My Dream Job

So, everyone probably has that one job they would totally love to do if money and loads of other factors weren't an issue or consideration. And yes, I'm one of those people. However, I might actually be closer than some to their dream jobs. Right now, I'm working as an intern with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). I am in the Enforcement Unit handling the investigation of cases. Right now, I've got seventeen (17) on my plate right now. And I'm loving it.

I should probably backtrack just a tad. Last summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to intern with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). It's the federal agency that handles employment discrimination. MCAD is obviously the state equivalent. So this past winter when I was looking for jobs, I thought I'd see if MCAD had any positions open for interns. Lo and behold they did. I sent in my application and got an interview. The interview went great. I interviewed with the person who became my supervisor, Karen. She has been a great support during my first month with the Commission. She is very much a believer in the open door policy and she's always got time to discuss my cases with me. I think working for EEOC gave me a leg up in terms of understanding the process a case goes through and what are needed to prove a claim of discrimination.

I also came into my current internship with a semester of employment law and disability law under my belt. I thoroughly enjoyed both courses and am still in touch with my professors. So beyond just knowing how to write a disposition, I really know the law. I think having all this background knowledge on the subject matter is extremely useful. Plus it makes me feel as if I really have learned something in law school and that I have found a real, practical use for it. I am putting what I know into practice.

So as I said earlier, I've currently got seventeen cases on my desk that I'm working through. Sure I got through about fifty during my summer with EEOC but this summer, I am the primary investigator on thee cases. I'm the contact person for the complaining parties and the respondents. I think I'm making up for the smaller volume with the ability to really analyze each case more carefully and really think about what kind of information I need to ask fro to make a decision in each case. Another thing I've come to realize no that I've got my own case load and have requested quite a lot of information from various parties is that the process takes so long because there is a lot of waiting around for responses. I have been waiting on documentation on the majority of my cases since my first week on the job. I don't like to be idle when it comes to work. I'm extremely efficient (probably why I have 17 cases right now and other interns haven't even gotten through all o their original ten cases). I have a system I've developed when I get a new cases where I go through and summarize the complaining party's allegations and the respondent's position. Then, all that's left is really to apply the facts to the elements of the law and see what I get. It allows me to make excellent use of my time. But it also tends to leave me wanting more cases with a day or two after receiving new cases.

So you may be wondering how all that ramble about loving the work I'm doing right now ties in with y dream job. Well, I think it's pretty clear I would love to work for MCAD. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear they are hiring for the coming year in the Enforcement division (or any division for that matter). While I'm really enjoying my time with MCAD (and it's not just the work. I'm making a lot of friends with the other interns which I've never really had a previous job), I could see myself working for EEOC as well. I really want to work for a government agency at either level. But as I'm beginning to realize that government jobs are hard to come by, I might need to settle for actually working for a firm that handles employment law. So I'm planning to use the connections I've made in the last year with both my professors and my contacts at EEOC to see if I can find a way to stay in the employment discrimination area.

Pre-Semester/Summer wrap-up

So sorry I disappeared for a couple weeks. Not much was happening on the writing front. I had family visiting this past weekend which was fun. This was my last week of work for the summer as well. This weekend and next week I start gearing up for school. I've got all my first assignments for class. Some will probably take longer than others but I'll get them done. All except one of my classes meets once a week. Right now it seems enough time between classes to get things done but that could change when I'm doing 10 hours of clinic work a week.

As for the end of summer, I have a few fun things I'd like to finish before classes begin. I would like to finish blogging Merlin series 1. At this point, I only have 4 episodes left. I just re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have one more book I'd like to read before classes. I'm hoping to finish revisions on Pharaoh's Link by the 24th as well. It seems I'm well on my way to getting all of my end of summer to-do list done. I'll be back before school starts to let you know how everything went.

Another smattering of updates

So sorry I haven't been keeping to my weekly posts. Last week was busy with starting work and this week is busy with my boyfriend visiting.

Not a whole lot to report. Nothing new on the EUTERPE front sad to say. But that's the nature of the biz. I have set an absolute deadline for myself for finishing PHARAOH's LINK; Sunday June 20th. Even if it kills me, I'm going to stick to it!

Work has been really interesting so far. I've got several big cases I'm working on for several different investigators. I've been drafting interview questions for a 2-day onsite interview process for one case. I'm quite excited to atually go and participate in the questioning. How cool that they let us just dive in? Been doing some statistical analysis on another case. One thing I've learned fairly quickly is that even if someone seems sympathetic from reading their statement, you have to remain impartial and not take sides.

I sat in Tuesday and yesterday on a hearing for a Dept. of Agriculture case. Very fascinating to see the dynamic between the attorneys (who knew each other for quite some time) and the various witnessses. The judge is probably one of the most awesome people in the office. Got to sit in just by chatting with her at the copy machine on Monday.

As for keeping up with the blog this summer, I think I may work a little something out with Jen over at More TV, Please! about doing a TV rewind series on a show (probably a shorter show...like Merlin season 1). I've got the DVD set but haven't rewatched any of the episodes yet.

Well I need to head off to work...such is the life of the grown up (or summer intern).