How does a legal secretary deal w/ difficult attorneys and gain respect from coworkers?

Question

recently started working in a small law firm. I graduated college a few years ago w/a legal secretarial degree and paralegal certificate. finally landed my 'dream job' i am having a difficult time dealing with the attorneys. h**l give me work and wont wont explain what he wants me to do. ill ask him and h**l tell me to figure it out myself and when i try and its wrong, h**l get very upset. also, for the most part, the work is pretty simple and everyone in the office, not only the attorneys make something simple a big deal, like screening telephone calls. everyone is always in my business and if someone asks ME a question, one of my coworkers will answer it for me. for the most part everything is pretty simple and everyone makes a big deal out of everything and puts unessesary pressure on me and even themseves. how do i deal with attorneys and legal professionals.i want to continue this b/c there is a lot of money in it but they are ALL making it very hard on me. im trying my best and what all they do is insult me. another thing, everyone wears jeans and i come into work with a suit almost every day. i think they are unprofessional. i previously worked for a vice president of a company and she was nothing but nice to me and always told me how professional i am and what a great job i was doing. i never had a problem with previous bosses. whats their problem. this is completely knocking my self esteem and confidence. please help.

Answer 1

Okay, this is a common problem with people our age.  We always think that we are supposed to get praised for doing good work.  People in the generation before ours were never praised and were expected to do good work.  Sure, praise helps, but you're now a legal secretary and you're going to have to suck it up.  You'll always find someone difficult no matter where you go.

The only way to get past this is to do a good job.  You have to always do a good job to earn the respect of everyone else.

You should also maybe ask your employer for a written job description of what you're supposed to do so you know what you're responsible for.

Don't take it personally.  They would do this to anyone and truthfully, a lot of people are unemployed right now and dying for a job, so you need to do a great job and have a great attitude or you'll be replaced rather easily.  

Oh, and my final thoughts are, I've always talked directly with each person who's been rude to me, asking if I've done anything to offend them and asking if there is anything I can do to right the situation.  I was once told no, that the person just didn't like me.  Well, that night I smiled and told him good night, in the morning I smiled and said good morning and kept killing him with kindness and professionalism.  Eventually, he apologized to me.  

It is what it is!  

Good luck!

Answer 2

Jenice, welcome to the world of the legal profession! I've been a legal secretary for over 26 years and I can relate to what you're saying. Lawyers are notorious for making things difficult and I have a boss who does just the same. She says, "I don't care how it's done I just want it done!" Very demanding. You probably need to get a job where you can feel comfortable while you learn, but you won't know what the people are like until you get into the trenches. Not all lawyers are the same, and you will meet many different personalities over the course of your career. You will also encounter difficult co-workers in the process. I am writing an ebook called "Do You Have What it Takes to Be a Legal Secretary? An Insightful Guide into the Legal Profession." I also started a Yahoo Group called "Legal Secretary Mentor" if you'd like to join that, we can connect and I can help you along.

Answer 3

yo are a secretary in a law firm deal with it.

Answer 4

work where you enjoy compatible people

look else where first and make your move

Answer 5

Your problem doing the work should get better as you learn how to do things right. When he complains that it was not done correctly, you should point out that you did ask and were told to figure it out for yourself.

Little things like someone answering a question directed at you are annoying, and happen to me all the time. You need to use a sense of humor in those cases, it really helps.

As for your clothes. Why are you making problems when you have enough real problems going on? Dress casually but not in jeans -- you need to figure out how to get along better and not have your nose in the air.

You know, we all need to pay our dues. And a law firm will always respect attornies more than staff. It's the way of the world, and if you don't like this situation, you should be in a different field.