Looking Up

Things are starting to look up a little bit on the job front. I got a letter a couple weeks ago from a judge on the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III (which is in Spokane). The letter basically said that the judge had received my application and would be interviewing sometime in October; he would let applicants know if they are selected for an interview. I wrote back a very quick letter thanking him for letting me know what his interview schedule was like. I then got another letter from the judge shortly thereafter, so I figured it was a rejection letter. As a result, I didn't open it for two days. When I did open it, it was an invitation to call his chambers to set up an interview!

The interview is next Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. I'm flying to Spokane from Portland because I was able to get a ticket for pretty cheap, and I'll be able to spend some time with my grandparents, which will be really nice - usually I don't get to see them until Christmas, and even then not for more than a day or so. I also got an email this weekend from the Washington Attorney General's Office - they assigned me an interview time of Monday, October 19th at 3:00 p.m., and are unable to move the time because the schedule is so full. They are allowing me to do the interview telephonically however, which is what I'm going to do since I'm flying to Spokane that evening. Next week is going to be busy, and stressful! But it is really rewarding to know that some of my hard work from last year is paying off in the form of interviews this year. I just need to remind myself that these are interviews, not offers, and it is important to keep applying as a result. But three interviews means three more chances for a job offer.

My worst fear at this point, though, is if Alaska calls and offers me a position before my other interviews, but not a positionat the Supreme Court level (they were interviewing for the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals (which only handles criminal appeals) and the trial courts). What would I do then? I don't really feel like I am in the position to turn it down but at the same time, what if one of these other two places wants to give me a job? So, I'm hoping one of two things happens: 1) Alaska doesn't call before my other two interviews, so when they do call I can try to figure out if I have some options; 2) Alaska calls and offers me a Supreme Court position before my other two interviews, which I accept and cancel the other two (but still go see my grandparents since I purchased the flight!).

On a completely different note, I have my first real case with the Domestic Violence Clinic - a real client, who has a real need for protection from her abuser for both herself and her children. I'm pretty terrified I'm going to screw this up somehow. But at the same time, it is exhilarating to be doing something real. The hearing is on October 26th. I need to get the ball rolling on prepping my witnesses - that is my other task for this week. This case has made me realize that I don't think I can do this kind of work for a living - my client made some choices which subjected her children to abuse by their father on more than one occasion, and while she's looking out for them now, I did have some trouble dealing with this fact when I first got the case. I realized I'd rather be doing the kind of work I was involved with at the DOJ - taking kids away from parents who are abusive and trying to make sure those kids have a chance at a better life.