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Why You Should Not Call the Law Firm if the Ad Says to “fax” your resume:

A Day in the Life of a Law Firm Administrator

Here’s an insider’s view into the life of a law firm administrator whom I know personally. He begins his day at 7:45 a.m. (it’s the only peaceful time of the day!). He boots up his computer and begins to read the 25+ e-mail from attorneys and staff he has received from the time he left his office at 5:45 p.m. the night before.

At 8:30 a.m., the switchboard officially opens and his telephone starts ringing. Oh, yes and his cell phone begins ringing, too. If it’s not an attorney calling him, then it’s a vendor wondering when their invoice will be paid.

On one particular day, this administrator had a major problem develop with his firm’s telephone system. Seems when the firm switched over to a new telephone carrier, it wasn’t programmed correctly. The switchboard was deadly quiet and all of the telephone calls were somehow being forwarded to a single attorney’s telephone. Yes, a real nightmare.

Not only that, but the security system stopped working also.

This problem was eventually solved but it took several days and many telephone calls between three different vendors.

On another day, while the administrator was attempting to input data into the billing system, one of the staff members stopped by the office to discuss a problem she was having with one of the attorneys.

An attorney dropped by to advise that his dictation machine had stopped working and he thought he might need a new one (only new batteries were needed). Such is the life of an administrator. At times it is non-stop chaos.

This is why the administrator appreciates it when you follow the directions in the ad and why they prefer that you not call unless they have specifically asked you to do so.

P. S. It’s important to show very clearly that you can follow direction.

Internet Job Searches (Websites)

My personal favorites are:

www.careerbuilder.com

Administrative Associations

Many of the law firm administrators in my city are part of not only a national law firm administrators organization but also the local chapter. In my city, there are two (2) different local organizations. The administrators network with each other in person or via e-mail and some even have a website with current job openings listed.

Simply do a search via Google for the “law firm administrators” or “legal administrators” in your particular city. If their website is not easily visible but you have located a telephone number, call them and ask if they have a job board for legal staff.

Legal Placement Agencies

In my city there is a legal placement service which is run by an attorney. She has become very successful in placing legal staffers and understands the various conditions that prompt a staffer to leave their current employment. She understands the “personality” of the law firm and is very good at placing staff which are a good “fit”.

You won’t always find that honesty when applying for jobs through agencies. They will send you on interviews because their prime interest is the placement fee they’ll receive from the law firm, not whether you’re ultimately in the right job.

It’s up to you to make sure that whatever job you land in, that it’s the right “fit” for your skills and personality.

Now, we’re ready for the interview.