Executive Legal Assistant Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Would you rather have a Legal secretary or Executive assistant title and why?

Answer: A title of legal secretary suggests that the person only does dictation, typing and such like even if they do more. An exectutive assistant sounds like a more rounded role

Question: What are some day to day activities of a legal assistant?? Please help? I'm interviewing to be executive assistant in the legal department. While I have some knowlegde, Im not overly experienced.

Answer: It depends on how the department is structured. It sounds like the job may be more of a personal secretary position within the legal department and not a legal assistant position. Legal assistants can do anything from typing to writing drafts of briefs for attorneys. It may include calendaring deadlines, doing legal research, checking research citations, analyzing discovery, organizing documents. I think of it as being an "office mom" - doing whatever needs to be done to keep the boss on track.

Question: Am I qualified to be an Executive Assistant? Please advise if I would be qualified to become an Executive Assistant either for a large legal corporation or hedge fund. I do not have any financial experience in my background. I would like to make it my next career move as it is my understanding that they make between 60K-80K in NYC. I have almost 9 years total experience in the legal field. 8 years as a legal secretary/office manager and almost 1 year as a corporate legal secretary. The first 8 years were for small firms. I have a B.A. in Liberal studies and extensive knowlege of the Microsoft software programs. I can also get glowing recommendations from every position I've ever held.

Answer: You have to have some soft kneepads and remember to cup the balls! Just remember, it doesen't matter what you know, just ask Monica!

Question: Is there some company in Australia that would be willing to directly hire somebody from the Philippines? I am a Filipina that is willing to work in Australia, But, I cant afford to pay the price in working and going there. I am looking for a company or individuals that are willing to directly hire me. I'm a college graduate who had a vast experience working in Non-life Insurance Company for almost 12 years. I started as Legal Secretary, Executive Assistant in Legal Department, Agencies Department & Agencies Marketing Department. I was promoted in Agencies Marketing Department (AMD) as Supervisor and later became an Agencies Marketing Department Head (Manager). In year 2002 and 2007 I managed our family business (Bakeshop) and also became the in-house cake decorator of the store. If I have a choice I want to have a job in bakeshop related work. But I'm open to any job that I have expertise into and job that I could start in working and living in Australia. PLEASE HELP ME! Thank you very much and Godbless to all!

Answer: Sorry but it's not likely. Your best bet would be to find a Filipino company that also has offices in Australia or a multinational company with offices in Aust. that will hire you in the Philipines and allow you to transfer to Australia. It's extremely difficult to immigrate to Australia for any nationality. Do you know of any Filipino businesses in Australia? Perhaps email them your resume.

Question: How can I revise my resume to reflect administration skills from paralegal skills? ? I've been working as a paralegal/legal assistant for the past 6 years. I want to work as a personell/administration/executive assistant, etc. I have the skills needed to change environments, but how can I change my resume from JUST being a legal assistant to show that I have the experience, skills and qualifications needed to work as a personell assistant??

Answer: I used this resume writing service in my area, this is the email address, (resume.help50@yahoo.com) you should try them, it only cost me $35.00 and I got a great job from this new resume, I never thought about the format that they use but the turn around time was less then 24 hrs. I would have to say it was the best service I have ever used and it was worth every dime. Also they let me pay through paypal.

Question: I am a 45 yr old Lady from Africa with over 10 years experience as an executive assistant.? I would like to get a job as a legal secretary in the US where I currently reside, and have been taking the relevant courses. I am also a fast learner and know that given a chance I would quickly grasp the workings of a legal office. I however feel that since I am from Africa and not very young employers may hestitate to give me this chance, what is your advise? Thanks

Answer: The best course of action depends on your present city of residence. Once you have completed the relevant training, you may find help getting a job at a local State employment/unemployment office, where many local firms post jobs available. There may also be openings advertised via a law school, if there is only one in the town where you live. You may also make a list of law firms from a telephone directory and inquire directly at each one. Remember to dress professionally in American terms- African native garb or sexually revealing outfits will not do - you need to appear business-like, well groomed, serious and competent. There are tailored women's business suits shown in many fashion magazines, like Vogue, which can serve you as examples. Perhaps you can find an international law firm with business in your former country, where your cultural and linguistic skills would be assets. There are also increasing numbers of African American law firms, at which your ethnicity may be an asset. You have to do research into local conditions, because legal secretary jobs are filled locally.

Question: Bored and wasting away at work - Now what? I have a bachelor's degree in Sociology. That doesn't exactly translate in to a particular field. So I went back and got a Paralegal Certificate on top of that. I worked as a Legal Assistant for about a year for an Attorney that did Real Estate, Estate Planning, and business. After that, I did some work with a non-profit for about a year using my Real Estate knowledge. Then I somehow landed in an Executive Assistant role for about a year at a Medicaid Managed Care Company. Then they closed. So for personal reasons, I moved out of state and took a general office job. I figured it would be good to be in a low stress job while I adjust to a new city, new house, new baby, etc. Now I've been here about a year and a half and I am BORED! I am capable of so much more than answering phones, ordering supplies and sending out mail. I am trying to figure out what to do next. On one hand, I now live in a large city with a Law School.... What to do????

Answer: Head to a temp agency see what their options are, They can evaluate you, and find a job more suited.

Question: Moving from DC to Charlotte, NC? I am planning to move to Charlotte at the end of this summer. I have more than 20 years of law firm experience as a Legal Secretary/Executive Assistant. How can I go about finding a job in Charlotte, NC? Thanks.

Answer: There are plenty of lawyers offices in Charlotte I'm sure you could find one. By the way, WELCOME TO THE TARHEEL STATE.

Question: What is the legal basis for saying that Taiwan is part of China? In a letter to Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), dated June 5, 2007, Michael Kurtz, the Assistant Archivist for Records Services at the United States National Archives confirmed that the Cairo Declaration of Dec. 1, 1943, is neither a treaty nor an executive agreement, and as such does not carry the force of law to authorize any transfer of the territorial sovereignty of the areas of "Formosa and the Pescadores" to China. (Ref: http://www.fapa.org/Archives/press%20rel… ) By extrapolation, neither the Potsdam Proclamation of July 26, 1945, nor the Japanese Surrender document of Sept. 2, 1945, which rely heavily on the provisions of the Cairo Declaration, can be considered as solid bases (which carry the force of law) to justify any claim of transfer of the territorial sovereignty of the areas of "Formosa and the Pescadores" to China. So .... are there any true legal documents which prove that the Chinese exercise sovereignty over Taiwan??

Answer: China's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan are a "bluff," pure and simple. Such claims do not rely on any true legal foundation. Unfortunately however, although many legal researchers in North America, Europe, Japan, etc. fully realize that Taiwan does not belong to China, nevertheless they are unable to precisely define to whom Taiwan currently "belongs." This failure on their part is largely due to the fact that they are unfamiliar with "the customary laws of warfare of the post-Napoleonic period." With an in-depth knowledge of these customary laws, it is possible to create an accurate "Introduction and Outline for Modern Taiwanese History" which explains all relevant details. As of early 2007, such an Introduction and Outline was completed by researchers in Taiwan, and is available online at http://www.taiwankey.net/dc/tmodhiae.htm The San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT) of April 28, 1952, is the highest ranking document of international law, and of United States law, which deals with the legal status of Taiwan in the post WWII era. A "laws of war" reading of the SFPT, along with some basic research into the military history of Taiwan beginning in the late 1930's, reveals the following facts: The Republic of China on Taiwan is a (1) subordinate occupying power, beginning Oct. 25, 1945, and (2) a government in exile beginning mid-December 1949. In relation to Taiwan, the United States of America is the principal occupying power, and United States Military Government (USMG) jurisdiction over Taiwan has begun as of the surrender of Japanese troops on Oct. 25, 1945. Today, Taiwan remains as occupied territory of the United States of America. USMG jurisdiction over Taiwan is currently active.

Question: I have been falsely accused of intimidation by a coworker...What are my legal rights and options? I’m going to keep this as simple as I can. A coworker has gone to her manager and reported that I did something aggressive and I intimidate her. I am a 31-year-old Executive Assistant, am white and barely 5’4�. She is the receptionist, is a few years older than me, and is black and at least six inches taller than me. Firstly, the fact is that I did not do anything aggressive, unless you count walking briskly away from her without answering her “Thank you� (it was not genuine and she had just caused me to be late for something work-related). She later exchanged a whispered conversation with a coworker who DOES kiss up to her and as she walked away from that coworker, said loudly, “It’s ok, everyone will get what is coming to them.� Then she came to my desk and confronted me loudly. I told her I was sorry if I upset her but I had to get back to work. She refused to accept my apology and took off. I thought this was the end. more coming momentarily.... The next day I got called in to talk to my boss and the HR Director. They wanted my side of the story and I gave them what I remembered (at the time, I forgot about the “what’s coming to them� remark). It was then that they told me she had accused me of intimidation and being threatening. What is my next move? What are my rights? This could disappear or she could push it – and I don’t want to lose my job or get a bad review based on someone else’s lie!! My boyfriend pointed out that if she pushes it further she might bring in the race card – she has before in other situations. It is clear she is doing this for the “what’s coming to them� reason – she’s hated at me since she figured out I am not one of her yes-men (well, women) – her best friends there buy her stuff and kiss her ***. The fact is I could pull a couple dozen character references for myself from as many people that I work with. They’d all say I’m a very passive, agreeable person, would never do anything aggressive and it’s malarkey. However, it’s my word against hers on this situation. Do I have the right to request a signed copy of the HR Director’s notes on our meeting? Do I have the right to get a copy of the transcript of her original complaint? Should I go back to the HR Director and tell her about the “what’s coming to them� remark, as well as other times that she has confronted me loudly for no real reason? I am so passive I’ll leave a room to avoid conflict, but now I feel very threatened. I know it’s nowhere near comparable but I have started understanding what it must be like for a guy to be falsely accused of sexual harassment. What are my options? What should I do next? How do I defend myself? Should I file a counter-complaint that she is slandering me and defaming my character? HELP, PLEASE!!! I LOVE MY JOB, I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want to lose it!!!! PS- she is someone who gets an attitude adjustment from her boss every couple months, she is by no means the office angel, but I didn’t want to involve that into the story cause I’m really trying to be fair about it all. Thanks Mayo- but we aren't union. Oh, and Mayo, I wasn't the one to thumbs-down you -- I'll take any ideas or advice that anyone has! GeeGee - I hope you're right about reputations speaking for themselves. I was trying to be "just the facts" in my question but the fact is I'm furious! I have been ill all weekend because I'm so upset and I'm dreading going back to the best job ever - how terrible is that!!!??!

Answer: I agree with GeeGee, her reputation will preceed her. Make sure you are never alone with her again. If she wants to talk to you - make sure there is a third person present. Document everything. If a coworker witnessed it, ask them to write their description of the event in their own handwriting and submit it along with your own story (make a copy) and give to HR.