A Midwestern Girl?

Law school is a strange beast: a 3-year program where you get your post-graduation job at the beginning of your second year.* The process is ridiculous and involves dozens of interviews in a week or two, followed by "call back" interviews where firms fly you out and put you up in a fancy hotel for the night, just to tease you into thinking you might one day live the high life.** After the second interview, which is a half or full day of interviews followed by lunch and sometimes dinner, there's more waiting until you get the offer, or more likely, the rejection. The whole thing is indigestion-inducing, and since most people do not get jobs via this method, a big waste of time.

At any rate, I managed to secure employment for the summer. The way it's supposed to work is that you work for the firm during the summer following your second year (you're called a "summer associate") and then at the end of the summer, if they like you, they make you a permanent offer. A big Chicago firm offered me a summer associate position and I plan to accept. It should be a great experience and the pay isn't too bad either. If they do make me a permanent offer, I'd have to think seriously about staying in Chicago long-term.*** The legal market isn't great and this would be a fantastic opportunity, so I'd feel a fool turning it down. I also liked the firm from what I saw during my interview.*** According to one of the associates, it had a nerdy quirky atmosphere to it. Sounded just right for me.




* These days, only if you're lucky.
** My friend was put up in the Ritz for a call back with a New York firm.
*** Where I can get delicious waffles 24 hours a day from this place.
**** They took me to a swanky restaurant.