The Atlanta Lawyer June/July 2023 Vol 22, No. 1 | Page 26

IN THE PROFESSION
PHOTO CREDIT : PEXEL

Questions to Ask If You Want to Keep Your Paralegal ______________________________________________________________

DEE E . THOMPSON Beal Sutherland Berlin & Brown Dee @ beal . law

D o you want your paralegal to stay with you for a long time ? Here are some practical tips to make that happen . As a veteran litigation paralegal for more than thirty years I ’ ve worked for many attorneys in two different states , at large law firms and tiny ones , and in two corporate legal departments . For the most part , I have had excellent relationships with my supervising attorneys , but there were also some problematic ones .

As a rule , the attorneys I have most enjoyed working for shared some common characteristics , such as being willing to listen , helping me to grow my skillset , and being collaborative . I know “ how to manage support staff ” is not usually taught to young attorneys , but it is important .
Here are some questions to ask either yourself or your paralegal . The answers will likely reveal whether you will be able to keep your paralegal for years or lose them to a new job . Admittedly , some of these questions are more appropriate to a newly hired paralegal .
What did you like about your last job , and what did you dislike ?
When you first hire a new paralegal , this is important . This question will give you good insights into how your paralegal ’ s mind works and what types of issues you
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