Long rant. I apologize in advance. I don’t know what to even do anymore. I am so frustrated with the constant interruptions. I’m expected to complete tasks “right away” but I’m pulled out away from my work literally every 10-20 minutes. It’s especially frustrating when I’m really trying to focus on complicated tasks that require concentration and attention to detail. I’m so tired of the “got a minute” meetings. I’m the head of two departments and I have zero support. I’m always behind on email, motions, discovery review, and trial prep. Yet somehow I’m also expected to take care of my attorney’s calendar, make his food, sit in interviews to hire new staff, train the new attorneys and new paralegals, manage our trust account, and figure out my 70 year old boss’s computer issues (it’s always something dumb like he didn’t have the computer turned on). The constant interruptions plus the overwhelming workload lead to mistakes, which inevitably just end up hurting the client.

I am currently sitting with a STACK of brand new client files and I don’t even have time to do step 1 of the work. I’m paid like crap. I make $17.50 an hour but with annual bonuses is averages to just under $20 per hour which is not great seeing as how I live in Portland, Oregon which is the most expensive city in my state. When I work overtime, I am scolded by our managing director because he doesn’t want to pay it, but the attorney I work for needs things done and the client need it done so I end up just working off the clock. I am tired of working nights and weekends for free. I need an assistant but I cannot have one because of budget constraints. I’m at the end of my rope here. Do I jump ship and just move to another firm? The stress is so bad it’s really effecting my home life and causing me so much stress I don’t even want to hang out with anyone. I only have energy to watch TV which is not usual for me. I used to HATE TV. Anyone been in a similar situation? Wtf do I do to get out of this. I feel like I don’t even have energy to apply for new jobs. The stress is eating away at me.