It was not long after we were transferred to the Carolina's that I realized it is virtually impossible to get your foot in the door in a small, tight-knit community. I realized that, to be accepted into the community, I would need the help of an insider who could look at me for my skills, not my geographical background.
A woman from the temporary agency I applied to called one early Thursday afternoon, just a week before July 4th. A legal secretary position needed to be filled beginning Monday at a law firm in Beaufort for two weeks. The attorney I would be working for also served as the county attorney and had a heavy caseload. I immediately thanked her and declined the position. I explained to her that I had never been a legal secretary or worked in a law firm; that I didn't know anything about lawyers or law firms or about being a legal secretary.
It wasn't like I belonged to any particular field; there was no "one" I could call my own. I took what was available, what I could do - from bookkeeping to data entry. I knew I had the ability to work in many different fields with my experience but the legal field was way out of my league. Besides, I didn't exactly like lawyers.
She explained that my main duties would be to answer the phone, type letters and pleadings that the attorney would dictate for me, and add cases to the calendar. I told her I didn't know what a transcription machine was or how to use one. She reassured me that I would quickly catch on and that she knew, just by looking at my résumé, I would do fine. I told her I didn't feel I was qualified to accept the position and didn't believe I would be able to perform the job well. She said she would call the attorney and discuss it with him, then give me a call back. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. She had faxed my résumé to the attorney and they discussed my abilities and concerns. She noted that there was an experienced legal secretary close by who would be able to help me and answer any questions that may arise.
