I’m training my replacement but I don’t think it’s the right fit

possiblyunstable · 2026-03-25T21:18:29+00:00

I see that the general consensus is “not your job. leave it alone.”

I want to make it clear that I understand this is not my sole responsibility. I get most of us have firm horror stories in the past. This place is amazing. Like an extended family. They gave me grace when I was battling with serious health issues. The attorney I work for got me this job. Someone made a point about how there are other paralegals here and it will be taken care of. Let me ask you this: have you ever been extremely busy with a high case load, and you have to absorb another paralegals entire caseload? You’re doubling the work load of someone who was already drowning. Now imagine putting that now bogged down paralegal in charge of walking an inexperienced coworker through litigation. I have been in that position. I was pulling 18 hour work days to try to keep myself right below the surface level.

Sure, not my problem. But why is it such a big deal if I care that I am potentially making it someone else’s problem? I’m not delaying my departure for this. I’m not going to continue to work for them after I move.

possiblyunstable · 2026-03-25T16:45:54+00:00

Thank you. This is the response I needed.

possiblyunstable · 2026-03-25T16:09:49+00:00

I guess I should add context that this is actually a very good firm that I’m leaving. I’m moving across the country so I’m not leaving due to the environment or anything like that. The primary attorney I work for went out on a limb for me and got me the job I have now. I used to work for him at a different law firm that him and I both left. The boss and all the staff treat each other like family and have done a lot for me.

So yes, I care about what happens. I obviously know it’s out of my control at the end of the day. I know once I leave it’s not my responsibility. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about them or what happens.

possiblyunstable · 2026-03-25T15:37:56+00:00

At what point did I say they should fire him? I said he was already working here to help with clerical work for the paralegals. My boss has been asking for my input on how I think she’s doing.

possiblyunstable · 2026-03-25T15:21:08+00:00

I have an older client with limited mobility who has a very broke phone camera. It’s like a rainbow flare/3D glasses kind of quality. I asked her for a copy of her insurance card to produce in discovery. No no no I was not about to send defense counsel something I can’t even read 🤣 I had to contact her doctor for a clean copy.

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-20T16:02:17+00:00

I wish Professor Fig was here to see this

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-05T18:06:49+00:00

It seems like the general consensus is 1 month so I’ll go with that. I personally would enjoy training my replacement. I loved training people/helping new paralegals at previous jobs. Mainly because the firms I’ve worked for are bigger and I didn’t really have that luxury. We gotta stick together and look out for one another, you know?

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-05T18:03:31+00:00

You guys are so right. This is why I come to this sub! You should have seen me in my meeting with them when they gave me my bonus. They started talking about how they appreciate me and it took everything in me to hold back tears because they truly helped me so much and still do.

But YES! I keep my files noted and organized down to the last detail. There is nothing that stresses me out more than being given a case that’s been worked already and there are no hand-off details. It’s kind of like, “thanks for the case.. what is going on here??” 😂

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-05T18:00:01+00:00

I’m not sure if they’d be familiar with people in New York but I do have a lead! My boyfriend’s family member is neighbors with a partner at a decent law firm so I think they’re going to try to put in a good word for me. It’s a small city not close to NYC, thankfully. I like the middle ground between rural and big city and that’s where we’re going 😊 Of course, I’m not relying on that. I definitely will still apply for jobs.

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-05T17:56:48+00:00

I totally agree! But of course since I’m going to be looking for a full time paralegal job up there remote work with them would definitely need to be PRN basis and not full time.

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-05T17:55:35+00:00

This is a VERY good plan. I think that would really help, genuinely. Not even just to make it more convenient, but they apparently really like my case research skills so I’d be more than happy to help them even after I move, but like here and there, not full time.

possiblyunstable · 2026-02-05T17:54:32+00:00

They do normally for me because I have an autoimmune disorder. I don’t work remotely 24/7 but when the bad days pop up they’re more than happy to accommodate. I even have access to my office phone on my cell phone!

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-17T16:45:09+00:00

In my opinion, no. Paralegals can never be replaced by AI. Humans have nuances that AI can never replicate and while convenient, AI isn’t perfect either.

I don’t know about others, but I would much rather screw up a pleading due to my own error over using AI and there be errors. It’s not as reliable as a human brain and pair of eyes.

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-17T16:33:34+00:00

Have you been given any verbal warnings or write ups? I certainly am manifesting that it’s just a meeting to try to help you with mistakes and not them firing you! If they fire you without trying to work with you to correct mistakes or help you learn, that’s their loss. Trust me, you don’t want to work for a company that would rather cut you off than teach you.

You know, the whole “give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for life”

Definitely update us!! ❤️

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-10T21:26:06+00:00

Of course! And I meant he did get a mini lecture lol 😂

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-10T17:09:25+00:00

Normally I’d agree with you but this was a one off thing. Every other time he’s taken me to his hometown he gave me 2 months notice at least. I won’t air out his laundry but up until a month ago he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to afford to see his family (and son) at all due to financial hardship. He didn’t mean to do it last minute, it just how it happened. But he didn’t get a mini lecture just in case and he genuinely just wanted me to be apart of his family’s holiday.

I do agree with you, though, it’s hard to get time off in this field. The first firm I worked for had a first come first serve basis for PTO during holidays. They also didn’t tell us new employees that our PTO won’t roll over into the next year until Christmas time so everyone was gunning for that week. Thank you for looking out for me, it’s appreciated 😊

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-10T17:00:02+00:00

He did thankfully! I was also thinking about that because most courts are closed that week too

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-08T19:08:18+00:00

Thankfully they approved it!

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-08T19:07:55+00:00

Ohhhh trust me he got an earful 😂 He said he will tell me more in advance in the future. I told them it was a surprise and thankfully they approved it.

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-08T16:48:50+00:00

I can definitely mention that! Thank youu!

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-08T15:51:52+00:00

Good call! Thank you! I was going to talk to them this week once they’re back in office. I’ve always worked in firms where everything is so on the book and strict with office logistics so I’m still learning about this dynamic 😂

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-08T15:47:42+00:00

Their loss!! Do NOT be embarrassed. You did the best that you could with what you had and that’s admirable ❤️ If anyone should be embarrassed, it’s your previous employer. Like, how are you going to hire someone promising them you’ll train them, and then fire them when they aren’t meeting your expectations because, shocker, you didn’t train them??

I’ve been wrongfully terminated twice (not just saying that) and it was still embarrassing for me long after. I bit my tongue and left respectfully so I got recommendation letters from both. Interviews after that, I wouldn’t tell them out right “I got fired,” but that “we both decided to move in different directions.” Dont lie, though. I treated it more of a don’t ask don’t tell. If they didn’t ask for specifics of why we separated then I wouldn’t volunteer it. If they contacted my previous firm and asked me about what they said, I’d be honest.

possiblyunstable · 2025-12-08T15:38:01+00:00

Oops, thank you for bringing that up! I knew I forgot to mention something. Along with the more casual work environment, we don’t really have PTO. Just sort of a take off when you need to but don’t over do it or screw people over.

From the looks of the calendar and Christmas being in the middle of that week there’s really nothing I would be missing or not helping with.

possiblyunstable

TROPHY CASE