Day 976: Finally

So...I finally have a job. Finally. Seriously. I have a job. I'm terrified and excited all at once.

But once again, it's been about a week since I've updated, so I need to get a move on. I am pretty darn terrible at updating my journal, all things considered. So...here goes!

I totally bailed on FHE on Monday. Seriously. But that was because I had a hearing on Tuesday. I was hopping mad because no one got me paperwork by the time they were supposed to (under the law and under the judge's order, for heaven's sakes). So I prepped as best as I could and went in on Tuesday and...

It was short. I was in court for less than fifteen minutes. The judge is still convinced that baby-mama is living with my client, but she's not, but apparently that's grounds to deny placement. Also, the home study wasn't done (not my or my client's fault) and neither was the paternity test (also not our fault), so they're looking at reunification/adoption for the kid. Riiiiiight. After the hearing my client and I called down to child support to find out what the deal is with no paternity test, and the girl on the phone was most unhelpful and promised the lawyer would call me. What I didn't know was that my client was previously adjudicated the father for the purposes of child support, so as far as the law is concerned, paternity test or no, he is the dad.

So I told my client to stick to business and take a parenting class and whatever else was in the order and I'd see what I could do about the paternity test. Turns out child support refuses to do it. Amber says they don't have to. The judge's clerk recommended throwing down a show cause order on them. I was mad. I thought a show cause order was a great idea. But it ended up not happening.

Wednesday was pretty darn awesome, though - I ended up going to see Avenue Q with Catie from Florida. She was celebrating her first big senior-certified clerk act, and we went to a fancy Italian restaurant beforehand. I remember so much of the music from Avenue Q from my college days with Del and the Scoobies, and we had a super great time. We ended up lingering on the street waiting for a cab to come, so that was that, and I got home pretty darn late.

Thursday was...the big day. The day of my interview with Kim's law firm. I was terrified. They moved it from late afternoon to morning, and I was very nearly late. My interview was with the founding partner's wife (I like to think of her of the First Lady of the firm) and the office manager (who's like the general), and it was scary. They scared me. They were full of jokes about how the people who succeed are the ones without families, pets, or plants. And they talked about how they're constantly busy and everything's on a crazy fast pace. I wasn't sure I was good enough. I asked some questions, and I found out that they're not big on being a social firm, that they like to be collegial but not overly personal. Which I'm okay with, because I prefer to stay out of office politics, and prefer it more if there are no personal-at-the-office politics. Also, this firm has a no drinking policy, which is rare but pretty much perfect for me. (There are stereotypes about alcoholic lawyers for a reason.) The firm is very formal and professional and high-tech and...yeah. I was terrified. After the interview the First Lady informed me that they didn't actually have a spot open but Kim recommended me so highly that they brought me in for an interview, and I should take a couple of days and call them back if I was still interested.

And I was scared. Because best I can tell from Kim, the burn-out rate at the firm is about five years, and no one ever makes partner, but it's amazing experience if you can take the heat. And I'm always afraid I'm not good enough, not fast enough or smart enough or capable. Even though I've never really failed at anything except, you know, distance dives and stuff. I mean...this is the start of my career. Of the rest of my life. In a particular moment of melodrama, I thought to myself, this is that choice: career, or a family. Because it doesn't sound like this job is conducive to a social life, let alone a family. So I told myself I'd ponder and pray on it, and so that's what I did.

I spent Friday trying to get work done for my parents, tie up some loose ends on cases and potential clients floating around out there...and then I got a phone call. The firm wanted me back for a second interview on Friday. I was surprised. I thought I'd have till Monday to decide. So I went to the temple Friday, hung out with Angela afterwards. We had pizza and Stargate. Angela is upset because her grandmother died, and the funeral is this coming week, and she's not feeling so good, so I did my best to cheer her up.

And then came Saturday. Went to training at Sensei Green's, ran home and got all cleaned up, and went to the interview. It was once again the First Lady, but also Founding Partner and Managing Lawyer, and I was even more scared. But I survived the interview, and afterwards...they offered me a job. I need to call in first thing Monday morning and accept it, but...I have a job! I was so surprised, and the First Lady was all warm and funny after the interview. Just...wow. I should have known from the second interview, but it was all so fast. And the First Lady said they don't usually do business like this.

Seriously. Me getting a job there? Miracle. So I need to be up bright and early tomorrow to properly accept the job.

Through all of this, of course, my car is on the fritz, and I need to get it fixed because it's quite the commute to work, and I also need to get to Lincoln for a CLE on Friday.

But I have a job, and I'm so lucky to have it. Here's to surviving my first ninety days.