Employment woes - a recycled gift and a new vignette

A while back I guest blogged on Faculty Lounge and wrote a post for recent graduates who were suffering the woes of the difficult entry level legal market. I also provided some vignettes from my own personal experiences on the job market that were designed to make students and recent graduates feel a little better, if only for a moment - some schadenfreude if you will. You can find the background information for my situation at that time and some advice for facing the entry level market on that post here, along with the original vignettes of my unfortunate existance at that time. However, I recycle one of them below along with a new one - enjoy.

Vignette #4 – federal judicial clerkship – aka “the Patsy”

As stated earlier, I applied everywhere. This was a federal clerkship in Texas. I was living in Tennessee at the time.  I got the interview and drove to a not so rockin city in Texas – as with many job interviews, this trip was all on my own dime. I show up at the office and introduce myself to the secretary. She tells me to wait in an adjoining room. I look at pictures of the judge with Reagan. A federal staff attorney comes by the secretary’s desk to talk. I’m in the next room, but I can clearly hear everything. He asks about the interviews for the clerkship position. She says, “yes, we received over 100 resumes and have narrowed it down to 3 interviewees.” I am like “yes, I am the man” (pumping my fist in the air). She then adds “but it’s going to Jane Doe, she’s so and so partner at big law firm’s daughter who is a good friend of the judge.” I then have to go through this entire interview. The judge asks “so, you went to UT huh?” I say “Yes, the University of Tennessee, sir.” He looks like he’s seen a ghost and double checks the resume. I can only guess that he wanted locals for the interview. I don’t know. He did send me a page and a half (single spaced) rejection letter telling me how awesome I am and how much he really wanted to hire me.

New Vignette - It smells like a robbery in here

I was still unemployed and interviewing with a fairly well-regarded medium sized insurance defense firm. I didn't meet with individuals - some of the partners (about five as I recall) just met with me all at the same time and we sat at a large table. Everything was going great and there was a  wonderful feel in the room except for one partner - he looked a little like a smaller version of the director John Waters and he had an almost permanent sneer on his face - the kind where it looked as though he had just smelled something really bad and was repulsed.

Between the delightful exchanges with the other partners this guy would ask questions that were really just insults to my candidacy and then give a "how ya like that" kind of ending - thus, making it a question, I suppose. In one of the more pleasent exchanges it came to light that I had interviewed for a judicial clerkship -- "Why in the hell would you do that?" he asked. I just said that I thought it would be valuable experience - this caused him to throw back his head and sigh loudly (yes, it can be done). He then looked on my resume and challenged one of my college activities -- "wrestling team? You don't look like no wrestler to me!" -- I wanted to challenge him to a match right then and there, but I instead just said that it was in fact true. (Sorry - I had no biting comeback and still thought I had a shot at this thing). Finally, the interview ended and the other partners very nicely shook  my hand and led me to the waiting room (front). .... But I can't leave - apparently the bank downstairs is being robbed -- and I have to sit in the waiting room for an hour until it's secure. During this time the John Waters partner walks by shaking his head and making a "ppffftt" sound. Eventually I am allowed to leave.

Ok Prawfs readers - it's now your turn - provide some vignettes for students and recent graduates facing the job market - c'mon, it will be fun.