Long-Time Legal Secretary Reflects on Law Office Changes
Much has changed since 61-year-old Carol Coon started work as a legal secretary at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City.
The National Law Journal summarizes the law firm environment in 1977, when Coon started work at the firm. “Pantyhose was a must for female employees,” the story says. “The muted clacking of electric typewriters provided the office soundtrack. Secretaries were expected to perform housekeeping duties around the office.”
Coon worked with partner Harvey Kaplan for 33 years, and is now preparing for retirement. In a Q and A with the NLJ, she talked about how things have changed. “It was more personalized back then—more one-on-one,” she recalled. “You’d get their coffee for them. I dusted their offices each day. I still get Harvey coffee, but I don’t dust anymore. Back then I worked for only one or two lawyers. These days, some of our secretaries work for six or seven attorneys.”
Coon also noted the change in dress code, including the absence of the pantyhose requirement. “The dress code is a lot slacker now than it ever used to be,” she told the NLJ. “I don’t think it looks as professional, quite honestly.”
Related coverage:
ABA Journal.com: “Law Prof Surveys Legal Secretaries, Chronicles Layoffs, Conflicts with Female Lawyers”
