Re: secretary?

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On 7/27/06, douglas wrote:
> I'm new to this group. Have practiced for 8 yrs. left 6
> lawyer group 3 yrs ago. practice PI, immigration and real
> estate all without a secretary. to be fair, my wife, also
> atty, helps me with calls, faxes, scheduling... she works
> b/c we both still carry debt from school. I've been
> through three secs. It's very difficult to find anyone
> who takes care of our business like we do. Q: how crazy
> am I to keep this up w/o a secretary. Real estate is
> pickin up for us but not enough to justify another salary.
> I guess I just admitted I'm feeling a little crazy.
> thanks.
Only you can decide that. I had the same problem, there was
simply no one around who had office experience, let alone
legal office experience. Did everything but the recpetionist
duties for me and the other attorney till we were blessed
with a former paralegal who moved into the area and was
looking for a job. Now I'd be lost if she leaves because I
don't know where anything is anymore or what's been done
because she keeps track of all of it.

In your situation, computers help, bookkeeping programs and
legal office management programs may help but it still takes
a person to input the data. It's a double edged sword
because if they don't know what they're doing and do it
wrong, it could cost you $$. One secretary just couldn't
keep straight who in the system was who and faxed a very
confidential document to the wrong person who promptly
circulated it to all the other wrong people. fortunately no
harm was done, except for extreme embarrassment to us, but
needless to say, she's working somewhere else. If you keep
looking you may luck into that really eager bright person
who can pick it up and has a reason to stay in the area. If
you can handle working without one, from experience I'd say
it's the same if not better. At least you aren't following
them around to make sure things are done and worrying when
you're not there what's gotten fouled up today. Good luck.