Life in the Journey

Sunday morning I left our apartment at 6:00 a.m. headed to Charlotte, NC to interview with a boutique tax/business/estate planning firm. I arrived around 11:00 a.m. and since I didn't check any luggage, picked up my rental car straight away. As the car rental clerk gave me directions to my hotel, I thought, "nothing says welcome back to the bible belt like 'go straight on Billy Graham Parkway'". It was very refreshing! I enjoyed driving (it's been a few months since I've been behind the wheel) around Charlotte for a little while before my scheduled 1:30 tour of the city. Charlotte is absolutely gorgeous - it has this really welcoming, southern feel, but also a very modern and sophisticated side to it. The tour was really nice as well, I saw the uptown area which is the business heart of the city, as well as some of the oldest (and wealthiest) residential neighborhoods. We even stopped off for a short visit to the Duke Mansion (think Duke University), which of course, was right up my alley. Sunday night, I went to Providence Road Church of Christ, where Jeff Walling preaches. Unfortunately, they have small group studies on Sunday night, so I didn't get to hear him preach, but I did get to meet a lot of people in the small group that met at the church building: one of the ministers & two elders from the congregation. They were all so nice - it was definitely an encouragement.

My very intense day of interviews began Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. I met with six attorneys (one every 1/2 hour) and then went to lunch with two other attorneys. So, 8 interviews, all in all. After lunch, I headed over to the employment consultant's office for a series of tests. This is highly unusual, I have never had to take tests before, nor has any other attorney/recent law grad I have discussed this process with. Anyways, the lady was really nice. So I took a total of four tests while I was there - verbal aptitude, math aptitude, spacial aptitude, and one more personality assessment type test. Note, I had already completed 3 personality assessment tests for them before I came to visit. Thorough, huh!? Anyways, I really liked the firm. Everyone was extremely professional and highly competent. I think every partner there is board certified in estate planning & a couple have even been named in the Top 100 Attorneys in America. They have really interesting & sophisticated work - the firm in general is a well oiled machine w/ CPAs & a CFP on staff as well. So, we'll see where it goes. Below are some pictures from Charlotte.

I returned to NYC Monday night. Tuesday I spent all day catching up on life, writing thank you notes to the firm in Charlotte, and sending my resume to an estate planning firm in Panama City. I haven't heard back from the firm in P.C., but will be sure to keep you posted on that & all other prospects.

In non-law related news, last night we had a wonderful evening out with our friend Clara, and her boyfriend, Felix, who is in town visiting from France. Clara is a sweet friend, and always so much fun to be around, and Chris & I were both so impressed with Felix. He was charming & intelligent, quite the conversationalist & spoke impeccable English! They are both so impressive for 20 years old! The restaurant we ate at, Kitchenette, in Tribeca was the first really delicious "home cooked" style food we've had since we've moved to NYC! We're definitely going to have to go back! The evening ended perfectly as we returned home to see the tail end of the infamous Village Halloween Parade - 6th Ave. was packed with music, vendors, and trick-or-treaters young & old enjoying the crisp autumn night. Good times!