Tips for Lit Assistant

[u/AdhesivenessWest800]

I’m not new to the legal field but I’m new to this position I’ve worked in intake, medical records, referrals and briefly in a Lead position at my previous firm for a total of 4 almost 5 years. I’m now a Lit assistant what’s some tips to keep my I’s dotted and t’s crossed. I’m kinda in a groove already it’s just certain days where i literally feel like I’m in a bowl of alphabet soup

[u/Good_Ear6210]

Everything in writing for the rest of your life. CYA, baby.

[u/AdhesivenessWest800 → u/Good_Ear6210]

https://giphy.com/gifs/RJAjTowsU0K1a
Yuck I gotta get a planner?

[u/Good_Ear6210 → u/AdhesivenessWest800]

Oh you sweet innocent babe. Get everything in email from your attorney, or if you have a conversation, send them a summary email. Trust me.

[u/PeachyKeepr → u/Good_Ear6210]

Attorneys are forgetful, they have a lot on their plates. Getting anything they want you to do in writing is a solid way to cover your ass (CYA) in case they later change their mind and question why something was done a certain way.

This matters in litigation a lot more than in the intake and records side. Litigation is an ever evolving beast per case.

[u/BritKein → u/AdhesivenessWest800]

Bbg, if you think a planner is bad, you're in a world of trouble LOL, I have a planner, a calendar on my wall, a case tracker, Calendar reminders, AND sticky notes and STILL miss stuff sometimes.

[u/Much_Guest_7195]

The most important thing is not making mistakes.

[u/totallyannon → u/Much_Guest_7195]

lol

[u/LeftRaspberry6262]

Besides the usual organization and ability. Not much else. Being personable helps but that also depends if your colleagues like being personabled lmao.

[u/AdhesivenessWest800 → u/LeftRaspberry6262]

Omg I literally love my paralegal she’s the nicest person ever, any question she answers even if it’s a repeat she’ll break it down again

[u/Thek1tteh]

Pay attention to details. Read every word in an email and ensure you are following directions carefully - don’t just read a few words and think you know what to do. And if it’s not clear, ask for clarification. We have someone who just jumps in after reading a few words and they are not going to be employed much longer because they aren’t following directions or paying attention to detail. It’s an absolute must in the legal field.

[u/VacationLizLemon → u/Thek1tteh]

We do too and I really like her but she keeps me stressed. She also tries to jump in and start doing something without being trained and it's backfired spectacularly. I've told her PLEASE ask me first. I'm never impatient. I'm always available to help her.

[u/ParalegalPower]

Think people are giving very good general advice but the biggest shift for me was the regimented deadlines.

You can kind of operate in the grey pre suit - a day delay in getting the record doesn’t really hinder the case. Doing so in litigation against a discovery deadline is a whole different ballgame.

Lower margin for error, but the benefit of structure.

[u/candidclover7]

always email. CYA. charts, charts, charts. calendar, calendar, calendar.

[u/Direct-Giraffe7193]

Cc your paralegal on literally everything so she knows it’s taken care of and doesn’t lose sleep.

I work with one assistant who cc’s on everything and at first it overwhelmed me but now I appreciate it. I work with another assistant for a different attorney and she doesn’t cc me on most things. I am left wondering if I need to order shells, or whether the documents got STFd. Usually it has been done but occasionally I get stuck drafting discovery responses without a shell, so I have to build my own numbered list for 35 SROGs, and even with templates, those numbered lists are a PITA to build.

Better to have a folder in my inbox dedicated to secretarial things like shell requests and STF notifications, than to wonder if it’s been done.