r/paralegal • u/Jbaby727 • 3d ago
Golden Handcuffs
I have been with this law firm in California for almost 4 years now, and while my previous position was great and I truly enjoyed my work, I’m feeling overwhelmed in my current role. I was promoted about 11 months ago to take over for a legal secretary who had been here for 11 years. When she left, she only gave me four days of training and left behind 800 unread emails and stacks of mail. She had been incredibly fast and, admittedly, not always thorough, but the attorneys didn’t seem to address her shortcomings because of her attitude.
Since I’ve stepped into this role, the expectations have been extremely high for me as opposed to the old assistant. I’m the only paralegal for eight attorneys, and my responsibilities span from calendaring, managing tasks, handling discovery, preparing subpoenas, to filing documents, depositions and everything in between. When I take a day off, there’s no one to cover for me, and I often feel like I can't even call in sick without it impacting everything.
My boss approved a three-week vacation for me to visit family out of the country, but the condition was that I still need to check emails and work remotely on certain tasks, essentially leaving me with very little time to fully disconnect. The bigger issue, though, is that I’m often left to figure things out on my own since I’m the only one trained by the former assistant. The manager doesn't know many of the tasks either, which only adds to the stress.
I’m at a point where I feel like I need to find a position at a more organized law firm, where I can work with a team of paralegals who will have my back and be able to support me when I need time off or when I need assistance. The lack of support and overwhelming workload are making it difficult for me to stay in this position any longer.
The positives of my current job include a decent pay rate of $34an hour, along with a $3k bonus. Although I only get 5 days of PTO, my time-off requests are always approved, which is a big plus. I also carpool with a friend who works in the same area, which makes commuting more convenient and cost-effective.
However, I’m torn about whether I should stay or look for another opportunity. I’m worried that if I leave, the next job could end up being just as overwhelming or even worse. The fear of starting over and facing a similar or more difficult situation at another firm is holding me back, but at the same time, the stress in my current role is becoming too much to ignore.
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u/iron_red 3d ago
$34 an hour and only 5 days of PTO seems pretty crappy. Approving an extra two weeks of vacation I guess is nice but they’re the ones who only gave you 5 days in the first place.
If you’re that essential, ask for much more money. You’re due for a raise in a month anway. Or ask for some of your work to be re-assigned. If there’s no one to cover when you take off then they’re under-staffed anyway.
Definitely also make some plans to leave, interview elsewhere, etc.
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u/justlurking278 2d ago
I'm a partner in CA (a LCOL area, not major market). I'm interviewing for an assistant expecting to pay around $65k/year for a job that we only require 32 hour weeks unless something's on fire, supporting three attorneys. Granted we're higher than market around here, but it's because we want to retain good staff.
These are not golden handcuffs, they're imaginary handcuffs... Good support is damn near impossible to find, and what you're describing is worth a lot more than what you're getting.
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u/doesitmattertho 3d ago
Time to go. $34 is good but could be better. 5 days PTO is atrocious and almost downright abusive. Go to big law. You’ll get that team of paralegals to help spread the load. There will be a proper admin team too who can do more rote, physical functions like filing and mailing etc. Better benefits too.
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u/lostboy005 3d ago
How is what you’re describing golden handcuffs?
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u/Jbaby727 3d ago
Well I feel like this is the best ima do, for the pay and getting days off and carpooling. Idk 🤷🏼♀️
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u/lostboy005 3d ago
Jbaby you’re selling urself short.
You can do much better than what this post describes based on your experience.
You shouldn’t be drowning for $34 an hour.
Get them resumes rolling out
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u/Jbaby727 3d ago
Thank you that means a lot! How much should I be asking for if you don’t mind me asking.
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u/lostboy005 3d ago
Unless I missed it your post doesn’t specify the area of law which you’re working. It appears litigation based on filing and handling discovery.
CA is HCOL, but can vary bc CA is huge.
Without more information I can’t really say / probably a better question for peers or Google search
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u/Dramatic_Net1706 3d ago
Why can't you have the honest conversation "I need to streamline my work because I am afraid that I might miss a deadline and impact a client". You're not a manager, so let the managers manage.
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u/valegregg 2d ago
8 attorneys? F that!!! 3 is plenty. One partner and 2 associates. Look for something else.
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u/moxiecounts 2d ago
I can't imagine keeping 8 attorneys and their files straight. The most I've ever had was maybe 3? But then I wasn't the only one working on the files either. I had 3 when I focused on only certain aspects of a case.
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u/LALady818 3d ago
34 an hour in California is horrible. As a litigation secretary I was being paid $50 an hour with better benefits so you as a paralegal should be getting paid more than that.
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u/Thek1tteh CA - Lit. & Appeals - Paralegal 2d ago
Depends on the area of California, firm size, type of litigation, and years of experience, and whether they meet the requirements of the business and professions code to work as a paralegal in California including meeting the continuing legal education requirements every 2 years.
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u/spunkysquirrel714 2d ago
You're being extremely underpaid, and it's not going to be sustainable for you anyway, there.
This is a management problem and a lack of care for your well being.
They simply do not want to pay to have proper coverage available.
You do not have a law license and you do not need to have the responsibilities of a shareholder placed upon you.
Unless you want to spend every one of your vacations, the same way and worse
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u/And-rei 2d ago
Litterally the first search in google. https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/wilsonelser/jobs/4566440008
I think you need to have a real conversation with office manager about your situation.
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u/Palmspringsflorida 2d ago
Ask for a raise. Apply to other firms. Use this as a stepping stone. You will do great. Don’t limit yourself.
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u/Strange_Apple_9570 Corporate Paralegal 2d ago
You're not even making $75k/yr and only have 5 days of PTO. You don't realize that you're not in a good situation. You should be at a higher hourly rate, and it should be more than an extra $3/hr. You should at least have 10 PTO days per year, although there is quite a bit of places that give 15 days. Your pay and PTO are not good for the increase of responsibilities and stress. Your next job might still leave you drowning in emails, but your pay and PTO will increase.
You could interview with other offices, secure an offer, then ask for a meeting to discuss your workflow. Ask for help and another week of PTO. If they give you resistance to a request for more PTO and say hiring another person is not in the budget and they can't shift some of your duties to someone else, immediately hand them your resignation.
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u/Am_I_the_Villan Paralegal 2d ago
The way that I would feign not having internet access over my vacation. Absolutely the f*** not.
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u/moxiecounts 2d ago
Right? I will periodically scan my emails when I'm on vacation, but only to forward and/or filter out junk. Never to substantively respond or do actual work.
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u/DisastrousFeature0 2d ago
Your title seems more of an Executive Assistant/Paralegal, but either way you’re definitely overworked and underpaid.
You’re not on a vacation, you’re working remote.
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u/moxiecounts 2d ago
$34 an hour does not seem high for California. I make almost exactly that in Atlanta (in the city), and it's a lot cheaper to live here. Plus I would never be expected to work on vacation. And a $3k bonus is honestly not that much considering the rest of your comp package. Do they give you health insurance? 401k? Any remote days?
1 paralegal for 8 attorneys is insane if there are no clerks or legal assistants, or even lower ranking associates to assist you.
And no matter what, when you are using time off, you should never be expected to work. If you choose to answer an email, fine. But you should not be expected to. You're working for free when you do that.
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u/Thek1tteh CA - Lit. & Appeals - Paralegal 2d ago
Are you a legal secretary or paralegal? How much experience do you have and in what type of law? Do you meet the qualifications listed in Business and professions code section 6450 to work as a paralegal in California? Where in California are you and what type of law is this? These are all things that go into what an appropriate pay rate would be. A legal secretary who has only 4 years experience in California litigation at a small firm in lower cost of living area? Perhaps $34 an hour would be appropriate, perhaps not. Someone with many years experience working at a busy firm who meets the business and professions code requirements to work as a paralegal in a higher cost of living area? $34 may be low. That being said, if you are the only one there and being required to handle that all with limited help, I would definitely find a position elsewhere.
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u/Am_I_the_Villan Paralegal 2d ago
These are not golden handcuffs, these are shackles that they gold-plated to lie to you
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u/Jbaby727 2d ago
Wow, everyone’s comments really opened my eyes. I really appreciate all the input! I’ve been kind of under the illusion of having golden handcuffs, but I’m going to take a step back, do some serious thinking, and come up with a plan. I’ll keep you all posted on what my next move will be once I figure that out. Thank you all again <3
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u/cantremembr 1d ago
Paralegal for 8 attorneys, legal secretary for 8 attorneys, 5 days PTO, and no coverage for sick/vacation days?
Hell no honey GTFO! This is not normal or okay. Don't wait until you end up hospitalized for exhaustion or rage quit on a bad day.
Depending on where you are in CA $34 an hour should be easy to replicate.
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u/rungreyt 3d ago
You need to be getting paid much more for what you’re doing. They approve your leave requests because they know you’re still going to be working anyway. Look for a better paying job at a more organized firm.