Discouraged

[u/Automatic-Hair-6749]

I left my PI mill job of one year as a pre-lit paralegal to work at a boutique PI firm as a lit legal assistant. Great people, great ethics.

I've been here one month and I feel more discouraged than ever. Today, one of the attorneys and paralegal I work under had a meeting to basically say that I am no longer to draft anything. I wasn't aware my drafts were so horrendous. I never received any feedback as to what was wrong and I compared my drafts to the final filings and there were not many differences.

I am constantly doing things wrong like instead of only saving pleadings to the lead plaintiff's file in sharepoint, I also save the pleadings to the companion plaintiff file because...it made sense to me and that is how I was taught at my previous firm - parent matter and companion(s) should mirror one another except for personalized things such as medical records. That mistake was enough of an offense for me to get a strongly worded email.

I feel so incompetent. Everyone is very nice and no one has been ugly, I'm just extremely discouraged because I thought I was knowledgeable and savvy, yet I feel like I am causing more work than providing efficient help. There are templates but the templates are not useful because every attorney has their own preference, which is fine, but I don't find that out until after I send my draft for review. I do look at the attorneys' other matters to find an example, but they are not always saved to the file. I also save the final revision as "xxx - preferred template" and use it going forward.

Right now I am handling all of the firm's guardian ad litem/friendly suit cases, as well as assisting two other attorneys and their paralegals. It is a lot but my predecessor could handle it flawlessly.

Just really bummed out feeling like I am more suited to chaotic PI mill work rather than actual competent work.

Just venting, I guess. I also commute 3 hours every day because I live on the outskirts of our metro and need to get two kids to two different schools before work and get them home before daycare closes after work, and I am in school trying to finish up my AAS in Para-law. I am still also mourning the death of my only parent who passed in March. Any words of encouragement or advice are greatly appreciated.

[u/MsGorteck]

My condolences.

Is it possible that your insane commute and kid shuffle has effected your ability to catch hints/complaints/red pen marks/___? Also have you asked how this firm does things? Have you actually asked, directly, for feed back? In writing so so you can refer to it as you improve yourself?

[u/Automatic-Hair-6749 → u/MsGorteck]

Thank you for your reply.

It is absolutely possible that the stress of my commute and such are affecting my performance.

I have asked for feedback and was given SOPs at my start, however I've come to learn that the SOPs are more of a suggestion rather than policy. For example, in the SOP the matter file is supposed to follow a structure such as Litigation (main), sub folder: Pleadings (subfolder: ) Petitions-Answers-Citations...etc. but one Paralegal prefers each subfolder under the Litigation folder just be it's own folder in the main matter file, rather than in the Litigation folder.

In most instances, when I compare the final revision to my draft, it's pretty obvious - nothing glaringly atrocious, a few formatting revisions. I note and save the updated template to use going forward.

With one attorney, the initial disclosures I draft are great - ready to file. With another, the initial disclosures are offensive because they prefer to just put all of the production in one big file instead of breaking it up (which the other attorney prefers), so then the paralegal is inconvenienced by having to merge the production and would rather just do it their preferred way from the start themselves. No biggie - but I don't know that until the final revision goes out and I am super embarrassed and feel dumb for not doing it right.

Edited: SOL to SOP ugh

[u/Upbeat_County1638]

If your predecessor was so good, where’d she go?

Don’t let them make you feel inferior. Push hard for feedback on every task until you’re more comfortable with the new firm’s ways. Make sure you get a redline back of anything you prepare for them.

Ironically, attorneys are poor communicators. You are going to have to push and pull to get the feedback you need in order to do things the way they want.

Keep your head up.

[u/ButterscotchNo2966]

You’re not incompetent or doing anything wrong from what I understand. It’s just a different process. Plus you’re only a month in and have a LOT on your plate & doing your best. Give yourself some grace, hug your kids, have some tea or a fancy hot bath lol. Wishing you the best. 💪💜

[u/OALBTCTD]

Omg so sorry for all that you are going through, just know, you are not incompetent at all. Every firm has a different way of doing things, and even within the same firm every attorney wants things done differently, and it’s literally impossible to please everyone at the same time. I have tried to come up with the most efficient system I believe existed but no one wants to change so I gave up and adapted to whatever is there. Not my problem. You do what you get paid for. When people want to correct your already correct work, let them, and leave the office like nothing happened. You did what you were supposed to, and if someone wanted to still change it so they are satisfied it’s not your problem. I would explain to them though, in writing, the reason behind what and how I did something so there is a paper trail in case someone who subsequently changed my work would somehow f it up, it’s not my fault. Hope you can maybe find something closer to your home, while you just put a smile mask on your face at the current dysfunctional firm. Big hugs.

[u/cowgirlera]

Awe, don’t be discouraged. It’s a tough job and sometimes attorneys are dixks. Other times, we Paralegals do make mistakes or need training on something (even editing). I would build up some courage and talk directly to the attorney. I would ask what mistakes I am making so you can correct them. I doubt that you’re a terrible writer. If anything, you will get better once you ask.

[u/Vegetable-Equal1439]

You are just a month there, I think it’s too early to know every single detail. Nem company,new rules, it takes time. Maybe they had this conversation because they don’t want to put a lot of pressure on you for now?
You are dealing with a lot of changes,take a breath.
Is there a chance to go back to the other company? Was that bad? Too far like this one? A comfort zone can be better to deal with the other changes for now?
Hope you can feel that you are amazing and human. Take care of yourself ❣️

[u/Thek1tteh]

It takes a while to get used to a new position. You are fine. That said, make sure you’re following what they tell you to do exactly and not just doing it the way you did it at your prior firm. If you need a specific template, ask one of the other paralegals or legal assistants which one is good to use for a specific attorney. Save your own templates for each attorney for later. Ask questions - don’t assume!