By Christine Mantyla, Paralegal
On time in the legal field means that you are ready to work at the exact minute your work hours begin. Being on time usually means that you already have set up your computer, had your morning coffee, and have done anything else you need to do to be ready to work when your time begins. If you are a court or deposition reporter, on time means at least a half hour early. Attorneys and witnesses are ready to go at a designated time, and the reporter has to be prepared in advance. In a legal office, if your office opens at 8:00 am, clients expect you to be ready to talk with them at exactly 8:00 am. It reflects poorly on the office and you to not be ready on time.
As you can see, time is of the utmost importance in the legal field. If you are late with a document or pleading, you can miss a deadline and cause the attorney to commit malpractice. Completing your work on time creates trust with your attorneys, clients, or other employers.
Realizing the importance of time is crucial to success in general. Remember that you are only given so much time on earth. How are you spending your time? Do you use it wisely? Do you allow people to rob you of your time? Do you value your time and the time of others? Great questions to ponder.
