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I fear that a serious situation will result from not being able to find the attorneys and I will be left "holding the bag"...

June 2006

Dear Office-Politics,

I assist a partner at a law firm. How should I deal with partners who never tells me where they are going? When clients or fellow workers need to know the attorneys' whereabouts. I feel very incompetent when I cannot give them an answer.

I fear that any day now, a serious situation will result from not being able to find the attorneys when they are needed and I will be left "holding the bag" or blamed for whatever negative fallout results at the time. Help!!

Not-a-GPS-device

Dear Not-a-GPS-device,

Why do you think it is your responsibility to know where the partner is if they don't tell you?

You can't control this partner any more than you can control the next hurricane. If someone blames you for the next hurricane, you would laugh. Do the same here if someone blames you. Don't let it worry you. Just do the best you can do. You must be a terrific employee. Very conscientious and dedicated. The partners you work for are lucky and they don't know it.

Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.

Arnie Herz

Arnie Herz, Esq.
Author, LegalSanity
Attorney at Law

Feedback from Not-a-GPS-device

Thanks for your response. Your response makes sense. I'll put into practice your suggestion. Thanks again.