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Happy Labor Day, guys! Any fun shopping plans for the weekend? (Have you been waiting to pull the trigger on any purchases because you've been waiting for any sales?) Labor day sales are already starting, so I thought I'd round up some major ones I'm seeing:
- Nordstrom Summer Clearance – I mentioned this yesterday, but it's official now: their summer clearance event started. Pictured at top: love this suede jacket. Pictured below: For weekend wear — I've heard great things about these jeans and this t-shirt, and the tank and cold shoulder dress are really highly rated — and they're all new to the markdown section.
- 6pm – Labor Day Clearance Event, starting at 50% off MSRP.
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off all sale styles; ends Sunday night.
- Anthropologie – Take an extra 40% off sale items (limited time, discount reflected at checkout!).
- Brooks Brothers – Labor Day Clearance Event; up to 60% off spring & summer styles.
- Club Monaco – Up to 60% off sale and clearance when you take an extra 40% off with code FAREWELLSUMMER.
- Express – Labor Day sale, 40% off everything! (Ooh, including the reader favorites, the machine washable Editor and Columnist pants.)
- J.Crew – Online only, take 30% off $200+ or 25% off 125+.
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off everything, plus extra 50% off clearance with code WOOHOO.
- Last Call – Labor Day Sale, extra 30-75% off everything, including new fall & clearance.
- Loft – Get an extra 50% off all sale styles, and for the rest of the site, buy one style, get the next 50% off.
- Neiman Marcus – up to 65% off, plus extra savings on online clearance.
- Reiss – Summer sale, up to 50% off reductions!
- Talbots – 25% off fall merchandise, and major sales in the clearance section.
- Zappos – Their usual huge selection has some hidden sales going on, including a big selection of Vince Camuto (clothes and shoes) and Pikolinos shoes marked down.
anon
THREADJACK – I NEED SOME HELP. I don’t know if there’s going to be a Coffee Break today, but after what has happened at my office this morning I’ve just got to post this now and ask for some kind of feedback. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.
So I’m at this small firm right now while looking at other opportunities, and this issue (which, along with a complete lack of flexibility, represents the other 50% of my problem) has just spiraled out of control. My paralegal is a very nice, friendly older lady who sort of the grandmother equivalent of the “boss’s son”, if you will. It has been made clear that she will never lose her job no matter how poorly she does it. Well, over the last few months she seems to be exploring just how poorly she can do it. I found out this morning that I file I asked her to open(documented by email) in July, and again at the beginning of August, that she told me she opened, she not only didn’t open, but she’s just NOT BEEN ENTERING MY TIME that I’ve been logging for that file. She’s been filing my timesheets as fully entered but not entering this file. I’m trying to figure out why I’m short hours in August given how hard I’ve been working, and this morning another paralegal asks me about time for another atty who had worked on the matter – she couldn’t find the matter in the billing system. THAT’S HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS.
So about 20 hours are missing from my August time. But for this other paralegal, I would not have known this wasn’t even being billed.
This is the third time a file has gone “missing” in three months – this is the first time it turns out one was never even created.
Since the office manager found the last file that was missing, I immediately went to her and asked for her help in locating this one, and I’ve already been preemptively told “we don’t need to hurt anyone’s feelings over a little mistake”. I’ve been calm and cool on the outside but I am boiling on the inside.
So all the filings, letters, certified receipts, etc, the paralegal has just been “keeping at her desk” because she “didn’t know what file they were supposed to go in.” She was the one who received the information about opening the file 6 and 4 weeks ago – again, in a documented email. She has never asked me a question about those documents or this file.
I’m just at a loss – is this as crazy as it seems? I almost feel like she’s being paid to sabotage me – we’re already short-staffed significantly at only about 60% of the staff we need, and so last month I was “asked” by the managing partner to not give work to any other paralegal except her since everyone else was so overworked and she wasn’t. I am at the point where I’m copying and totaling my own time, formatting and mailing my own letters, doing my own calendaring and filings, etc – basically if I’d just pay my own malpractice I’d be a sole practitioner.
I could really use some advice here.
Wildkitten
Can you ask to be supported by another paralegal?
Anonymous
So frustrating. Honestly I’d just keep doing the paralegal’s work yourself. Otherwise this will likely happen again.
Hope another opportunity comes your way. If it doesn’t soon – a solo practice might be a better option if you know a competent paralegal you can hire.
ELaw
So sorry this is happening to you! I think it’s pretty telling that everyone else is so busy and this woman is not.
Keep documenting, and I agree w/ anon @ 1:50 that to the extent possible you should keep doing her work yourself to make sure it gets done right.
anabag
If the office manager won’t do anything, it might be time to talk to a partner about it. Consider approaching the other attorney whose time wasn’t entered on the matter and see if he/she shares the same concerns. You could jointly raise the issue with someone more senior at the firm. It’s not appropriate for you to be doing paralegal work, although I agree that until the issue is resolved you will have to be super vigilant about anything you ask the paralegal to do.