Yahoo: Leave Paralegals Alone!

 

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer made headlines recently when she ordered employees who had been working from home to start showing up at the office. She cited the benefits of collaboration and face-to-face interaction.

According to the American Time Use Survey—2010 Results, USDL-11-0919 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 22, 2011), 24% of employed Americans reported in recent surveys they work at least some hours at home each week.

The idea of working virtually, not commuting every day to an office where the interruptions and crises never end, is becoming more and more popular, though it may experience a slight hiccup in light of Yahoo’s ban of virtual work.

As Yahoo CEO, this shift is certainly within Mayer’s authority. Her job is to improve Yahoo’s bottom line and if she believes this move will do that, it is her responsibility to make it happen.

While Yahoo employees may not be happy with the decision, they do need to remember it’s not about them but, instead, about the company’s financial success.

Mayer’s policy may be right for Yahoo but not for everyone in the workforce, particularly those in the legal profession. The deciding factor should be the type of work being done at home.

San Francisco State University management professor John Sullivan said Mayer's conclusion about the benefits of collaboration is right, if the focus is on innovation.

"People who work from home are less innovative--but much more productive, Mayer said, citing studies on the subject. "If you want innovation, then you need interaction," he said. "If you want productivity, then you want people working from home." (Emphasis added.)

 

Many paralegals are now working at least part of their week at home. Working from home allows them to set their own schedule, meet their family’s needs, and add balance to their lives. There is a savings of the time and cost involved with commuting, a professional wardrobe (who doesn’t dream of working in sweats and slippers?), meals and daycare.

This can be incredibly successful for paralegals. Why? When your work focuses on drafting pleadings, planning discovery, conversing with witnesses, or preparing for trial, your job is all about efficiency and productivity, not on innovation. This applies to paralegals in all facets of legal work, from mergers and acquisitions to estate planning and probate to corporate record keeping, etc.

Further, the paralegal’s work is measurable in that billable hour goals and deadlines must be met. With the technology available today, the difference between the paralegal working down the hall or the paralegal working 20 minutes (or 20 states) away is minimal.

Another point is that many paralegals interact with clients around the world, necessitating communications in multiple time zones. If you work for a large corporation in Delaware and you need to hold a conference call with clients in Dubai, it is difficult to make that work in the traditional law firm setting. It would not be difficult to make that effort from home while the rest of the family is sleeping. You would be clocking the same number of hours (perhaps more because of the minimization of interruptions) but in a different setting.

However, there is a lesson to be learned from Ms. Mayer’s message: working from home is not about you and making your life easier. It is about your employer’s bottom line. If you approach your employer about this work shift, do not focus on how nice it would be if you could be at home when your children get off the bus or when your spouse finishes his shift at 2:30.

Instead, be ready to prove that your working from home will be a benefit to your employer:

• You may get more done than if you had to get dressed, commute to the office, put in 9 hours, and commute back home.
• You may be more productive because extra time chatting with co-workers or being interrupted by co-workers will be practically eliminated.
• You will have long stretches of time to concentrate.
• The result will be increased profit to the firm and, perhaps, decreased costs. All you need is a good Internet connection and privacy and can be as productive as in the office.

Out of sight, out of mind? Working virtually can be a win-win situation for both you and your employer. There may also be a downside: if you are not meeting face-to-face with your supervising attorney and co-workers, will you be forgotten? Passed over for bonuses and raises? Hopefully not, but this may require some extra effort on your part to be sure you are still connecting and communicating with them. You must be willing to appear in person for client meetings when necessary, for strategy planning, and, of course, to assist at trial.

Working virtually is a trend that is here to stay. Employers are going to have to face this and make adjustments. You can advance this transition so long as you do not focus on you but  are willing and able to demonstrate that this shift is in your employer’s best interests.

Do you work from home? How is that working for you? Do you see benefits for both you and your employer? Please leave a comment -- I'd love to hear.
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© 2013 Vicki Voisin, Inc.  Do you want to use this article in your newsletter, ezine or Web site? You may do so so long as you include the following attribution language:

 

Vicki Voisin, "The Paralegal Mentor", delivers simple strategies for paralegals and other professionals to create success and satisfaction by setting goals and determining the direction they will take their careers. Vicki spotlights resources, organizational tips, ethics issues, and other areas of continuing education to help paralegals and others reach their full potential. She is the co-author of The Professional Paralegal: A Guide to Finding a Job and Career Success. Vicki publishes Paralegal Strategies, a weekly e-newsletter for paralegals, and hosts The Paralegal Voice, a monthly podcast produced by Legal Talk Network.

 

More information is available at www.paralegalmentor.com where subscribers receive Vicki's 151 Tips for Your Career Success.

Paralegal Miriam Katz Appointed V Corp Chief Knowledge Officer

New York Paralegal Miriam Katz has joined Vcorp Services LLC, as the chief knowledge officer. She will further bolster the company's strong team of experienced professionals. Vcorp Services is a a leading provider of state corporate filing services since 2003.

I have become acquainted with Miriam because she is a subscriber to my weekly ezine Strategies for Paralegals Seeking Excellence and she frequently attends the monthly Paralegal Mentor Mastermind Calls where she always asks thoughtful questions. We've also chatted about her job search. With her excellent skills and diligent application process, it was just a matter of time before her expertise was recognized. I'm pleased Vcorp Services understands the value of her extensive knowledge and that her search now has a great ending.

Vcorp Services offers an extensive suite of services including entity formations,formation services, supplemental filings, document retrieval, tax-exempt filings, UCC filings and searches, trademark applications, and more.

Miriam earned a B.S. in business from the University of Connecticut and her paralegal certificate from Adelphi University in New York. She has more than 20 years experience and has served as the assistant vice president and compliance administrator of National Financial Partners Corp.(NFP).

She has also held positions with Salomon Smith Barney and CIBC World Markets(formerly Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.). In her role as a corporate paralegal and corporate compliance professional, she has performed a broad range of corporate governance and corporate compliance functions, including licensing and registration relative to insurance and finance products.

Vcorp Services Chairman Shai Stern released this statement:

"Miriam's extensive experience overseeing corporate compliance, coupled with her hands-on experience as a corporate paralegal and compliance professional,ensures that she understands the direct needs of Vcorp's client base.

"She will not only help our organization improve innovation, share best practices and streamline processes, but maximize the return on investment in knowledge, including the intellectual capital and expertise of our professionals, which is the core of our business model."

In this new position, Miriam Katz joins the executive team of a company whose suite of services enables companies around the nation to conveniently and cost-effectively complete entity formations, supplemental filings, documentretrieval, tax-exempt filings, UCC filings and searches, trademarkapplications, and more.

"I am excited to add my own experience to the already considerable expertise represented here," said Katz, "And I look forward to continuing to grow Vcorp as we continue to be responsive to the needs of our clients."

Congratulations, Miriam! Paralegals will view this news as a positive sign that the economy is picking up and that paralegal hiring has begun again.

Are You Sabotaging Your Career?

If you could foretell the future, you'd know if you'll be staying in your present job or looking for another one down the road. Or maybe you don't have to be a psychic because almost everyone will be in the job market at one time or another. When that happens, will your online presence sabotage your career move?

Do you have friends on Facebook? Are you Twittering with your Tweeps? Are you connecting on LinkedIn? Have you made MySpace your space? Do you bare your thoughts on your blog? These (and other) social networking sites usually allow you to post as much information about yourself as you like...your education, work history, favorite music and books, political leanings, and religious preferences. You can upload pictures, post videos, join groups and causes and become a fan of many. There are also 'status updates' that offer information about how you're feeling right this moment.

You are, in essence, dropping clues right and left about yourself and you may be offering too much information. Many companies (that includes law firms) now use social networking sites to screen prospective hires. They may also use them to check on the behavior of current employees. A simple entry of a name in the Google search box can reveal all kinds of information...some of it may be embarrassing.

Social Networking isn't just about you. You really have little control over who sees your information. Your contacts have access to it. Their contacts have access. Those contacts have access. You can see how the web widens.

How much should you reveal about yourself? That's the $64,000 question and depends on your circumstances. It would be best to err on the side of caution. It's probably not good to post the picture of you dancing on a table at Senor Frog's in Cancun. Does a recruiter need to know that you are 32, single, Catholic, have a mad crush on Hugh Jackman and would throw your Jimmy Choos at a political candidate if given a chance? Probably not! You might also want to refrain from commenting about your boss and co-workers.

There are other things that are probably best kept to yourself:

• Medical information
• Plans to quit your current job
• Your love life/sexual preferences
• Politics and religion
• Salary/financial information
• Gossip
• Racially charged jokes and profanity
• Confidential work information

You might give this some thought: Remember the last time you had a conversation with someone, perhaps a friend, family member or maybe a total stranger...and you found the conversation going south when you were given way too much information? Perhaps you learned more than you needed to know about the person's financial situation, their marital problems, or their last surgery. Your view of the person was changed forever. The same thing can happen when you reveal too much information online but you may not even know whose opinion you have influenced.

Your online presence is a virtual resume. Craft your profile very carefully so you reveal only positive information. Don't use a screen name that gives a poor impression. Don't post pictures or videos you wouldn't want your mother to see. Delete any photos your friends might post that show you drinking and partying. If any off-color comments are associated with your posts, delete them immediately. Choose your Facebook friends and followers on Twitter wisely. You don't have to accept every request.

Your challenge: Do continue to enjoy your social networking. It's a great way to connect with friends and colleagues. It's a fabulous networking tool. Just remember to exercise caution so that your social networking presence will make you the person everyone will want to hire.

© 2009 Vicki Voisin, Inc.

Do you want to use this article in your newsletter, e-zine or website? You can, so long as you include this entire blurb with it: Vicki Voisin, also known as The Paralegal Mentor, publishes the bi-weekly ezine 'Strategies for Paralegals Seeking Excellence' where she offers tips for paralegals and others who want to create lasting success in their personal and professional lives. Get tips and information at no cost at www.paralegalmentor.com.

ABA To Consider Rule Change Re: Conflicts Of Interest. Will This Affect Paralegals?

Two amendments are before the members of the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates when the 400,000 member association holds its mid-year meeting beginning February 11th.

The recommendations deal with movement of attorneys from one law firm to another that could create a conflict of interest.

Recommendation 109 offers a looser restriction than the current conflict rules regarding this movement. It requires the new firm to confirm that it has properly screened the income attorney.

Recommendation 110 does not permit firm-to-firm screening. Instead, it requires client consent. Supports say that Recommendation 110 is a compromise for members who are concerned about restrictions on attorney mobility.

Because Paralegals work under the supervision of an attorney, they are subject to the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. A conflict of interest can be created when a Paralegal (or any other member of the law firm support staff) moves from one firm to another. Therefore, the recommendation adopted by the ABA membership will most likely apply to paralegals who are changing jobs. Read the full article here.