working as a administrative assistant at law office Forum
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working as a administrative assistant at law office
So how should one prepare for for this job?
I ask this question because
i.e.
1. what do law offices use microsoft excel for? i ask this in case i need to refresh my knowledge, because i havent had to use it in a while.
anything else would be great. i just dont want to be caught off guard or unprepared.
thanks
I ask this question because
i.e.
1. what do law offices use microsoft excel for? i ask this in case i need to refresh my knowledge, because i havent had to use it in a while.
anything else would be great. i just dont want to be caught off guard or unprepared.
thanks
- Veyron
- Posts: 3595
- Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:50 am
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
How good are you at ducking?
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- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:43 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
I interned for the DA in my state's largest county. Some lessons learned:
1. You will feel like an idiot, more than once. Learn from it and try not to make the same mistake twice.
2. Always do your assignments immediately. Sounds common-sensical, yes, but don't even wait 2 minutes to finish some dumb project. Drop the dumb project and start your assignment.
3. Don't be shy. Everyone knows you're the new lowly assistant- embrace the role. Be confident in meeting everyone, and try to make conservation (this does not include reciting your knowledge of the dissenting opinion in the Slaughterhouse Cases). People will love you if you do your job well but can also be friendly.
4. Remember that networking is (usually) more valuable than your paycheck. You won't be making big money, so rub shoulders with important people and get your name out there.
4.1 There is always at least one hot secretary in the firm. Find her.
As for any legal software, ask the secretary what the firm uses if you haven't started. Do some research on that particular software so you have a leg up. Also, know how to do the basics (faxing, using a xerox quickly, etc.). I had several embarrassing moments on both the fax and copy machine. PM me if you have any particulars
1. You will feel like an idiot, more than once. Learn from it and try not to make the same mistake twice.
2. Always do your assignments immediately. Sounds common-sensical, yes, but don't even wait 2 minutes to finish some dumb project. Drop the dumb project and start your assignment.
3. Don't be shy. Everyone knows you're the new lowly assistant- embrace the role. Be confident in meeting everyone, and try to make conservation (this does not include reciting your knowledge of the dissenting opinion in the Slaughterhouse Cases). People will love you if you do your job well but can also be friendly.
4. Remember that networking is (usually) more valuable than your paycheck. You won't be making big money, so rub shoulders with important people and get your name out there.
4.1 There is always at least one hot secretary in the firm. Find her.
As for any legal software, ask the secretary what the firm uses if you haven't started. Do some research on that particular software so you have a leg up. Also, know how to do the basics (faxing, using a xerox quickly, etc.). I had several embarrassing moments on both the fax and copy machine. PM me if you have any particulars
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- Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:45 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
thank you SO much this is exactly the type of answer i was looking for.FloridaCoastalorbust wrote:I interned for the DA in my state's largest county. Some lessons learned:
1. You will feel like an idiot, more than once. Learn from it and try not to make the same mistake twice.
2. Always do your assignments immediately. Sounds common-sensical, yes, but don't even wait 2 minutes to finish some dumb project. Drop the dumb project and start your assignment.
3. Don't be shy. Everyone knows you're the new lowly assistant- embrace the role. Be confident in meeting everyone, and try to make conservation (this does not include reciting your knowledge of the dissenting opinion in the Slaughterhouse Cases). People will love you if you do your job well but can also be friendly.
4. Remember that networking is (usually) more valuable than your paycheck. You won't be making big money, so rub shoulders with important people and get your name out there.
4.1 There is always at least one hot secretary in the firm. Find her.
As for any legal software, ask the secretary what the firm uses if you haven't started. Do some research on that particular software so you have a leg up. Also, know how to do the basics (faxing, using a xerox quickly, etc.). I had several embarrassing moments on both the fax and copy machine. PM me if you have any particulars
- The Gentleman
- Posts: 670
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:25 am
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
Don't take things personally. In my experience, an attorney can be cursing you and throwing staplers one minute, and moments later become the nicest person you've ever met.
And don't be too stiff either. Do your work efficiently and professionally, but don't be afraid to engage people in conversation.
And don't be too stiff either. Do your work efficiently and professionally, but don't be afraid to engage people in conversation.
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Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
microsoft excel or outlook?
- FalafelWaffle
- Posts: 286
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:07 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
Always be prepared, or at least always appear prepared. I worked as an assistant once and was lambasted for not bringing a notepad and pen into a partner's office when he called me in on a whim. I might have just caught him in a bad mood, but be attuned to the habits/personalities of who you work with most, and anticipate their preferences/moods. This is something that sort of just sinks in, but be aware.sangr wrote:So how should one prepare for for this job?
I ask this question because
i.e.
1. what do law offices use microsoft excel for? i ask this in case i need to refresh my knowledge, because i havent had to use it in a while.
anything else would be great. i just dont want to be caught off guard or unprepared.
thanks
- thecilent
- Posts: 2500
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:55 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
What does this is even meansangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
- rman1201
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:11 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
How to type.sangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
There are some pretty amazing things you can do with excel with enough knowledge of it, but I doubt you'll be expected to know any of this. Everything you'll need is very learnable as you go.
Also- If you have a couple bucks to blow and want to up your technical proficiency just in case, Linda.com is amazing. I'm not affiliated with this site, I just used it during my internship at an Insurance company and found it to be addictive.
- FalafelWaffle
- Posts: 286
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:07 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
You've just outed yourself as a shameless shill.rman1201 wrote:How to type.sangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
There are some pretty amazing things you can do with excel with enough knowledge of it, but I doubt you'll be expected to know any of this. Everything you'll need is very learnable as you go.
Also- If you have a couple bucks to blow and want to up your technical proficiency just in case, Linda.com is amazing. I'm not affiliated with this site, I just used it during my internship at an Insurance company and found it to be addictive.
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- Posts: 459
- Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:45 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
thanks...i dont have too much extensive use of it and the last time i formally learned it was 3 years ago in a classroom setting, never to use it again. i also have extremely little experience with outlookrman1201 wrote:How to type.sangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
There are some pretty amazing things you can do with excel with enough knowledge of it, but I doubt you'll be expected to know any of this. Everything you'll need is very learnable as you go.
im going all over researching crap but i guess i can learn as i go.
ill keep the pen and notepad comment in mind also.
thanks.
- dr123
- Posts: 3497
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:38 am
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
Just do shit fast thats all anyone really wants out of an admin asst, most of the tasks you'll be given will most likely be rather straight forward
- rman1201
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:11 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
That site is the shit man. It got me into programming - they have video lessons on Actionscript programming for flash and it sort of went from there.FalafelWaffle wrote:You've just outed yourself as a shameless shill.rman1201 wrote:How to type.sangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
There are some pretty amazing things you can do with excel with enough knowledge of it, but I doubt you'll be expected to know any of this. Everything you'll need is very learnable as you go.
Also- If you have a couple bucks to blow and want to up your technical proficiency just in case, Linda.com is amazing. I'm not affiliated with this site, I just used it during my internship at an Insurance company and found it to be addictive.
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- aspire2more
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:23 am
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
Um, nothing. I have worked/interned in three different law offices and never used Excel or Outlook for "crazy stuff." What exactly are you asking?sangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
- rman1201
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:11 pm
Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
To add to this - you do realize Outlook is just email, right?aspire2more wrote:Um, nothing. I have worked/interned in three different law offices and never used Excel or Outlook for "crazy stuff." What exactly are you asking?sangr wrote:does anyone know what kinds of funky crazy stuff ill probably need to know or utilize for
microsoft excel or outlook?
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Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
i guess i have im thinking of "crazy stuff" because the only experience i have with excel is through a stats class i had way back in undergrad and that involved so much different shit. I understand we wont be doing stats but i felt that maybe they may want us to utilize some of the tools in excel that requires more than elementary knowledge of the program.
In regards to outlook, other than the e-mail, there's the contacts tabs and such. I'm sure they're all easily learnable, but I was just asking because I literally have never used it, other than a short period in which i only checked the e-mail at my internship on rare occasions.
In regards to outlook, other than the e-mail, there's the contacts tabs and such. I'm sure they're all easily learnable, but I was just asking because I literally have never used it, other than a short period in which i only checked the e-mail at my internship on rare occasions.
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Re: working as a administrative assistant at law office
All your Excel and Outlook needs will be self learnable. If not, the nearest secretary should know it back and forth. That person and the maintenance/custodians (aka holder of EVERY key) can make your life heaven or hell. Kiss their ass early and often. Food court/cafeteria workers, too, if applicable. Your lunch break (or more importantly, your boss's lunch) may not come until they are closing.
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