The Summer

Here's a quick update on my summer plans. Friends, less than a week ago I was in despair about what to do this summer. Everyday a few more classmates would come in with their "big news" about an internship or other excellent offer that they'd received, and there I sat with "no comment" when asked about my summer plans. It's April, we're six weeks away from summer internship time, and I had nothing! Well, not absolutely nothing, I still had several options that would have made for a good summer experience, but I had no nibbles on the internship applications that I had submitted.

I had responded to about 20 different offers for summer interns. Some of these were at prestigious law firms, and others were at small local firms. I applied for summer internships at various non-profits, at the White House, at the U.S. Department of Justice (in D.C., Reno, and Dallas), and at various state attorney's offices in Virginia and North Carolina. I had received a few responses; but, no offers. So, my summer plans were completely up in the air and out of my control. Now, for those of you who know me well (or even "at all"), you know that the fact that I didn't know where I would be in six short weeks was enough to drive me insane! I thought about it while studying, while sitting in class, while careening through traffic, while brushing my teeth, etc. But, rather than jump off Candler's Mountain, I surveyed my options and came up with three options that would work even if nothing else panned out.

1. I could stay in Lynchburg and volunteer at the public defender's office. This would be a new experience for me and would expose me to a lot of the local bar, the courtroom, etc.; unfortunately, it would not help pay any bills because it would truly be "volunteer."

2. I could go to NC and volunteer at my old firm. That is always an option that I enjoy because I get to work with people I know and love. I am very comfortable with the firm and the area of insurance defense. However, I just don't know if my boss would have let me "volunteer." He has always been so generous with me, I think he would have felt compelled to pay me, and I did not want to put him in that uncomfortable position. Also, I felt it was important to "build" my resume with other experiences and that it may look like I'm not willing to grow if I keep returning to my old employer at every break from school.

3. The final--and most expensive--option was to study abroad. I truly do want to study abroad, and I believe that this is the best summer to do it. I had already talked with the dean and had the paperwork ready to submit to him for approval so that I could participate in the University of Miami law school's study abroad program in the Mediterranean. Over the course of 59 days we would tour and study in three countries--Greece, Italy, and Spain. But for the cost, this was the most exciting offer. Included in the cost of $140 per day was tuition, accommodations, meals, and all travel except airfare.

The deadline for guaranteeing a seat in the Miami program was March 31, so I knew that I had to get busy on that option if it was going to happen. I came to school on April 2 with all of the paperwork necessary for the dean's approval of this study abroad program (which I would have to submit with my application). I had decided that it would be the Mediterranean for the summer, and I would just have to forget about the cost. On a whim, though, on that very morning I e-mailed a professor about whether he'd be needing a summer research assistant. For some odd reason, I hadn't even thought about this option. I knew it was a long shot (because many professors had already secured their summer help), but I didn't want to leave any stone unturned before committing to the study abroad program. Within less than a hour, he responded and said "yes," he needed a research assistant, and he wanted to talk to me. After class I met with him and he hired me on the spot! I was so thrilled, I could have hugged or kissed him! (Instead, though, we shook hands.)

This professor really likes to write law review articles and other scholarly stuff, so I will be helping him with researching and drafting those materials. I will be working 20-40 hours per week. I can work from home most of the time. I do envision myself with the laptop beside the pool, but that's probably more fantasy than reality. His only requirement for hiring me is that I commit to working for him during my 2L and 3L years so that he does not have to retrain someone every summer. Obviously, I agreed to do so. I think that this will be a great learning experience for me because this professor is a research guru, and I can learn so much from his expertise. He graduated at the top of his class from law school. He worked for an outrageous salary at a DC firm for five years doing nothing but research; then he moved to the U.S. Department of Justice where he worked for an additional 15 years. He has an impressive background, and I am looking forward to working with him and facing this new challenge.

So, my summer plans are now complete. I will not make a fortune, but I will not be strictly a volunteer; neither will I be spending a fortune on travel. I will be able to take trips home for extended weekends, and I will have an impressive 1L summer experience.

That's all the news for now...until I find something new to "obsess" over. I'm sure something will come up; I'll keep you posted.