Good Riddance

Today was my last day of articles. Even though I came into the office on Saturday to ensure I got everything done in time, I worked pretty much right up to the last minute. After lunch, on my way to court, I ran into a friend I worked with when I was a summer student two years ago. He told me that it was his first day of the Bar class, so that debacle was a year ago for me. May this be the beginning of putting it behind me.

Finally, it was 5 p.m. After writing the 18th submission for a tiresome file, transferring all the rest of my claims to the new articled student, going to Small Claims Court on an application to transfer a matter to Supreme Court (which I got, btw!), and saying goodbye to the partners I admired, I turned in my last time card, shut down my computer, and turned off the lights.

Surveying my dark and now very empty office, the magnitude hit me. I am moving on. I am no longer in limbo. I no longer work at this firm, this firm which in many ways made me feel like I had never worked in a firm before, like I knew nothin' about nothing' (which is kind of true.) But tomorrow, I am a lawyer. I got a call today about a position in-house with a union and who knows what it means. A summer job? A longer job? Whatever it means, it's me as a lawyer. No more student, although I still have so much to learn.

I unlocked the door at home to the smell of flowers. I thought at first it was my magnolia plant, which just bloomed. But my husband bought me a yellow and white bouquet as a surprise. He was gone to a friend's house to watch the game (Go, Canucks!) Cheerful yellow and white sit on my windowsile and match my mood. The flowers are happy, new-- so fresh and new. I got flowers! I'm being called to the Bar! I have an office to show up to on Monday! And it all began with a windowless office in a heritage building.