Like most people, I would imagine, I really hate going to the doctor. I wait until the pain is so bad or the problem is so disruptive that I simply have no choice than to make an appointment (and inevitably be annoyed by the fact that I have to wait a day or two: “I’m sick! Can’t you tell?!?!”), sit in a waiting room for who knows how long, have a nurse poke at me and ask personal questions, and then have a doctor do the exact same thing. That’s not even the end! Then I have to mosey down to the pharmacy in the middle of my day and wait for what has been prescribed to me to fix that pain/illness/whatever that I’ve let get too bad. Continue reading
Why I Love My Job
Someone who wished to stay anonymous stated that my blog presented the not-so-pretty side of being a paralegal. As I look back through my posts, I suppose that’s true to some extent. Perhaps it’s about time for me to talk about why I love my job so much. Continue reading
Teaching People Things About Things People Want to Learn
Warning: Shameless Self-Promotion
I’m teaching a webinar on November 29, 2011: The Paralegal’s Guide to Effectively Using Technology in the Law Firm.
What I’ll be talking about:
- Maximizing the Technology That Already Exists Inside the Law Firm
- Evaluating New and Existing Technologies to Determine What Best Fits Your Needs
- iPhones, iPads, Tablets, Web Based Software, and the Changing Face of the Law Firm in Regards to Technology
Wherein We Shield Attorneys from Having to Learn New Things
Option 1:
| Atty: | Acknowledged technical problem; fumbled with technology to try to correct error; became frustrated and yelled at computer screen; gave up. | 0.5 | $300.00 | $150.00 |
| Atty: | Called paralegal and explained issue | 0.3 | $300.00 | $90.00 |
| Para: | Listened to attorney’s problem | 0.3 | $100.00 | $30.00 |
| Para: | Researched problem | 0.4 | $100.00 | $40.00 |
| Para: | Drafted email with step-by-step instructions and included pictures for easy reference | 0.5 | $100.00 | $50.00 |
| Atty: | Reviewed and followed step-by-step instructions | 0.3 | $300.00 | $90.00 |
| Para: | Checked in with attorney to confirm that problem was solved; discussed the cause of the initial problem | 0.4 | $100.00 | $40.00 |
| Atty: | Discussed with paralegal the cause of the initial problem; asked paralegal to look into an easier way to solve the problem | 0.4 | $300.00 | $120.00 |
| Para: | Contacted software vendor regarding cause of initial problem; no real resolution; drafted report to attorney | 0.5 | $100.00 | $50.00 |
| 3.6 | $660.00 |
Option 2:
| Atty: | Attended 1-hour training on new software program and listened | 1 | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Para: | Attended 1-hour training on new software program and listened | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| 2 | $400.00 |
You decide.
I’m the Child of a Law Enforcement Officer
Growing up the child of a peace officer is a unique experience. When your dad’s job is to determine when people are lying and to serve them up a dose of justice, you don’t get away with a lot. (As a very young child, I learned the difference between saying “I lied” and “I’m just pickin’.” Semantics are important, people.)
Having a law enforcement officer as a dad can also give you a fantastic gift: the love of justice. Continue reading
Communication is Key to Keeping People (and Yourself) Happy
At the beginning of every week I do what most people probably do, I make a “to do” list. Because I’m a nerd, and I love Excel (see previous post professing my love), I make four lists on the same spreadsheet: Home, Work, Volunteering, and Miscellaneous. Continue reading
The Modern Age
Several weeks ago, I sat in a CLE where a judge made a joke about bloggers being journalists, and about 200 attorneys snickered. Yes, how could bloggers possibly think that they are journalists!? Perhaps the attorneys simply laughed because it was a judge making the joke, but I doubt it.
Journalists can blog, and not all bloggers are journalists. Continue reading
Blogathon & The Power of Finding a Group
Today is Blogathon. It’s full of PR and marketing folk talking about the power of blogs/twitter/social media for growing your business. I am a paralegal. None of that PR/marketing stuff applies to me. Then why am I here? And more particularly, why do I help organize? Continue reading
Haley Lobs Law Bomb is Getting a Redesign
As you can see, Haley Lobs Law Bomb is going through some changes. After moving to haleyodom.com, I realized that the blog really needed some upgrading/updating, and what time is better than right now?
Thank you for being patient while I figure out what I’m doing. If you have any ideas or changes you’d like to see, please let me know.
And if I haven’t said it before, let me say it now, thank you so much for reading. It means a lot to me.
Excel is Your Friend
If you follow my twitter stream at all, you know that I am an advocate of Excel. Why? Because it’s simply more efficient and versatile than Word charts and indexes. Yes, I know that Word will allow you to sort data, but beyond that, manipulation of your information is limited.
A couple of weeks ago, I inherited an index of documents that totaled 40 pages – in Word. That wouldn’t have been a problem if I were only searching for a particular document where a simple word find would have sufficed, but it was not. Continue reading
