Practice Management

If Your Employment Is Terminated . . .

It always amazes me how surprised some people are when the axe falls.  Over the years I have witnessed the incredulity from attorneys, administrators, and staff at all levels.  Sometimes the signs are so clear you can’t imagine why the person doesn’t exit under their own steam.  But usually it’s obvious to everyone except the appropriate party.  

When I was an active member of the Association of Legal Administrators, I used to advise my peers to always be prepared to come to work and find someone else sitting at their desk, with all their mementos packed in boxes, ready to be carried to their car after their keys were confiscated.   (Yes, it happened more than once to respected colleagues.)   Being prepared in my world meant having copies of evaluations, complimentary memos, and particularly excellent reports at home.  It meant keeping the list of contacts updated at home; not just at the office.  It meant always keeping one’s resume current, and on the home computer.   And so forth. 

For example, having a current list of key vendor names and telephone numbers at home makes a huge difference when it comes to a job search, because they often know which firms are searching to fill slots.  For an attorney, having access to the names, phone numbers, mailing and email addresses for every active client in which a principal role is played by the attorney is essential.  (But keep in mind that you cannot download and keep a copy of the firm’s entire client list — that would constitute theft of firm confidential information.)

A post on the Attorney at Work blog entitled “Preparing for the Axe to Fall” is definitely worth a read.  I suggest you follow the advice.

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Full post as published by Law Practice Management on February 11, 2011 (boomark / email).