by Kim Barrett, MBA, MPS As is the case with many first-generation professionals, I grew up with only the bare necessities and attended public school. Neither of my parents attended college. In fact, neither of them even graduated high school. It wasn’t until they were well into adulthood that they each (separately) earned a GED. They worked, but didn’t make a lot of...
By Chere B. Estrin This is the first of a two-part series. Next, we chat with Tara Eberhart, Paralegal Manager of an AmLaw firm who can straighten us out as to whether the paralegal position is about to be wiped out. I sat down with Dr. Don Billings, a long-time colleague, who knows just about anything one needs to know about legal technology and beyond. I figured he was one of the best to...
or, Ten Reasons you’ll get Rejected for the Job you Want. by Chere Estrin I'm jaded, I know it. Right now, I'm cynical, sarcastic and frustrated. Even I wouldn't want to work for me. But - (and there's always a "but", isn't there?), I have had just the most straining, draining and downright paining time trying to hire a couple of people. Let me explain, please. There comes a time...
By Joseph Lavelle, Esq. and Maureen C. Washington, ACP, CAS What is one word with thirteen characters that can lead to loss or victory? COMMUNICATION. Thousands, maybe millions, of articles have been written that describe, define, characterize, explain, or expound on this essential durable skill. But what does this combination of five syllables, four vowels, and four consonants...
Chere B. Estrin As CEO of a prominent (yes, let’s acknowledge it here!), staffing organization, I talk to lots of unhappy or frustrated people, not exactly my favorite thing. As someone who loves coming to work, my Pollyanna attitude is that everyone should have the same experience. Sadly, that’s not the case. What I have found dealing with thousands of legal professionals throughout my...
by Blake Lively with Comments From Chere Estrin Blake Lively nailed this concept about the value of your team in her article, "Your Law Firm’s Employees Cost Too Much to Lose. If you are in law firm management, you simply MUST read this article
Chere Estrin What does it cost to replace an attorney in your law firm? In the end, more time than you realize. Let’s look at...
By Chere B. Estrin Have you wondered why you are not getting a great response to your resume, even though you meet all the criteria? If you are not listing your city and state, chances are 90% that your resume will not get accepted. I noticed this is a new trend now and all I can say is “Don’t do it.’ Why? Because recruiters and employers want to know if they are wasting their time. Most...
By Lawrence Pascoe Compared to other businesses, lawyers have not evolved in how they serve their clients Let's be honest; the way lawyers serve their clients has not changed much, not just from the late 1970s when I started practicing law but probably since the 1200s when England passed laws regulating the conduct of the legal profession. Lawyers have harnessed technology to do tasks...
. Are You Pretty Enough For Your Job?
Originally Posted on here November 19, 2021 (republished by Paralegal Brief in early 2022) by Chere Estrin Editors Note: This article struck a chord with many of our readers resulting in a huge outpouring of comments. It even spawned an article in Fortune Magazine.
Some time back, I was on the cover of a legal trade publication. I was so excited. The...
Jathan Janove As a former labor and employment law attorney, I’ve taken issue with the popular employee disciplinary tool commonly referred to as “progressive discipline.” In my view, it’s a pernicious contradiction in terms. Here’s what I published on this topic with SHRM. I advocate replacing conventional employee disciplinary policy with the following three communication...
