Yeah. Short story version. It's all about "good cause". I left because my supervising attorney was abusive and enjoyed humiliating me on an escalating basis. He began to blame me for his screw ups. The paralegal who quit abruptly prior to me, experienced the EXACT same thing (we talked for 2 hours on the phone one evening.). She received UEB, but I did not. Uneven application of the statute, if you ask me. However, it was ruled that I should have gone to one of the other partners. The thing is, all of the other attorneys in the office knew he was abusive. They could have stopped it at anytime, but they didn't.
Anyhoo. She received UE benefits, I did not. I fought to the appeal level. I lost, but I don't care. I requested my employee file. His ding-dong paralegal included his work product, so I got to see how he planned to defend himself.
I figured I would lose, but at least he had to spend some of his precious time dealing with the appeal.
I give the next paralegal about another 7 months. And memo to her: if Mr. Loser starts abusing you, tell the "big guy" about it. Then, document the incidents. If nothing changes, then you've exhausted your avenues to bring about an end to the abuse.
Or, just start being a slacker on the job. Then, they will terminate you because the job wasn't "suitable" for you, and you'll be able to collect UEB!
Last night, I burned everything. It sure felt good.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The First Week of a New Life
Well, this past week was my first week as a non-paralegal. And let me just say this: you do not have to stay within the legal arena with the skill set you have acquired during your tortuous years as a paralegal.
I'm now in, what I like to call, "Academia Land". Oh, sure, the professors can be a little like obnoxious attorneys; but I assure you, they are NO WHERE near that level. I am the department assistant in a Chemistry Department at a university that is among the top ten in the country. And you know what? The staff actually SMILES for no reason whatsoever. Not because their attorney just crashed and burned on a trial that he underestimated, or because the attorney was just humiliated in front of judge who HATES PI attorneys, but because they are happy, have excellent benefits, are encouraged to grow professionally, and there is a policy in place that proscribes behavior that is considered "harassment." This is going to sound cheesy, but I almost come to tears when I think about my good fortune.
I'm already assisting my Department Chair and the Director of Academic Operations; two people who, besides being highly intelligent, are just "cool." That's right. I said, "Cool." Can you really say that about your attorney? Probably not.
Trust me, those paralegal skills transfer to better places. Take the opportunity to do it NOW, rather than later!
Peace and blessin's!
I'm now in, what I like to call, "Academia Land". Oh, sure, the professors can be a little like obnoxious attorneys; but I assure you, they are NO WHERE near that level. I am the department assistant in a Chemistry Department at a university that is among the top ten in the country. And you know what? The staff actually SMILES for no reason whatsoever. Not because their attorney just crashed and burned on a trial that he underestimated, or because the attorney was just humiliated in front of judge who HATES PI attorneys, but because they are happy, have excellent benefits, are encouraged to grow professionally, and there is a policy in place that proscribes behavior that is considered "harassment." This is going to sound cheesy, but I almost come to tears when I think about my good fortune.
I'm already assisting my Department Chair and the Director of Academic Operations; two people who, besides being highly intelligent, are just "cool." That's right. I said, "Cool." Can you really say that about your attorney? Probably not.
Trust me, those paralegal skills transfer to better places. Take the opportunity to do it NOW, rather than later!
Peace and blessin's!
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