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Office etiquette

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:19 pm

For SA, what's should you do when a more senior attorney or a partner visits your office? Do you say "please sit" and motion to the chair in front of your desk? Do you stand up, shake their hand, and say "please sit?"

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:24 pm

Anonymous User wrote:For SA, what's should you do when a more senior attorney or a partner visits your office? Do you say "please sit" and motion to the chair in front of your desk? Do you stand up, shake their hand, and say "please sit?"
Order him to take off his shoes before entering your office

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Bronte

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by Bronte » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:29 pm

Relax. There's no protocol. Just try to be normal. I don't think I ever said "please sit" to any senior associates or partners that visited my office. If they wanted to sit, they would pull up a chair. If not, they would stand and say whatever they wanted to say. It's essentially their "house," so they'll feel at liberty to do what they want. As to getting up and shaking hands, it's situational. You have to just kinda go with it.

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kalvano

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by kalvano » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:33 pm

Ask them if they want you to perform Seppuku in your office to show your dedication, or in the bathroom for easier clean up.

shock259

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by shock259 » Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:44 am

Sometimes I worry I'm awkward. Then I read TLS and immediately feel better.

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Myself

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.

Post by Myself » Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:07 am

.
Last edited by Myself on Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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sambeber

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by sambeber » Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:41 am

shock259 wrote:Sometimes I worry I'm awkward. Then I read TLS and immediately feel better.

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Lasers

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by Lasers » Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:14 am

great post OP. would read again.

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Sheffield

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by Sheffield » Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:54 am

First thing smile. If it is a female partner casually walking in I tend to stand but if she is hastily entering I just greet her with a quick “what’s up?” I go the Ms. Last Name route, unless she says call her by her first name. If it’s the first time I’ve seen the person before noon, it’s usually “good morning.”

As far as guys — if it’s a partner I toss in a “Mister.” Associates by their first name. Although I have an associate who said his name was something Moorhead and that I could refer to him as Mr. Moorhead. I thought that was ridiculous. Whenever I see him I just say “hello there.”

As far as office staff. I always go with the Ms. Last Name. Predictably they will ask you to call them by their first name. Smile and be enthusiastic. This morning I am up a bit extra early to bring in my weekly boxes of donuts/pastry. Tip: The office staff loves it.

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thesealocust

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by thesealocust » Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:34 am

sambeber wrote:
shock259 wrote:Sometimes I worry I'm awkward. Then I read TLS and immediately feel better.

kryptix

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by kryptix » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:35 am

You get out of your chair, bow down to waist level and stay there until the partner says you may rise.

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DougieFresh

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by DougieFresh » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:45 am

kryptix wrote:You get out of your chair, bow down to waist level and stay there until the partner says you may rise.

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TTH

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by TTH » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:47 am

Say, "Oh? I must be going deaf, because I didn't hear you knock. Why don't we try that again?"

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kalvano

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by kalvano » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:54 am

"What the fuck do you want, I'm busy!" works well, too.

Lateral2013

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by Lateral2013 » Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:47 pm

Anonymous User wrote:For SA, what's should you do when a more senior attorney or a partner visits your office? Do you say "please sit" and motion to the chair in front of your desk? Do you stand up, shake their hand, and say "please sit?"
You're overthinking it. I've going to 2 SA offices today and to tell you the truth I couldn't tell you if they stood or sat or offered me a seat. Then again, I've never waited for permission before taking a seat. I'm assuming they are people you've met before? If not, then I guess I would stand up, shake their hand and remain standing until they sit. I don't know that I would ask them to sit, for some reason I think that would rub me the wrong way, like you assume I'm waiting for your permission to sit.

If it's someone you have met before, if they come in and don't want to sit, they will loiter in the doorway. If they want to sit they will sit. No need to stand. Look up, smile and say hello.

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TTH

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by TTH » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:05 pm

Correct answer is probably to alt-tab away from whatever you were wasting time on to a WestLaw or Word window.

drive4showLSAT4dough

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by drive4showLSAT4dough » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:08 pm

Anonymous User wrote:For SA, what's should you do when a more senior attorney or a partner visits your office? Do you say "please sit" and motion to the chair in front of your desk? Do you stand up, shake their hand, and say "please sit?"
My favorite part is "more senior attorney or a partner" because you've already resolved the situation when a junior/mid-level associate enters and don't want to burden anyone with a superfluous question.

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Fed_Atty

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by Fed_Atty » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:20 pm

If it is just you, immediately stand at attention. If more than one person, call out "Attention on Deck" and then immediately stand at attention. Remain at attention until given the order "carry-on". Follow same procedure on departure.

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by seagan823 » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:28 pm

kalvano wrote:Ask them if they want you to perform Seppuku in your office to show your dedication, or in the bathroom for easier clean up.
This made me laugh out loud. Much appreciated.

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RSterling

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by RSterling » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:38 pm

thesealocust wrote:
sambeber wrote:
shock259 wrote:Sometimes I worry I'm awkward. Then I read TLS and immediately feel better.

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by rad lulz » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:39 pm

RSterling wrote:
thesealocust wrote:
sambeber wrote:
shock259 wrote:Sometimes I worry I'm awkward. Then I read TLS and immediately feel better.
Then I poast on TLS and I feel worse

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guano

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by guano » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:43 pm

To flip this, when you go into someone else's office, if the conversation lasts more than a minute, take a seat.

To paraphrase "secretaries stand, businessmen sit", which I'm sure is equally applicable to lawyers

BeenDidThat

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by BeenDidThat » Fri Jun 07, 2013 12:34 pm

"Good morning"
or
"Good afternoon"
or
"Good evening"

drive4showLSAT4dough

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by drive4showLSAT4dough » Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:04 pm

BeenDidThat wrote:"Good morning" in the AM
or
"Good afternoon" between Noon and 6
or
"Good evening" after 6pm
Bolded for clarity. Don't want people getting confused.

suzige

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Re: Office etiquette

Post by suzige » Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:19 pm

drive4showLSAT4dough wrote:
BeenDidThat wrote:"Good morning" in the AM
or
"Good afternoon" between Noon and 6
or
"Good evening" after 6pm
Bolded for clarity. Don't want people getting confused.

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