First July Post: TTFN Kevin

So it's been awhile since either Kevin or I have posted and a lot has happened. I represented my first client in front of a Special Examiner (the highest level before circuit court) of the Virginia Employment Counsel, Prepared to represent a client in my first Protective Order Case (only it was continued and then the client dismissed the petition), a new volunteer named Megan began kicking some PIA filing butt, we've had numerous monsoons in P'burg, and Kevin left us to hop across the pond to study at Cambridge.

In fact, he left just this afternoon. It'll be decidedly less masculine around here as he was the only male in the office (besides Steve's occasional drop-bys). We'll all miss him, and without him handling half the intern-load I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update but I'll do my best.

Three weeks left for me here and I can't wait to see what happens next

Interesting Immigration Article

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/28/america-risks-losing-its-immigration-advantage/

Thought this was an interesting article on immigration and its benefits.  I also read an article on how Americans are so lacking in Math, Science, and Engineering training that thousands of engineering jobs here in America during the height of the Recession went unfilled.  Many fear these employers will eventually go elsewhere to look for workers to fit there needs.  One possible solution is to allow these workers to come to America and fill these jobs.  Perhaps the answer is better immigration laws as opposed to anti-immigration laws?

Hot Coffee Follow-up

Early on in this blog's life, Kevin posted a link about a documentary addressing tort reform in the US. Here is a follow up article, examining the movie's success at the Sundance Film Festival, and the director behind it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/serving-up-reform-with-hot-coffee/2011/06/26/AGD2mNmH_story.html?hpid=z4

Haiku: Court Attire

business suit, game-face,

legal pad. Yet still I feel

like an impostor.

It seems apparent

who's a client. You don't see

attorneys in jeans.

And the bane of my visits to court:

Metal Detector

*beep!* Betraying the metal

in my under-wire.

Haikus: strange days

Willy comes and goes.

A serious character,

buys weed-eating goats.

Front room, five children

candy, blocks, bathroom, water:

Legal Aid Childcare.

Again i hear chimes

leave my lunch, approach the door

that darn clock again!

VA Beach Adventure: "Stay Fearless"

The Richmond and Petersburg interns (minus Catherine) at the Virginia State Bar Legal Aid Award Luncheon:

(* picture stolen off the loft)

On Friday the interns had an epic adventure, driving to the Annual Virginia State Bar Meeting in VA Beach to attend the Legal Aid Award Luncheon. Larry T. Harley, the Executive Director of Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, received the honor of being named the 2011 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year! Steve, our fearless leader (slash Executive Director, but fearless leader just sounds so impressive) invited the interns to attend this event.

The attorneys and interns from the Charlottesville office attended as well. We were able not only to hear a wonderfully inspiring speech from Larry Harley and eat delicious food, but we also had the opportunity to meet honorable judges. Some of the interns even stood behind Viriginia Supreme Court Justices while waiting in line a the buffet.

Larry's speech included some great moments, including his earnestly expressed desire to change the world one small case and circumstance at a time. He also had a poignant comment about how all attorneys go to law school and not "justice school" and how we all must make a conscious choice to do justice instead of merely practicing law.

After the speech, Larry offered the interns some personal advice to "Stay Fearless", to which we all silently encouraged ourselves to become the fearless young attorneys he thinks we can be. The interns all headed to the EXPO to collect free pens and sunglasses where who should we run into but Professor Bryson! It seems anywhere there is free food and UR Law students, Professor Bryson is sure to be.

Since we were at the beach, we couldn't leave without touching the Atlantic. We all removed our shoes, rolled up our pants (those of us not in skirts or dresses), pulled our new free EXPO-acquired plastic neon green sunglasses down over our eyes, and strutted towards the shore... trying to ignore the fact we were all in suits and business attire.

The trip definitely provided some encouragement for all of us as we steeled our gaze, facing the western horizon on the (Beach-traffic plagued) drive back, determined to return again one day with that J.D. and that fearless desire to do justice.

VEC Appeal

Today I had the pleasure of representing a client of ours in a VEC Unemployment Compensation appeal.  It was pretty awesome, I almost felt like a real lawyer.  The Appeals Examiner even referred to me as the claimant's lawyer, but Jessica was quick to point out I was not, in fact, a lawyer.  Either way it was an exciting morning and it felt good.  Even though it will be a few days before we get the results, the claimant seemed pleased with me and that felt good.