Before I was an lawyer, I was a paralegal. And, before that, I was a legal assistant. Most people assumed that I made this transformation for the money. That’s true, in part. But the most frustrating thing about being on staff wasn’t the salary, it was that most lawyers treated staff as if we were invisible.
No eye contact when passing in the hallways. No quick “hello” or “goodbye” in the lobby. No acknowledgment unless they needed something from us. While law firms are hierarchical by nature, this behavior fosters the divisive us versus them mentality that exists between lawyers and staff at some firms.
Now that I’m on Team Esquire, I’ve confirmed much of what I suspected when I was on staff. Some lawyers are just plain rude. But many well-intentioned JDs stare intently at their blackberries instead of striking up conversation with staff because they don’t know the staff member’s name or they think the conversation will be awkward. Others fail to acknowledge your existence because their time is so damn valuable–every minute they spend chatting with staff is a minute they aren’t billing.
Of course, lawyers don’t reserve this behavior just for the staff. Partners tend to do the same to associates.
Why should we look away from our blackberries and at least make time to learn names, smile, and say “hello?” Because an isolated staff member will be less motivated to contribute to the team. Because a staff member that you’ve connected with is more likely to go the extra mile for you when you find yourself in a pinch. Because it’s human nature to want to be acknowledged and to feel a connection to others around us. And because it’s the right thing to do.
Read the full article: Staff Appreciation Week