Suppose Benjamin has been a legal secretary at a small law office for 15 years, working exclusively for one attorney. While the practice is relatively small, his managing attorney is very busy, leaving him to manage nearly all of the day-to-day activities, as well as all of the legal research. He often works twelve hour days and most weekends to keep up with the duties. While this is exhausting for Benjamin, he is happy and never complains. Unexpectedly, the attorney hires Alma as a part-time law clerk to assist Benjamin with legal research projects. Alma is driven, articulate, and highly skilled at research and plans to pursue law school one day. Alma is amicable to work with, but Benjamin feels threatened and immediately resents Almas presence in the office. Benjamin has a difficult time letting go of duties he used to perform and feels belittled when Alma requested services from him. A noticeable tension immediately develops in the office.

How might you intervene if you were the managing attorney, and why did you select this strategy over other options? How would you handle the situation if you were Benjamin? Alma? Lastly, how might this situation have been prevented?