KNOW, the Magazine for Paralegals Fall/Winter 2013.2 | Page 10

Know Talkin’
Owning Mistakes,
Hot Specialties and
Other Topics of the
Moment

I

’ve had several interesting conversations with
paralegals lately about a variety of topics. I wish we could
all gather around the water cooler for a discussion, but
since that isn’t possible, I’ll update you here.

Lessons learned
At a recent lunch with paralegal friends, we discussed various
lessons learned during our careers. We all agreed that when we
learned how to take ownership of mistakes, our relationships
with our attorneys improved. There seems to be a self-protection
gene that kicks in when a mistake is revealed that prompts us
to look for excuses. Owning our mistakes and being able to deal
directly with our attorneys about how to move forward to correct
the problem typically ended better than the scenarios where we
offered a dozen excuses or shifted the blame.
Another lesson learned from years of working in law firms
is to develop a thick skin. In a busy law office, attorneys don’t
have time to walk on eggshells. When we are overly sensitive to
criticism or perceived slights, we end up with hurt feelings and
miscommunication. Many attorneys, particularly litigators, have
aggressive personalities. Paralegals that succeed in these work
environments are those who can separate personal slights from
constructive criticism.
Finally, we agreed that being territorial over our team or our
work is simply not productive. If another paralegal is called on to
assist, don’t be a stumbling block. Instead, share your secrets for
10

By Camille Stell