tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post2345804167342358250..comments2023-10-22T10:57:21.461-05:00Comments on hang on little tomato: A Petit RantUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-47873468437506767462009-05-21T01:11:54.710-05:002009-05-21T01:11:54.710-05:00Not sure that I have any advice as this is not my ...Not sure that I have any advice as this is not my area of work but just to say that I am thinking of you. Have been in work situations where I am desperate to perform and the opportunity has not been there and it is tough. Hang in there - you sound motivated and a team player, I am sure that doors will open for you soon and there are some wonderful opportunities just around the corner....Globetrotting Cactihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142907202249738302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-34987003005164203202009-05-20T22:51:33.071-05:002009-05-20T22:51:33.071-05:00Ugh, I'm stressed out about billable hours just re...Ugh, I'm stressed out about billable hours just reading this! So sorry this is causing so much tension and anxiety in your life. :( I read abovethelaw.com too, and from everything I've read I can't even begin to imagine the kind of pressure lawyers are feeling right now in this economy. <br /><br />Hang in there, though, you are a strong woman with a great work ethic! As the bellboy said in "My Best Friend's Wedding": This, too, shall pass.Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18247451368864312942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-4254166360063852432009-05-20T15:35:03.167-05:002009-05-20T15:35:03.167-05:00This sounds v. frustrating, Carolyn. I like the su...This sounds v. frustrating, Carolyn. I like the suggestions about pro bono work. I was also thinking that doing some freelance writing might lead to other opportunities either in law or maybe in PARIS! ;) <br /><br />Hang in there. <br />~KimLucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05785573422454112815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-11239605248604666912009-05-20T12:32:56.526-05:002009-05-20T12:32:56.526-05:00I don't know much about your area of work, being m...I don't know much about your area of work, being more of the journalistic-inclination, but that really does sound terrible!! It's soul-destroying when you really want to work and do your best and you just can't get a break.<br />Right now I've the opposite problem ...FAR too much work being dumped on me without any recognition or extra pay ...this recession is no fun!<br />All I can say is that all this gruelling effort will pay off in a few years and we'll all be incredibly awesome, rich and talented people!lol!c :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-61900017323798871972009-05-20T12:11:52.636-05:002009-05-20T12:11:52.636-05:00Carolyn, I understand your frustration! While I'm...Carolyn, I understand your frustration! While I'm not a lawyer, I do research on ethics (so I have a little law experience) and definitely do billable work. As a therapist, I found working in a private practice frustrating when it came to billing. If I didn't have clients (low caseload, cancellations, no shows) I didn't get paid. Not fun for my wallet. After the stress and wasted time, I left the practice and decided to focus on my full-time job (to be discussed next) and my research. <br /><br />When it comes to my ft position, I work at an agency. I am the only person in my county (a county outside of Philly) with my job. Like you, my direct services are "billable." Unfortunately, I have some pretty acute clients who like to cancel for numerous reasons and this time is not billable. Therefore, my time sitting at my desk looks unused and reflects on me. My supervisor and I are in the process of battling this with the insurance company to allow for more of my work (phone calls, case management, etc.) to become billable.<br /><br />So what do I tell myself when I'm not stressing out, which is frequent these days: Do your best, do what you can do. Other problems outside of myself aren't mine, so while I can help and offer support I remind myself it isn't mine to own.<br /><br />The research I work on is my own sort of pro bono basis, though I hope to benefit one day from it. I don't get paid, I put in the hours (physically and mentally), but I know that I plan to use it to further my career down the road. Publications (as CityGirl said) are great tools for networking. <br /><br />You are young and intelligent, so take a breath, and expand your horizons. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish whatever you want.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13380957579912040915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-42184479347019789342009-05-20T11:16:58.865-05:002009-05-20T11:16:58.865-05:00Carolyn -- sounds like you might benefit from some...Carolyn -- sounds like you might benefit from some fresh ideas on marketing yourself. You are very talented. The world needs conscientious attorneys. Don't give up.<br />Email me and I'll send you some thoughts. www.angelabroderick.com<br />angelabroderick@aol.com<br /><br />AngelaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942859751673764441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-4004989892460275782009-05-20T10:43:49.839-05:002009-05-20T10:43:49.839-05:00PS - do talk to your local contacts/peers/mentors ...PS - do talk to your local contacts/peers/mentors - there may be pro bono opportunities locally - if one is really interesting, your firm might be willing to support you doing some of that with your dead time a few hours here or there - again, not billable, but you never know what they might go for.Valerie at City|Life|Eatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348802292480366382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-48575488324678485192009-05-20T10:41:02.039-05:002009-05-20T10:41:02.039-05:00Thanks for the shout-out :)
LGirl's point is goo...Thanks for the shout-out :) <br /><br />LGirl's point is good. <br /><br />Another thing to think about is doing some writing - I know here, whenever we are slow, I am always writing articles for a couple of industry publications the firm contributes to. SO I am lucky in that these are pre-existing arrangements (in fact, I think I wrote an article like my 3rd week here) - but maybe approach your partner about writing an article for a publication. It doesn't have to be big - even a small industry newsletter is a start. <br /><br /> Lots of law firms let you bill that work as business development - and, yes, you may not get your name on it (i rarely do and it's usually the partners' names on it) but as long as you get credit for the hours and you get some writing done, it's another way to demonstrate your commitment to your employer. <br /><br />Also when it's slow here, I go to our firm library and read treatises because I am encouraged to do it - I cant really bill for it (I was told to put it under admin time just so they know that I do it) but it's useful learning.<br /><br />Glad you liked the Antwerp video - I saw it on a day that was truly epic in how bad it was, and the video made me cry and smile at the same time :)Valerie at City|Life|Eatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348802292480366382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477767650904868275.post-62243519005473899052009-05-20T10:33:22.055-05:002009-05-20T10:33:22.055-05:00My best friend works for Cadwalader (sp?) in DC an...My best friend works for Cadwalader (sp?) in DC and had this problem last year. She ended up changing practice areas so that she had hours despite not loving her new practice area. Hang in there, maybe talk to a partner in a different area to see if they have work :-) <br /><br />I, luckily, work for a non-profit so I always have too much work!Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767129439672221160noreply@blogger.com