Support staffers who have been with your employer for a while know more about
being a lawyer than any new lawyer could. Secretaries, receptionists, word
processors, copy room staffers, office runners, mailroom clerks could save your
skin - if they want to. They can run interference for you - if they like you,
they will often tell someone looking for you that you're in a meeting even if
you've gone shopping. They'll field your calls with more enthusiasm. They can
help you meet deadlines you'd otherwise miss. When you're sharing a secretary,
if you aren't nice to the secretary you'll find your work at the bottom of the
pile - always.
They can save you from looking stupid - there are a lot of details a new
lawyer doesn't know but support staff do. Staff members can have a lot of power
even if they don't have much authority. They can tell you when it's a good or
bad time to talk to the boss, when the boss will be out of the office and what
their pet peeves are. It's a good idea to ask for raises and time off based on
this information, for instance. Secretaries usually know what's going on.
They'll know which clients are coming and going, who are predominant business
getters, what department generates the most revenue, who loses the most (and
least) assistants.
Support staffers can be powerful in ways you can't imagine (until you've had
the same secretary for ten years yourself). The managing partner's secretary can
be the most powerful person in the firm if her boss relies on her for the inside
scoop on everything. She often controls goodies like tickets.
Secretaries TALK. What they say about you helps develop your reputation
with partners as well as other secretaries. The bottom line is that mistreating
the support staff can kill you. They really do have that much power. Don't force
your superior to choose between you and a support staffer. They won't like being
put in that position and you are much more likely to be the one to go.
Don't think that your superiors will respect you for lording it over the
support staff. Even if the firm culture is to treat staff badly - ignore the
firm culture! For one thing, if you get into that habit and move firms, you
could be in for a lot of trouble. For another, if you treat the staff better
than the rest of the firm, they will bend over backwards for you.
Remember that little things mean a lot. Treat the support staff well from day
one. The very first day at work, introduce yourself to them immediately and be
certain to learn each person's name. Take muffins or flowers, call them
assistants (not secretaries) and get to know all the support staffers, not just
the secretaries. Always say thank you for anything they do.
Be appreciative of their time and sensitive to their work load. Learn how
long administrative functions (photocopying, faxing, word processing, envelope
stuffing) take and take that into account in meeting or deadlines. Be willing to
pitch in and help THEM out when the situation calls for it. But don't let them
cry on your shoulder.
Never be blunt about secretarial mistakes. They're human too and make
mistakes. It's your job to check typing and (especially) double-check that
figures are correct. YOU are responsible for their work (and your boss will be
upset about mistakes because it reflects on him/her). Even if mistakes keep
happening - in other words, your secretary is an idiot - don't be blunt. Think
before you complain, you don't want to get a reputation for being difficult to
work with or you'll get bounced from secretary to secretary. Go to the office
manager and say something along the lines of, "I'm having trouble getting my
secretary to do X. Can you give me some advice about how I ought to handle it?"
The facts themselves will tell anybody exactly where the problems lies - stick
to them.
