er's

own.

Ore

gon

""-

rei.

Ore

gon

Sta

teBa

rv,

Lens

ke,5

84P.

2d75

9,76

5(O

r.19

78).

25.

Inre

Car

los,

227

B.R

.535

(Bkr

tcy.

C.D

.C

al.1

998)

.26

.S

eeW

lSCO

llSin

8hic

sO

pb1i

onE

-95-

3(1

995)

(!:he

para

lega

lmus

tb

epr

o!>"

erly

trai

ned,

insI

nJd.

ed,

and

supe

rvis

ed,

and

the

parti

aJIa

rdo

sing

mus

tb

eun

likel

yto

Inoo

lve

issU

esre

quiri

ngth

epr

esen

ceof

ala

wye

r)an

dC

ount

ryw

ide

Hom

eLo

ans

Inc.

v.Ke

ntuc

kyBa

rAss

'n,

113

S.W

.3d

105

(Ky.

2003

)("L

aype

rson

sm

ayco

nduc

tre

ales

tate

dosi

ngs

onbe

balf

ofot

her

par

ties

,bu

t!hO

ymay

nota

nsw

erle

galq

ues­

tions

that

aris

eat

the

dosi

ngor

offe

rany

lega

lad

vice

toth

epa

rtie

s:).

27.

Sou

thC

arol

ina

v.B

uyer

sSe

rvic

eC

ompa

ny,

357

S.E

.2d

15(S

.C.

1987

).28

.CO

I1UI

'-on

Prof

essi

onal

Ethi

csof

the

Bar

Ass

'nof

Nas

sau

Cou

nty,

Op.

88­

53(1

988)

;L

egal

Eih

ics

Com

m,o

fth

eO

r.S

_B

ar,

Op,

449

(198

0);

Cor

nm.

onL

egal

Ethi

csan

dPr

ofes

sion

alR

espo

nsib

ility

ofth

ePa

.B

arA

ssn,

Op.

87-1

27(1

987)

..

29,

See

,e.

g.,T

heFl

orid

aB

arv.

Pasc

ual,

424

So.2

d75

7(F

la.1

982)

.30

.S

eeFr

yv.

Hay

t,H

ayt&

Land

au,

198

ER.D

,46

1(E

.D.P

a.20

00).

31.

NONl

AWYE

RAC

I1VI

TYIN

lAw

-RaA

lED

Srru

ATI

OH

S,

ARE

PoRT

WIT

HR

EcoM

­M

ENDA

TION

S.Am

erici

mBa

rAss

ocia

tion

Com

mis

sion

onNo~

Prac

tice,

Aug

ust

1995

.32

.le

iat

p.20

7.33

.Se

e19

94SU

RvEY

AN

D'R

aA1E

DM

Am

lw.s

ONTI

lEUN

Auni

ORIZ

EDPR

ACTI

CEOF

uwjN

ON

lAW

YER

PAAC

l1CE

at33

for

ast

ole

byst

ole

tabl

e01

perm

itted

activ

ities

and

guid

elin

es.

34.

NONl

AWYE

RAC

I1VI

TYIN

UW

-RaA

1CD

5mJA

1lO

NS,

ARE

PoRT

WITH

1lEc

oM­

MEN

Do'JI

()NS.

Am

eric

anB

arA

ssoc

iatio

nC

omm

issi

onon

Non

law

yer

Prac

tice,

Aug

ust

1995

at20

5.35

.lei

.