Flying solo ...

I decided last fall that I didn't want to spend 10 weeks of my summer
at BIGLAW, for several reasons. One was that I didn't get the
"bum-around" do-good-work-for-the-little-guy first year summer. So I
figured that I'd work for the man for half the summer, and work for a
non-profit or something the second half. The way things worked out, I
got a gig with a solo practitioner who represents plaintiffs in
discrimination claims.

Monday - was day one at the solo (to be fair it was "Solo and
Associates"). And I was indeed ... flying solo. I had emailed Mr. Solo
and said that I'd be there around 9am, and he was like - cool, i'll
let Matt know. Matt and Jack (names changed OF COURSE) are two
attorneys that work with him (they're the "associates" part). Matt
doubles as the IT guy. When I met him the first time I figured he was
pretty chill and laid back, but from day one (yesterday) I picked up
some very intense vibes. He's one of those close the door and work
work work types - eeks, a little scary. I knocked on his door twice
today to ask him stuff and was a little freaked out ... anyhoo ...
this morning I was a little late, but both Matt and Jack were there,
and didn't really care. Jack was like, we don't have punch cards
around here. Jack's this older, more distinguished typa fella ... and
Matt hangs around in shorts and a t-shirt.

I get there, they show me to my office ... and Matt's like: "...so,
has solo got you working on stuff?" and I'm like, "um no." And he's
like - "oh, he said he had sent you something." I'm like, "um, nope."
Matt's like - "oh. (long pause) Oh well, he'll send you stuff - just
hang tight." So I hang tight ... for about an hour ... twiddling my
thumbs. Alone. In my office, which (btw) is FREEZING.

thank god for the internet.

But my first thought was - wow, what a rude awakening. Had BIGLAW
really spoiled me that much? So far, every job I've ever had, I've
been "trained" whether its been BIGLAW or BIGBARISTA - it was
training, training and more training ... and someone was always around
(for training of course).

Not so here. Of course, I didn't expect anything exciting or
extravagant. But a little office tour of - hey, here's the fax
machine, this is where you can print and make copies, and oh yeah,
knowing where the bathroom is is always cool.

Nothing. Zilch. Nada.

Eventually, Mr. Solo emailed me some research stuff ... which at first
was pretty straightforward, and then comes the email: "I need a copy
of Jane v. Doe ... and need it Shepardized." Ok. Got it - sent it - a
few more follow up case-retrievals (good thing i was so good at
save-file-send-file).

Finally, around 11am comes the kicker - "I need you to prepare an
appeal for BLAH ... there are two major issues." um what does an
administrative appeal look like, and um ... what's BLAH? Dang, I
really did get thrown in the deep end.

EEEKS.

Don't get me wrong - overall its been interesting stuff all round, and
apart from my coffee withdrawal, I'm doing fine. Good thing I spend
all evening w/the family - so I'm getting some social interaction. I'm
a little worried about the next few weeks, and how this social
isolation will play out. InshaAllah all will be good.

And who knows. social isolation might just be what I need.

... and so, thats the story of day 1.

Stay tuned.