What to do on your first day on the job at a legal company.

Research, Research, Research!

Any information that you can obtain about your new employer beforehand will be very beneficial. If you work for a law firm, find out how long they have been practicing, what kind of law they practice, and what kind of clients they work with. You may also want to find out what you can about the culture of the firm or company, such as their dress code, etc. When in doubt, check the firm/company's website, or ''Google'' them to see if they have any recent cases in the news. Knowing this important information before your first day will allow you to learn your actual job duties on the first day, rather than the mechanics behind the business. It will also help you to feel at ease on your first day, and make a good impression on your new employer.


Make a List

This is another thing that is beneficial to do prior to your first day on the job. Before you go in (possibly while researching the firm or company), make a list of questions that you have about your new employer. This may include any of the research questions that you were not able to find answers to, as well as what your job duties will include, etc. Having this list will help you to remember things that you need (or want) to know, but may forget once you are overloaded with ''first-day-on-the-job'' information. It will also show your employer that you have taken the initiative to learn all that you can about your job and their business prior to starting.

Take Notes

Taking notes isn't just for college students. It is also very good thing to do during your first few weeks at your new job. The responsibilities of a job in the legal staffing industry can be quite detailed, so it never hurts to write down procedures, and steps to take when learning what your daily duties will entail. Come prepared with a pen and notebook so that you don't have to ask for one. Also, keep them with you daily to write down any instructions you receive, and then take your notes home with you every night to review what you have learned.

Ask Questions

It can be overwhelming when learning everything you need to know about your new job in the legal staffing industry, but you should ALWAYS ask questions when they come up. Your trainer/supervisors understand that you're new, and will obviously have questions, so it's better to ask all you can now, rather than several months down the road when you should know the answers. By asking questions during your training period, you will not look incompetent, rather, it shows that you are humble and willing to learn.

Meet with Your Boss or Supervisor

It's not always possible to do this the minute you walk in the door, but within the first week or so, if you haven't already, request to have a meeting with your boss. Ask important questions about whom you will be reporting to, deadlines, weekly meeting times, and dates. It is also important to ask for clarification as to where your area of responsibility lies. This will help to determine your boss's expectations of you, as well as avoid misunderstandings in the future.

Get to Know Your Coworkers

Nothing can make a new job feel more cold and alone than not knowing any of your coworkers. From day one, try to meet your new coworkers. Do your best to learn and remember their names (remember that notepad and pen?), and if you can't remember all of them, at least smile and be friendly. Having some familiar, friendly faces can help to make you feel more at home in your new surroundings.

Keep an Open Mind

Your first few days may seem very overwhelming, but decide beforehand that you're going to do your best to learn, and keep an open mind about your new environment. Frustration and stress can actually hinder your ability to learn, so do your best to stay positive.

Also, every company/firm is different, so don't let yourself get discouraged when you find out that your new employer does a certain thing differently than your last employer, or they don't allow for casual Friday's etc. Realize that with different employers come different policies and cultures. Avoid saying, "Well, that's not how we did it at my old job." Nothing will turn new coworkers off more than someone who acts like his or her old job and experience are far superior.

Before long, you will feel comfortable, and competent in your new, legal staffing career!