Week 1, Post 1

Monday February 6 was the first day at my three week unpaid field placement, and I feel like my head is going to burst with how much knowledge has been crammed into it. Did you know there was a platform called Amicus? I sure didn't. It has many of the same features as Outlook, it's just set up different. The lawyer, Heather Caron, is phasing it out soon, she's just not sure if she's going to use Outlook for everything aside from Email, or a different approach.

First Impressions

1.                 What areas of law are practised in the law firm you are working at?  Do they have a mission statement?  If so, what is it?

a.      Family law in the major field that Heather works in, but she also dabbles in Litigation.

b.      The mission statement for Caron Family Law is "Empathy/Dedication/Empowerment." 

2.                 Provide details of the orientation you have received. How were you introduced to other staff members?  Are you working with one or many staff members?

a.      The orientation was pretty heavy, to be completely honest. She basically gave me the run down of what she does as soon as she comes in the door (check emails and voicemail.) She then explained what Amicus was and what it was used for, which was informative as I have head nothing about it before now. Aside from Heather, the lawyer, there is an Office Manager/Legal Assistant by the name of Mona Bal. I had spoken only through her prior to February 6, and she was also the first face I saw as soon as I entered the office. I am only working with Mona at this time.

3.                 Were you provided with a manual of office procedures?  If so, what type of information was in it?  Is there a particular way to format documents?  If not, how will you keep track of all the details of the job?

a.      I was provided with the office procedures manual as well as a manual on the legal steps/process of Family Law. The information found in the office procedures manual has to do with colour coding file folders, the daily tasks, general information such as important folders, programs, how to book times, passwords and usernames, As to the formatting of the documents, so far the only difference I have seen is that the RE: line in cover letters/letters is underlined; they also CC clients.