Let the games begin.

On Friday, he left the office pretty sure that on Monday the normal routine would ebb and flow. Nothing “out of the ordinary” was expected. In fact, he had relegated himself to the fact that his career as a paralegal/paralegal/law clerk was pretty boring, but hey, it paid well, had health benefits, and even enjoyed working weekends off, the most of the time.

But what was going on behind the scenes was another story.

You see, over the last year some decisions were made, bad decisions, that affected the law firm that I worked for. Decisions to hire one or two lawyers with a supposed “follower” did not pan out. do you follow me Think about your hairdresser. When a hairstylist graduates from beauty school, she (or he) doesn’t have a “follow-up” or “business book.” It takes at least a few years to build a clientele. Some clients stay with you, others don’t. And so the game goes.

The same goes for lawyers. Over the years, hopefully lawyers will build a “following”. When a partnership goes bad, the lawyer literally takes his “book of business” with him wherever he goes (if he hasn’t signed some ridiculous agreement with his current law firm that restricts this). Sounds fair, right? If the lawyer has actually won these clients over for him, he has drunk and dined them, nurtured the relationship, worked hard to earn their trust, etc., he should be allowed to transport the clients to the next partnership.

But guess that? His lawyers, in their quest to increase their income by hiring one or two new seasoned associates (accompanied by their VAST “business book”), neglected to do their due diligence. That is, they “assumed” the seasoned new associates (30-40 year veterans of the law) actually had a viable “book of business.”

Instead, what the veteran lawyers were looking for was a place to hang their hat, an office to visit every day, a place to go. Surprise! It was never their intention to bring anything to the table, they just wanted to sit there and eat. They also brought their wealthy assistants to sit at the table. The billable hours generated by each of the individuals (attorneys and paralegals) were not enough to cover their own salaries, benefits, etc., so the firm ended up in the “hole”. General expenses exceeded revenue.

The lawyers who brought these new employees on board have no business sense and it all came as a complete shock to them when at the end of the year their bonuses amounted to only $100,000 above their annual salary. Can you hear me cry?

What does this have to do with you?

Okay, okay, I’ll get to the point.

You have foolishly relied on the business acumen of the people you work for over the years. Most people I’ve worked for have no idea how much money is tied up in their “accounts receivable” or what the “bottom line” is.

So what’s my point?

Protect yourself. Always understand that this law firm could self-destruct in what seems like a “nanosecond” due to poor business practices.

How do you protect yourself? Three areas come to mind:

Diversify your knowledge

Are you currently working as a Personal Injury Paralegal? Insurance defense maybe? Study another area of ​​law, perhaps estate planning, bankruptcy, or real estate. I have worked in the fields of Medical Malpractice, Estate Planning, Administrative Law, Eminent Domain, Environmental, Franchising, and Lawyer Discipline and as a result I am very “employable.”

If you’re just starting your legal career, open yourself up to other job opportunities that could present themselves within your law firm. Let’s say your department handles all estate planning documents within the law firm. If there are litigants at your firm, let them know that you will be happy to help when needed. Trust me, when a trial is coming up, organizational skills are needed. This will allow you to enter a field to (1) see if you like this type of work; and (2) build more of a “team spirit” within the company.

Volunteer to summarize a deposition. If you’ve never done one before, just ask one of the more experienced paralegals or paralegals if they can point you in the right direction. There will usually be statement summaries on the computer for you to review.

To certify or not to certify

I was not certified through the National Association of Paralegals, however, in your part of the country the Certified Legal Assistant (“CLA”) designation may be highly regarded. In that case, get certified. It can only help you. Because I have years of hands-on experience, I simply took an online course to earn my certificate through the University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo. What impresses those who have hired me full time or as a paralegal/contract paralegal is that I can immediately sit at the desk and start my job, with no actual training required.

Network, Network, Network

1. Join your local paralegal, legal secretary, or paralegal organization. Attend meetings regularly. Volunteer for committees. The friends you make can be real lifesavers when you find yourself out of a job unexpectedly.

2. Is there a legal administrator website in your city that lists available jobs? If so, check the website regularly, especially when new jobs are added.

3. Get acquainted with the owners of employment agencies in the city. We have one in the town I live in that is owned by an attorney and caters solely to the legal community.

Prepare for the unexpected. God has blessed you beyond measure. Be wise. The legal job market is very competitive. How will you compete? What do you have to put on the negotiating table? Understand your strengths and weaknesses and seek to constantly improve yourself.

Think about these things. Just start strengthening those areas where you are weak and you will succeed. The Lord will bless your efforts.