Oiling the machine

Support staff. I for one could not do my job without them. And I know that the same could be said for many, if not all, of my colleagues.

My secretary and I got off to a flying start when, two years ago,
I arrived at my desk to find every type of stationery imaginable laid out neatly for me. Single hole punch, double hole
punch, letter opener, pens
and highlighters in an array
of colours, stapler, counsel’s notebooks, sign-here labels, post-it notes in every shape and size – the list goes on. It was as if my secretary already knew me and we had not even met.

Sixth sense

Since that happy morning and over the last couple of years, Abby has learnt my quirky ways (we all have them, even if we don’t usually admit it) and has kept her sixth sense for knowing what I need or want. And, equally as impressive, knowing what I mean when I say one thing but meant to say something entirely different.

It is all very well my being
able to draft a complex will or trust to meet a client’s needs,
but that is of limited use unless the document is printed,
bound, and posted to the
client or a meeting arranged
for its execution.

A good fee earner/secretary combination is like a graceful waltz. To all those looking in, you gracefully glide through the day. But in reality you are holding each other up and guiding each other in the right direction.

And, yes, sometimes you step on each other’s toes (I’m sure that I am not alone in asking for an amendment in the drafting after the document has been beautifully engrossed and just before it is about to go in the last post of the day) but, in spite of the odd misstep, you remain a team.

It was therefore with
great sadness I learnt that my secretary was leaving, followed quickly by the realisation of just how much she does for me. Which printer tray holds the engrossment paper? Just how do you send a fax? What is a page break? Questions that I did finally work out the answers to when in the office late last week, finishing off all of my work before going on holiday.

It was the same evening that our IT support desk came to my rescue, despite it being very late on a Friday night (turning the computer off and then on again had not worked so I had run out of ideas). But all it took was a quick email from me asking
for assistance and within seconds they had called back and were remotely logged
on to my desktop.

And, that afternoon, our accounts team had worked tirelessly to process all of my bills ahead of schedule so I could deal with them before my time away. This was in spite of
it being a particularly busy
time for them.

Endless requests

It is easy to take for granted what you have, and we don’t say thank you enough. So, thank you to all those who help us to do our job each and every day.

Thank you to our kitchen
for the delicious chocolate brownies and flapjacks. Thank you to reception for always having a smile and for never complaining when I have left my security pass on my desk and they have to buzz me into the building.

Thank you to general office
for tracking down mail that is lost in the post and for processing endless requests
for deeds and documents.

I’m out of space to mention everyone but a final, special
thank you must go to my secretary Abby. Thank you Abby, for everything. I wish you the best of luck in your new position. SJ

Kate Davies is a solicitor at Wedlake Bell

Copyright & permissions