Must one be qualified?

Redlass · #1 05-20-2002, 04:15 PM

What do you do at work when you're asked to do something you're not sure you're qualified to do?

I've always sucked it up, dove into the project, and done it anyway. After all, isn't half of professional development simply taking on new projects so that you can learn the skills as you go?

Sometimes I wonder though.

One of my favorite stories about my current job took place on my first day as a full timer (I'd been freelancing for them for a while). I was asked to proofread the blues of a series of workbooks that were done in Mandarin Chinese.

No, I don't speak or read Mandarin Chinese or any other Eastern language. (Well, is Russian considered an Eastern language?) Strangely enough, I managed to find some errors that we could get fixed.

Today, though, my boss brought me a proofreading project for one of our associations. I was comfortable with it until he told me that they were using me as a proofreader to spare them the expense of getting a lawyer and having legal counsel review the piece. I'm supposed to edit it and suggest rephrasing of any areas that will get them in legal trouble. While I've written seminars on revenue management and am very familiar with the topic, I certainly don't feel like I have legal expertise on price fixing, anti-monopoly laws, or contract law. But in eight years of working here, I've never said no to a project.

Is it time to start? Am I over-reacting?

What do you do when you're handed a project that you don't feel qualified to do?

**mrisch**[$] · #2 05-20-2002, 04:45 PM

Well that's not just an issue of qualifications, it is practicing law without a license, and yes, that's illegal.

That said, you can read the stuff and point out ambiguities and claims that won't hold true, etc., in an effort to avoid "customer problems". Just say it is not a legal review, and if that's what they want, they better talk to a lawyer.

mnehr · #3 05-20-2002, 04:56 PM

I believe it all depends on what you are doing. You would not want someone to play doctor or lawyer who is not qualified, but for many jobs, this can create a great learning opportunity.

I have had many opportunities to learn new database and development programs because a client or department wanted a different platform than what we normally use. Before my current job, I had never even touched FoxPro and Cold Fusion. When opportunities arose where we needed to use those programs, they became great educational opportunities...

In traveling for work I have learned enough conversational Japanese and Spanish to 'survive' even though prior to trips, I barely could speak a word of either language..

Again, it all depends on what the job is..

CurtisEdmonds · #4 05-20-2002, 05:12 PM

If they're going to use you as a lawyer, tell them they had better pay you like a lawyer.

**Joubert**[$] · #5 05-20-2002, 05:19 PM

I agree with a number of the comments here, 'lass, and would also suggest adding to the overall comments: "Note: recommend these undergo legal review for content issues" or some such wording.

Redlass · #6 05-20-2002, 05:39 PM

Pay me like a lawyer? Ha!

I mean, for a writer, I'm paid a decent wage, but writers don't make what lawyers do. Not even on Sundays.

The other frightening thing my boss said was that they had stopped submitting these particular seminars of ours to legal review because they decided I had enough expertise that legal review was unnecessary. This was the first time I heard that we weren't still doing legal reviews. Scared the heck out of me.

Writing about something doesn't make one an expert in the topic. I would have never, never, ever called myself an expert on revenue management. I'd have simply said I know a lot about it and how it is applied. Heck, I've never even read any of the legal discussions on the topic. I've stuck with research into how to use it and why.

I appreciate the advice offered here. I'll do the copyedit and proof of it and attach a memo explaining very specifically what I've done--and what I have NOT done.

magenta321 · #7 05-20-2002, 07:28 PM

Yeah, be careful Bridgette. You don't want to get involved in things you are not liscenced to do.

They want me to do things at my work that I am not liscenced to do. I just asked them if it was legal (knowing full well it wasn't) and they said "I'm not sure, we'll have to find out." It was left at that. They knew it was illegal as much as I did. I didn't want to get involved in things I'm not liscenced to do, especially in my job, where radiation is involved (I am scared to death of frying my ovaries before I've had kids!)

I'd do exactly what you've done. I'd do as much as I am supposed to do, and be as helpful as possible, without getting myself in over my head (legally and otherwise).

**pluckyduck** · #8 05-20-2002, 07:49 PM

Pretty funny, Bridgette. As I was reading your post, I'm thinking to myself .... qualified? Who needs qualified? I've never been qualified to do a single thing I've ever done the first time. I'm still not qualfied for most of what I do...

Then you got to legal. Whoa! Brakes!

I actually think I know a bit about the law

because I've watched law shows and read legal thrillers for years... and, businesswise, always researched and studied the areas of law that pertained to what I was doing (copyright, direct marketing, yada)

Walter Mitty-like lawyer that I am, there's still no way I would accept a task like that without verbally and in writing emphasizing that I am not qualified to vet documents for legality.

C'mon, a lawyer isn't qualified to go through documents for legality outside of his speciality! Would you have a real estate lawyer check out your H.R. policy? Your brother Harry the entertainment lawyer defend you for a murder charge?

Puhleeze. They can risk it all they like (I risk plenty), but don't put it on your head.

Andrea

kurt_messick · #9 05-22-2002, 11:38 AM

Just make sure the legal responsibility rests with the company assigning you this task, and not with you.

poseidon · #10 05-22-2002, 12:59 PM

I've come right out and told someone that I had no idea how to do it, but if they would show me what needs to be done, I'd be more than happy to help out. I believe in a policy of honesty with my employer.

I had the example just last week in Kansas. I had finished all the property claims early and they said, "Well, go help out the auto people writing hail estimates."

I told them the truth... that it had been probably seven or eight years since I've seen an automobile claim and that while I know how to count dents, I don't remember what any of the dents represent. Also, I had no idea what consituted paintless dent repair versus traditional repairing of a panel versus total replacement of a panel.

They took half a day to show me the ropes, and after that I was fine out on my own.

If I would have simply sucked up and done it, I would have a lot of angry people most likely, and everything that I did would likely have to be reinspected anyhow, which only translates into a total waste of time and expense for the company.

Jeff