- Quickdraw McLaw
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It’s almost time for Craig P. Kenny’s 21st Annual Party and you’re invited:
Invitation To 21st Annual CPK Party
- Law
- Posted on 8 years ago
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FIRST
WHO YOU PEOPLE
It's been a few years since I've made it to the CPK party. How has it been, lately? Worth driving there from Summerlin?
food has gotten better, the drinks are alright. same annoying people show up though.
Justice Cherry fancy dancin in his sweatpants.
That is fancy sweatspantsin' to you
I have fond memories of CPK in law school. Feels like ages ago!
Wanna get drunk with fat lawyers? CPK is your man!
Getting drunk with fat lawyers sounds fine to me. It sounds a lot better than another option advertised for the party–playing basketball. Rather than expending such bursts of energy, and risking a heart attack, I would instead gladly get drunk with other fat lawyers.
Off-topic question for a Friday afternoon…
I work in a small office (not a law firm), and there is a non-attorney who is essentially at the same level as me. We both report to the Boss. For a while, I've been feeling some animosity from the non-attorney, and it's getting worse. A couple weeks ago, the non-attorney demanded that I "help" by doing some clerical work. I protested at first but finally decided to be a "team player" and just do it. Then, instead of any gratitude, the non-attorney attacked me for not following up on the clerical work to make sure that it was all filed in the correct places.
The Boss says he supports me completely, but this is getting out of hand. Now I'm getting snarky emails from non-attorney blaming me for not doing something that isn't my job. Part of me wants to throw down, but I'd rather not blow this up.
(I'm specifically leaving genders out of this, but I will mention that the non-attorney is about a decade older than me.)
You guys ever have to deal with anything like this? How do you handle it?
You say "essentially at the same level." If they are actually at the same level as you, simply tell them they aren't your boss and therefore can't tell you what to do. Who cares if they don't like you? Especially if the boss "fully supports you." Ignore the snarky emails. I'm sure the person will cry harder that you don't give them the time of day. Problem solved.
Here is my thought which is opposite of 5:13….. If you are at the same level as a non-lawyer, who are you to think that you are immune from pitching in at the same level as your lateral compatriot? I don't know the structure of your company but can tell you that in my company/firm, I am the head. And when a project needs to be done, I pitch in on getting the files so that it gets done. I don't worry about where I fall on the chart; I care that the work gets done.
If this bothers you so much, go to your Boss and ask for a clarification of your position and what you are and are not to do. Just be careful because older laterally-equal non-attorney employee may have gotten to that level by building some relationships and skills. Never put someone in a position to choose you over someone because you may not like their choice.
And for future reference, best practice, no matter where you work or what level you are, if you pick up someome else's work, define the parameters of the "help" you are giving up front and own whatever it is you are working on from start to finish.
Smells like you thought the "clerical work" was beneath your station, did a half-assed job, poorly, and got called out on it and ran to get valdation from your boss and online.
All in all, I would bet good money other people are cleaning up your mess while you are telling a one-sided story to your boss, and on here, on company time.
Boss make a dollar, I get a dime. That's why I jack it on company time.
My 2 cents:
Your coworker is playing office politics by trying to get you to do his or her work; in essence, they're trying to get you to be their subordinate. If every time you pitch in you simply get attacked, then there's no point for you to pitch in.
Next time, just say, "Nope. Learned my lesson. You can do your job, and I'll do mine." And leave it at that. Don't blow it up, don't escalate, just simply say no.
On an unrelated note, anyone see the latest Board of CLE report in the October NV Lawyer? They take in $544,845 in 2016 and 70% of it goes to employee salaries and benefits. That goes up to 76% if you include payroll taxes and travel expenses. Seems a bit steep. Then again, I'm not sure what exactly they do, aside from applying my credits so I don't get suspended.
What else is there for them to spend money on? Rent is minimal for the staff size. Website and new tracking software? They don't throw CLEs. They just accumulate credits. Maybe they are from the Kim Farmer School of Blowing Money.