I worked as a legal assistant with a lawyer who was almost always aggressive and made degrading comments towards me. I am not the most thick skinned so I would more often then not end up crying in the bathroom. It was pretty bad.
I was promised my paycheck today but the lawyer claimed that she legally doesn't have to pay me until the end of the month.
For context I have no union, no access to HR and there was no contract for my position – I am also 18 years old and the lawyer is 50 so the age difference seems to give her a power trip.
It was frustrating arguing with her over money that I worked and dealt with her BS for because, like I said, without a contract, I have no way of guaranteeing that I will be paid.
I was told I would be working with another lawyer in the same unit after the weekend, so there was a good chance I would not be seeing her for a while.
I refused to leave without my money, and so I got it – but not before I was told by the lawyer:
“I will be informing the lawyer I referred you to about this incident. They will decide if they still want you. But what you have just done is very bad. I am very disappointed in you.”
They then fired me over the phone and told me not to come in to either of the law firms.