Paralegal Pie

Medscape Physician Compensation Report for 2012

Very interesting on so many levels.

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2012/public?src=ptalk&firstbullet

Feeling Blue

Just about every person that I spoke to this week was feeling "blue" - maybe its waiting for spring, tired of winter or any number of reasons.

So here are a few quotes that I keep close by that help me when I am feeling blue or green or coral.

1. If at first you don't succeed, see if the loser gets anything.

2. If you make a rug of yourself, don't cry when someone walks on you. (My grandmother)

3. The harder I try, the luckier I am.

4. And our credo: Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc. We gladly feast on those who would subdue us. Not just pretty words. (Morticia Addams)  -- this is my all time favorite quote

5. I never let my schooling interfere with  my education. (Mark Twain)

6.  If money were no object ______________.  (my friend Cathy)

Feeling any better?

Bullying

I was speaking to a friend recently who was completely stressed out at work because she feels she is being bullied by her boss.   About 15 years ago I had a similar situation.  I worked with three fabulous attorneys and one total jackass.  

Lets face it... if you are going to work with lawyers you better have a tough skin.  But that doesn't mean that you should also have heartburn, headaches, trouble sleeping  or anxiety because you work with lawyers.

Bullying is a serious offense whether you are in grade school or the work place.  It should not be tolerated in any environment.   I am attaching a PDF with some guidelines and on the first page I highlighted a couple things that you as a paralegal should expect working in a  law office, its just the nature of the beast.  The PDF contains some tips and some guidelines for getting help if you feel you are being bullied.  If you feel that you are being bullied -- do something about it.  My grandmother always said "If you make a rug of yourself, don't cry when people walk on you."

And here is my super secret tip for handling unreasonable deadlines - if I am asked to do something in one hour I say it will take me two hours.  I know and you know that the attorney will be looking for it in half the time anyway.  So I either have the task completed or I still have the option of squeezing out a little more time to complete the task.   A lawyer can throw out an unreasonable deadline but don't ever, ever agree to it unless you can come through on it.

Bullying

Khan Academy

Algebra is the bane of my existence, and has been since 9th grade! I had to take remedial Algebra four times before I passed it to get in to regular Algebra and this was about five years ago. Seriously, this is true and I have witnesses. I'm pretty sure the only reason I passed the fourth time was I begged for mercy, and I do mean begged! Well its time for me to take the Algebra I class so that I can get in to a Statistics class (which I will no doubt pass with flying colors) but the Algebra, well I am not exaggerating when I say just the thought of it sends shivers up my spine.

What to do? What to do? Well as luck would have it I was on vacation last week listening to NPR and there was a discussion about Khan Academy. What piqued my interest was Khan Academy was helping students with Algebra. Hey I'm a student and I surely need help. So I log on to www.khanacademy.org to see whats up. EUREKA!

Not only were there a zillion videos on Algebra but a zillion more on a boat load of other topics as well -- on just about anything you want to know. Financial planning, the financial collapse, history - you name it.

They weren't kidding when they called it "Academy!" Its free and you can learn just about anything.

A must, must, must check it out site!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Job Hunting Article I've Seen in a LONG Time!

http://moneyland.time.com/2011/11/28/how-to-get-your-dream-job-in-a-bad-economy/?hpt=hp_c2

Grandmother's Wisdom

My grandmother passed away in 1989 but today would be her 95th birthday and I thought it would be nice to remember her by sharing some special advice she gave me.

One afternoon while she was washing the dishes and I was drying the dishes she handed me a plate that still had a spec of food on it.  I turned to her, handing her back the plate saying "you missed a spot."  She turned to me and said "a good dish dryer doesn't complain about the dish washer." 

It wasn't until years later that I finally got what she meant. I think its prudent advice for paralegals too.  If you're a little slow on the uptake --- don't complain about the work that has been done before you.  Its petty and unprofessional.