Around 5:15 PM on Wednesday I accepted an offer at a well-established, medium-sized law firm in Bethesda, Maryland. An entry-level legal assistant, I will be supporting three attorneys (with some help from another assistant) working in finance, commercial real estate, biotechnology and some other areas. The work will include mostly administrative tasks (editing, proofing, composing court documents, filing, faxing, copying, scanning, going to court, etc), but the real goals are for me to learn how a law firm works, master the skills necessary to be successful, and decide whether or not law school (and thus, a career in law) is the track I want to take in life.
I remain very interested in pursuing international studies (with an Asia focus), but am also willing to look at other angles, including international (trade) law. Basically, I want to be able to travel and learn about other countries while maintaining a job I am good at and enjoy. And make a good living. And who knows, maybe a political career some day.
Immediate tasks after a few weeks on the job:
1) Find a place to live, with or without roommates, close or in DC.
2) Get a new or nearly-new vehicle, as my '92 Dodge Dakota is a breath away from the automotive graveyard (Yesterday I climbed in, started the motor, and none of the electronic devices turned - no gauges, no power windows, no blower/AC, no radio). Fortunately, after a minute they started working. This is in addition to the occasional refusal of the motor to start.
3) Refinance my student loans.
4) Get a girlfriend? Haha maybe some year.
