Today is my last day of law school classes and, it's kinda funny, but the last day feels an awful lot like the first. It's exhausting, I'm in the middle of moving, I can't get enough done in a day, and I'm terrified for the future because it's still unknown.
It's a bit less unknown now than it was a few days ago, though, because I'm pretty sure I just landed my dream job. At the interview the other day, I walked in and it was like they had already made a decision. I was interviewed by two lawyers--the man who heads the firm (the one I've been emailing), and the woman who heads the office where I'll be working. He told me that he didn't have a position for me exactly but that he felt like the market was on the upswing and that "if you lay the tracks, the train will come." He said he wanted me to come help out the woman because she is currently managing the whole office pretty much on her own and he wants her to work less--plus he also wants to generate more business in our area. He said that I could start on a provisional basis after I take the bar, and then after a couple of months they will make it legit. He was everything I hoped he would be, and the dynamic between the two lawyers was really, really inspiring. They obviously have a great deal of mutual respect and affection for each other--he, after all, opened the office where I'll be working just so she could have an office closer to home. What an amazing person! How often do you meet lawyers like that? And he trusted me right off the bat; he said he knew I was qualified and that I'd be great, he just wanted to meet me and make sure I was a real person. The emails did the trick, can you believe it? He liked me instantly and started talking about when I'd start immediately. I could hardly believe my good luck--and I still feel that way. How could this be happening to me? A job, practicing family law, in a seriously good private firm, with an office in city center (I know, I know, you're not from where I am--but, believe me, its fancy), and all even before graduation. They warned us at school that few people were getting jobs before they got their bar results back and it was likely that at least 50% of us or more wouldn't have jobs on graduation day. But I am one of the lucky ones--how did that happen?
I'm feeling a bit tentative because I'm still afraid something will go wrong. Like maybe they'll change their minds and say, "Yeahhh, we didn't realize _____________, so sorry...." I mean, I don't REALLY think it will, but I am worried and I'd like a little more validation. Yesterday I sent my thank you notes for the interview, so I'm hoping I'll have some written validation that I can read when I'm feeling anxious. Something that says, "You totally have a job and you're the smartest girl we've ever met." Because being away from the interview, its easy to believe I dreamed it all up.
It is possible, though, that I am THE. LUCKIEST. GIRL. ON. EARTH.
It is also possible that I will soon have an office to decorate. In fact, on the way out to lunch (yes, he took me to lunch, too!) he started talking about renting an office and making sure that there were two right next to each other--and she said that the office next to hers was empty! Can you believe it? An office in city center! All mine! Right out of law school! Then he said he was dangling the bait in front of me to motivate me to pass the bar--well, dangle away--if I wasn't motivated before, I sooo am now. He said he was going to make sure this happened because he liked me. I thought that things like law review, moot court, stellar grades, etc were the things that got law students jobs--but it turns out, he likes that (1) I'm local and have business connections in the area, (2) I was an English major, (3) my writing sample was good, and (4) that I took his interrogation well. Who would have thought?
I feel like it hasn't really sunk in yet. But hopefully it will, because I could use being deliriously happy about something. And what is more important than something like this? I can't think of anything I would have rather had happen. I really am pretty sure that this is my dream job.
It's hard to believe I've reached this point. Just three exams (one of which is mostly finished), and one contract, and I'll be done with law school. My parents are coming on Monday to move out my furniture, and I'm moving out for good the following Monday. It's cool, I can sleep on the floor for awhile.
One thing that bothers me, though... According to my lease, I have to get my carpets professionally cleaned... And so I called and made an appointment. Unthinkingly, I made it for Friday, April 29th--don't see the problem? That's the day of the royal wedding! I was planning on spending all day in front of the TV, but since I can't be in my apartment, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I guess I'll go up to the law school and watch it online. But its really inconvenient that I cant enjoy the wedding in the privacy of my own home without people judging me for being waaaaay too interested for my own good. I wish I had the presence of mind to have thought of that when I was making the appointment, but, at the time, I was just excited to be getting out of West Virginia and was really eager to make an appointment. Now I'm mad at myself. But don't worry, I won't miss the royal wedding.
Still, it's hard to believe I'm moving on to a new phase.
It's definitely a huge jump from bait girl.
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