What is a floater legal secretary?

Princess Leia

I will have to disagree with the other posters as to floater secretaries...at a law firm I worked at, the floater was well-respected and sometimes preferred over the long-term secretary.

The floater secretary takes over a "regular" secretary's desk during the time he/she is sick, has a vacation, and/or is on some type of leave (family, pregnancy, etc.). If there are no secretaries that are out for the day, the floater secretary helps out where needed - and is usually also considered the "overflow" secretary (where various secretaries have too much work being generated by the parner/associate he/she works for and needs help getting the work done).

Eventually, if additional attorneys are hired (not including mergers of firms where they bring their own staff), the floater secretary usually has the opportunity to become a permanent secretary and a new floater secretary is hired.

However, I agree with the other posters who say she is overqualified to be a floater secretary...however, if she has a difficult time getting a position as a paralegal, the floater secretary is a way into the firm (and then one can get promoted to paralegal)....at least, the floater secretary will have the same benefits as a regular employee, rather than a temporary employee.

redgator40

she's way over-qualified for a legal secretary. floater just goes from job to job helping out where needed. why doesn't she have a job in her major?

Shane

Exactly what Charles and Redgator wrote. You jump around from desk to desk as needed. It is a horrible job since it really doesn't offer any stability in any given department. You are also treated as if you were a temp worker. As Redgator wrote. With your friends background she/he should be able to find a job much more along their speed. A floater is way beneath your friend. If I were your friend she/he should definitely look into work as a legal researcher. Law offices are always searching for this type of help.

deleted

3. An employee who is reassigned from job to job or shift to shift within an operation.

Thanks to the American Heritage Dictionary CD. It only cost me $10 five years ago and pronounces the words, which is what I need most.

Charles
Bridgeport, Ohio

Nadia

I have been a floater for a large, very large, well respected law firm for almost 3 years. I came to the job because I had an alcoholic, abusive boss who threw things at me. From that moment on, it was a downhill slide. I am treated with such disrespect, it's palpable. I am the only white secretary on a floor and have received such reverse discrimination, I have considered going to the EEOC. My supervisor is black and I cannot go to her with the matter. I have tried to address the problem several times to no avail. I am required to do everything the other secretaries refuse to do. They can be playing on the computer, nothing to do and I am expected to do all of their work.

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