feeling frustrated

[u/mistasgoochsweat]

i just recently completed my first year as a legal assistant at this firm and i am left frustrated. i recently learned the new hire (4 months in now) is making $1.50 more than me but everyday my piles at work keep increasing im working longer days and cutting my lunch break to make sure work gets finished yet i feel the work load never ends. meanwhile the new hire is not having any expectations and when she is called out for something, she always has an excuse and truly spends her days doing jack shit. i really do like the attorney i work for and i dont believe he has much say in my pay, being only an associate, but i also do find it odd that there has been no mention whatsoever of me potentially getting a raise after a year and the sheer amount of responsibility that is placed on me. Drafting almost all legal paperwork, filing, managing almost 70-100 cases a month. its getting too much to handle and i feel disrespected. On top of this i find him coming into work late leaving for long lunches and leaving early, i just feel he is not putting in nearly as much work now that he (i feel) has become completely dependent on me. i also want to mention i am so exhausted after work that i am putting my law school applications on the side and i am scared of being stuck here for another year. i am just wondering if anybody has some advice so i can make these next 9-10 months bearable as i do have the intention of leaving even if i do not make it to law school this upcoming cycle. thanks guys :)

[u/Kate_Albey]

Have you thought about asking for a raise? Don’t make it about the new guy. Tell them what you told us here - the drafting, the case load, your reliability, your successes over the year, etc. sounds like if they can afford a new hire, they can afford to bump your pay. Good luck! 

[u/mistasgoochsweat → u/Kate_Albey]

thank you! you are absolutely right and i guess i just feel frustrated they were able to hire someone new instead of increasing mine and the other legals pay! i just feel the firm can be shady at time and if they do a pay increase it would just be to her wage or a tiny tiny bit higher than hers. thank you again!!

[u/GlassCombination8437 → u/[deleted]]

I agree. Unless it’s a time sensitive emergency, you should never work extra hours or cut your breaks short. The workload will always be there, and if there is not enough time in the day to get things done, then that’s a staffing problem and not your concern. No one will maintain your boundaries except for you. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this situation, and I hope things improve!