TCLA General Discussion Thread #2 (2021)

[S87]

Since this is a general forum, I'm having s bit of a work related problem today and if anyone could weigh in I'd really appreciate it.

I suggested a weekly catch-up 'virtual cuppa' style call to my team today and asked for their thoughts. All being well, I was going to propose the idea to management to make sure it was okay to use business time this way. Anyway, a colleague decided to skip checking with everyone and management and basically stole my idea and sent everyone a calendar invite for the event.

I pointed out that we should ask management about it and that I wanted him to CC me in. Instead, he went to management and took credit for the idea and got approval and commendation for it.

After that he made a passive aggressive comment in our team's chat about how I was worried about it unnecessarily.

Does anyone have thoughts about how I should approach this? I'm trying to be more assertive (I know it's a key skill in a legal profession). But this guy stealing my idea, taking credit for it and then calling me out for trying to do the right thing has really upset me.

Sorry if this is off topic

I feel you, I really do!

Work environments are difficult/wonderful to handle. But think if this is worth your time and the respect that your manager has for you.
That person must be frustrated and maybe going through something if they find joy in being petty!

From my understanding you are very capable in your job and have a rather joyful life. I went through something similar and only escalated when the person's behaviour affected my professional reputation.

Let it go! Personally going through this pandemic made me realise that I cannot be bothered with certain behaviours!

I hope you are happy and keeping healthy!

 

[RoughWood]

Since this is a general forum, I'm having s bit of a work related problem today and if anyone could weigh in I'd really appreciate it.

I suggested a weekly catch-up 'virtual cuppa' style call to my team today and asked for their thoughts. All being well, I was going to propose the idea to management to make sure it was okay to use business time this way. Anyway, a colleague decided to skip checking with everyone and management and basically stole my idea and sent everyone a calendar invite for the event.

I pointed out that we should ask management about it and that I wanted him to CC me in. Instead, he went to management and took credit for the idea and got approval and commendation for it.

After that he made a passive aggressive comment in our team's chat about how I was worried about it unnecessarily.

Does anyone have thoughts about how I should approach this? I'm trying to be more assertive (I know it's a key skill in a legal profession). But this guy stealing my idea, taking credit for it and then calling me out for trying to do the right thing has really upset me.

Sorry if this is off topic

I understand your feelings. My personal comeback would be to send an email (cc management) saying what you thought of the catch up, does anyone have any ideas of how this could be improved for the benefit of everyone, and then I appreciate everyone for supporting my idea and hope you found it beneficial and a personal thank you to Joe Bloggs for sending out the notifications to let everyone know/or for getting involved to help it run smoothy! (or something like that)

Alternatively just sit back happy in the knowledge that your idea was valuable irrespective of who went ahead with it

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Just got a WG invite from Dentons, applied on the 6th. If anyone has any advice I’d really appreciate it, I struggle with the WG a lot

Some advice here:

The Watson Glaser Test | Advice from a Graduate Recruitment Specialist

Advice and resources for the Watson Glaser Test by Jessica Booker Jess has spent 10 years working in graduate recruitment, including as trainee recruitment manager for a magic circle firm. She is the founder of Star Potential, a consultancy business which provides a range of services in early...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[Daniel Boden]

Since this is a general forum, I'm having s bit of a work related problem today and if anyone could weigh in I'd really appreciate it.

I suggested a weekly catch-up 'virtual cuppa' style call to my team today and asked for their thoughts. All being well, I was going to propose the idea to management to make sure it was okay to use business time this way. Anyway, a colleague decided to skip checking with everyone and management and basically stole my idea and sent everyone a calendar invite for the event.

I pointed out that we should ask management about it and that I wanted him to CC me in. Instead, he went to management and took credit for the idea and got approval and commendation for it.

After that he made a passive aggressive comment in our team's chat about how I was worried about it unnecessarily.

Does anyone have thoughts about how I should approach this? I'm trying to be more assertive (I know it's a key skill in a legal profession). But this guy stealing my idea, taking credit for it and then calling me out for trying to do the right thing has really upset me.

Sorry if this is off topic

Is there a 'mentor' or more senior colleague in the company or in your network you have a close relationship you could mention this to? I'd frame it as a 'hypothetically, if this happened... how would you handle it?' and see what they say - it might be quite helpful just to get their advice for how to handle something like this in the future.

Regarding this current scenario, I would be inclined to let it go because there will be plenty of other opportunities for you to impress your colleagues and management even further in the future and, not meaning to diminish your suggestion at all, it is only a 'virtual cuppa', it's not as if they stole a big commercial idea or pitch strategy which could be much more significant for your career development which would merit a much more serious response in my opinion - being the bigger person and focussing on what's really important will separate you from colleagues like that who are just out for themselves so that would be my 2 cents but can totally get how irritating it can be so you have my full sympathy!

 

[LawGrad2019]

Since this is a general forum, I'm having s bit of a work related problem today and if anyone could weigh in I'd really appreciate it.

I suggested a weekly catch-up 'virtual cuppa' style call to my team today and asked for their thoughts. All being well, I was going to propose the idea to management to make sure it was okay to use business time this way. Anyway, a colleague decided to skip checking with everyone and management and basically stole my idea and sent everyone a calendar invite for the event.

I pointed out that we should ask management about it and that I wanted him to CC me in. Instead, he went to management and took credit for the idea and got approval and commendation for it.

After that he made a passive aggressive comment in our team's chat about how I was worried about it unnecessarily.

Does anyone have thoughts about how I should approach this? I'm trying to be more assertive (I know it's a key skill in a legal profession). But this guy stealing my idea, taking credit for it and then calling me out for trying to do the right thing has really upset me.

Sorry if this is off topic

This is so frustrating, I really feel for you.

Is your colleague at the same level as you? If so, would it be possible to quietly mention to him that you felt it wasn't handled brilliantly and that you feel he kind of took credit for your idea?

You could mention that you're making an effort to mention things as they arise so that they can be dealt with straight away, with nothing festering. A decent colleague will hear you out and reflect

I'm definitely a fan of raising things with people directly and giving them a chance to reflect/rectify rather than going above their head.

 

[Flora2580]

anyone heard back from Forsters this week?

 

[LikeAG6]

Has anyone heard back from Faegre Drinker?

 

[S87]

Wake me up when we can leave the house and spend the whole day on a beach!

Guys give me the strength to go through another period of restrictions!

 

[FM302989]

Wake me up when we can leave the house and spend the whole day on a beach!

Guys give me the strength to go through another period of restrictions!

You can wake up now. You're allowed to spend the whole day on a beach

And more restrictions get lifted on Monday so you can wait 2 days

 

[S87]

You can wake up now. You're allowed to spend the whole day on a beach

And more restrictions get lifted on Monday so you can wait 2 days

It does not seem so!

We will see at 5PM

 

[FM302989]

It does not seem so!

We will see at 5PM

Sticking on the Sky News livestream on YouTube now

Edit: Yes, I've spotted 4 Indian COVID variant deaths... How we're allowing international travel into the UK while imposing 'stay at home/stay local' restrictions is baffling

 

[S87]

Sticking on the Sky News livestream on YouTube now

Edit: Yes, I've spotted 4 Indian COVID variant deaths... How we're allowing international travel into the UK while imposing 'stay at home/stay local' restrictions is baffling

It is shameful!

They detected the Indian variant in February, they had the close the borders then, and if people wanted to comeback from Indian before the ban then they had to quarantine in hotel.
This long road to "freedom" is really affecting my mental health! You cannot play with people lives!
We are in or we are out!

 

[M1999]

Ahead of the exams some people may be having, I have yourGDL textbook and case book - brand new to sell for £30 each incl. delivery (as opposed to £40 each). I ordered 2 by accident so it's brand new and hasn't even been opened yet. If you're interested please message

 

[hd112211]

Has anyone applied to or has experience with the Marks & Clerk trainee patent attorney grad scheme?

 

[FM302989]

BoJo's update delayed until 17:30 now

 

[Alice G]

Since this is a general forum, I'm having s bit of a work related problem today and if anyone could weigh in I'd really appreciate it.

I suggested a weekly catch-up 'virtual cuppa' style call to my team today and asked for their thoughts. All being well, I was going to propose the idea to management to make sure it was okay to use business time this way. Anyway, a colleague decided to skip checking with everyone and management and basically stole my idea and sent everyone a calendar invite for the event.

I pointed out that we should ask management about it and that I wanted him to CC me in. Instead, he went to management and took credit for the idea and got approval and commendation for it.

After that he made a passive aggressive comment in our team's chat about how I was worried about it unnecessarily.

Does anyone have thoughts about how I should approach this? I'm trying to be more assertive (I know it's a key skill in a legal profession). But this guy stealing my idea, taking credit for it and then calling me out for trying to do the right thing has really upset me.

Sorry if this is off topic

Not off topic at all and these kinds of situations are tricky to deal with and navigate, I do empathise with you.

I guess the thing with these situations is everyone is different. To some people, this may not cause them to feel particularly aggrieved and they may just brush it off quite happily. For others, letting it go and not saying anything could lead to an internalised frustration which might not be healthy in the long run. I think it genuinely depends on how you feel and how you are as a person.

I think my best recommendation would be to echo @Daniel Boden - I wonder if you can maybe speak to someone you trust, who has been at your organisation longer than you, with how to deal with this - they might be your mentor or someone who has more informally helped to guide you and who you feel you can confide in. Having some advice might help you to navigate the best way to approach this if you decide you personally feel the need to take some action, whatever it might be.

I do think sometimes that time is a bit of a healer so I would also recommend taking the weekend to mull this over and see how you feel come Sunday evening once there is a bit of distance between the events of this week. I think time affords us the chance to consider different perspectives and can help in evaluating how you feel about a give situation.

The last thing I will say on this is that oftentimes these situations don't go unnoticed by others. Sometimes these things are good to be aware of and monitor and if you notice it happen to someone else, you can be that person to support them and offer some advice/a listening ear

I really hope this helps and sorry if it is a bit of an 'on the fence' answer but these situations, like I say, can be tricky. I hope you have a lovely weekend and can tackle next week feeling more confident in your approach

 

[JayC]

Is there a substantive difference between the work of a paralegal and the work of a trainee? (Sorry if it’s a silly question lol)

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is there a substantive difference between the work of a paralegal and the work of a trainee? (Sorry if it’s a silly question lol)

It depends on the role and it can vary massively.

Paralegals tend to be much more administrative and process driven (volume and repetitive processes). But some paralegal roles will have trainee level responsibilities and some trainee roles will require them to take on responsibilities that many paralegals would do.

Depending on the firm/department, trainees can often be project managing a small group of paralegals on a matter.

 

[JayC]

It depends on the role and it can vary massively.

Paralegals tend to be much more administrative and process driven (volume and repetitive processes). But some paralegal roles will have trainee level responsibilities and some trainee roles will require them to take on responsibilities that many paralegals would do.

Depending on the firm/department, trainees can often be project managing a small group of paralegals on a matter

Do paralegals tend to stay in a certain practice area?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Do paralegals tend to stay in a certain practice area?

They can do - but early on people tend to move around a bit, or at least their specialism tends to focus on the broad groups of transactional matters, advisory or litigation.

The more senior you get as a paralegal, the more likely you will become specialised. Some people are career paralegals and they tend to become more siloed by that point.