Has the scent of old law books made you smile? Do thoughts of motion prep energize you? I must sound like a bookworm or law-nerd. What I am getting at is paralegals who enjoy what they do. Yes, I have experienced it, just as some of you. But does contentment remain as the years pass?
It is not unusual to question if we still belong where we are now. Some of us face high billable hour requirements and frequent last-minute requests. Others find their administrative tasks almost equal to the substantive ones. A periodic reevaluation is a good thing for all of us, even content workers.
Take a moment to think about what brought you here—the paralegal field that is. Was it binge-watching episodes of, say, ‘Law and Order’? I confess I have done that, on occasion. Unfortunately, the fictional attorneys have yet to share airtime with us.
Some paralegals, myself included, gravitated toward the field because of their skill sets. It has been said that “[t]he more hours per day adults use their strengths, the more likely they are to report having ample energy, feeling well-rested, being happy, smiling or laughing a lot, [and] learning something interesting …”1 If you are no longer able to engage in what makes you feel good, consider if a job change is feasible and needed.
Before pursuing a new role or employer, conduct a thorough self-assessment. Tools such as Discovery’s Discover Your Skills, and Gallup’s Clifton Strengths might help. Ask yourself, what need or needs does my job fill? Work is a large part of our daily life—be sure it still makes you happy.
FOOTNOTE 1: How Employees’ Strengths Make Your Company Stronger, Gallup Business Journal <https://www.gallup.com/workplace/231605/employees-strengths-company-stronger.aspx> [as of May 2, 2022]
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