Sharks are Lawyers in Suits
I've been fired twice, each time at a law firm. The first being that my husband (now divorced) received military orders to move across country and I gave notice, yet law firm wanted me to work in another location even though I was moving. I could not live in 2 places at once! So, they fired me 1-day before my final day even though I'd given more than 2-weeks notice.
The second time came 2 years later when working at another law firm where a paralegal physically assaulted me with her pencil, poking me with it. I reported incident to HR, was told there would be no retaliation. I also filed a police report and did not inform employer as it was simply an incident report with no action taken. Unfortunately, a coworker overheard my private conversation as I was talking on my mobile phone (and did not know that coworker was standing outside my office and listening in). The coworker reported and I was fired. Also, this person said I'd be better off dead than alive.
Found another job and have been there 2 years and 9 months, yet work for a very verbally and now physically abusive attorney. She is forgetful and blames others for her mishaps, whether keys, phone, money, purse, wallet, checkbook, checks, stamps, etc. She is very forgetful and blames me and my precedessors for her faults. She has thrown large butterfly clips at me, yet in her defense it was 'simply to get her [my] attention." HR did nothing about this. She's called me into her office and then yelled to get out, not now get out. Then called back in and asked where is the document she printed that I was to bring her. Or, bring the item, inform her, while she waves me out and then calls me to inquire where is the item b/c she has lost it. Her office is disgusting. Food with fungus, trash, and total danger zone. She will call me into her office to retrieve something from her, and rather than handing to me, she will throw on the floor for me to pick up.
Today, without going into much as to what led up, yet briefly, I came in early as requested (I left early last night b/c had final exam -- I'm a veteran and have GI Bill for college). She was to arrive early, too. She was late, as usual. Then a mad dash to organize over 1000 exhibit pages to file with court. She kept changing the order and then I'd need to review her changes and reorganize. She did same with her Affidavit, and then blame me for her mistake. Yelled at me for giving her an older version of the pleading, when in fact I had printed the latest version which she threw away, and then used a previous version which did not match her changes!
Normally, we have another paralegal to assist with a large filing of this type, yet she is on vacation. Another stepped in to help, yet has strep throat and went home. (This later paralegal also resigned b/c of attorney abuse by a different atty). Thus, was doing all by myself while being yelled at told she would buy my lunch. I pick up our lunches and return only to discover that she had been asking 2 other workers where was I? I told her went to p/u lunches, yet she thought 10 minutes was long enough even though needed to travel down elevator, walk 2 blocks, pay and p/u lunch and wait for it to be packaged, return 2 blocks, wait for elevator and walk down the hall.
Yadayada, she walked into the conference room where I was preparing the exhibits. She walked up to me with about 1/3" of paper and waived the papers across my face, making contact and continued to smack and fan the papers. I just felt tunnel vision and walked backwards about 12 steps and told her "____ [name], sorry yet I can't work here anymore." Told another attorney and we went to HR.
In HR we discussed and the other attorney backed up that there has been verbal and physical abuse, although he's not seen the physical, he is very aware of the verbal and that this has happened b/4 with myself and my predecesors. Anyways, I was upset and blabbed. I also informed them (again) that I'd had $40 stolen along with a thumb drive. The HR person asked if this was related to the attorney, I said no. She said I could not help her b/c I did not report this incident when it occurred last year. When in fact, I did report the theft and have the email (and meta data) and reported it to building security. I was told that since I'm already on vacation on Monday, they would investigate and call me when I can come back to work, either Tuesday or Wednesday. I left, filed an incident report with the police, went home and plan to enjoy my weekend. Also, made contacts and will have at least 4 individuals at that law firm as a reference. I will not inform anyone of this report at all, mums the word.
In addition, with regard to this job I've reported a coworker for taking at least 3 45-minute smoke breaks a day, yet she is elderly and they are afraid she will sue them. I've also been asked to files, yet was not allowed to use a file cart. So, I moved them while wearing high heals, and then ended up with a strained plantar fascia and workers comp for 10-days. So, they simply see me as a 'whiner'.
Trying not to fret, yet worried this will be 3rd job loss since 2002.
If things do not go as I think, I may sign the warrant.
Any advice?
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Comments
You should quit but stand by your story. If I were you I probably would have been fired a loon time ago for losing my temper. You must have a lot of patience to have not quit yet
I think you should quit and find another job...not in an attorney's office!
RUN!!!!
Get out. Take them for anything/everything you can. Lawyers have a bad rep for a reason. My mother works for a public defender office as a paralegal and the attorneys treat her like sh!t. They are petty, vindictive and verbally abusive. Her boss, the director, is nice but spineless and won't stand up to the attorneys.
I was fired last Thursday after receiving kudos from my two female bosses for months. When I was hired the "temp" a friend of theirs, told me not to get too comfortable as they fire people every two years. Well, my two years would have been up this coming August. I was shocked and now I am just overwhelmed with what to do next. I was fired in 2000 by a prosecutor who believed a lie about me and I couldn't do anything to change her mind - as she didn't bother to show up the day I was fired by an Admin Asst. Lawyers know how to be 2 faced. Legal Assistants work their butts off and are fired on a whim. Now I learn the person that told me not to get too comfortable is back working for them - after they thought what she had done was horrible and they didn't trust her any more. Gee, that didn't last long!!!
I agree what you say about the lawyers furthermore I think they are thieves with a license.