dashboard. She refrained from smiling at the mental image.
“And why did you leave the firm?” Mr. Yellin asked.
Sabrina took a deep breath. She knew this question was coming and it was one she’d struggled with. Telling them she’d been fired would reflect poorly on her, even though Mr. Merriweather had offered her the job back after finding out that Hannigan had fired her essentially because she wouldn’t spread her legs for him.
Telling them she’d left to move here to be with her boyfriend would make her look like a woman who chased the man she was dating across the country.
“Well,” Sabrina began, “the potential to move up within the firm was almost non-existent. I felt as though my skills were being under-utilized and I knew it was time to move on.” None of what she’d said was a lie.
“Yes, we’ve spoken to Mr. Merriweather,” Mrs. Vogel said, looking directly at Sabrina as if she’d caught her in a lie.
Sabrina fought to keep her expression calm and didn’t allow any of the apprehension to show on her face. It was perfectly normal for a potential employer to call previous employers for a reference. She only hoped her previous employer had been kind and not revealed too much about the real circumstances of her leaving.
“He was very impressed with your abilities as a lawyer and was sad to lose you. He mentioned that he offered you a substantial promotion if you would consider staying,” Mrs. Vogel said, fishing for more information.
Sabrina felt herself relax by a fraction. “Yes, that’s correct, but for personal reasons, I decided to follow through with my decision to move to New York.”
“Personal reasons?” Mrs. Vogel asked.
Sabrina swallowed. It appeared there was no way around this now. “Yes, a relationship. A long distance relationship I’ve been having for quite a while,” she lied, “developed into something more serious, and it was time to take the next step.”
The female partner nodded. “Good. It’s refreshing to see somebody taking a risk.”
Surprised at her response, Sabrina smiled. “Yes, some relationships are worth taking a risk.”
The three of them smiled at her, and then Mr. Yellin said, “Excellent. Excellent. As you know, this firm focuses primarily on acquisitions. Are you familiar with the laws of New York that pertain to this?”
“Yes, sir.” Sabrina nodded. “As a matter of fact, I’ve been brushing up on New York law and getting ready to sit the bar exam so that I can be licensed here.”
“Did you apply for the bar exam in time? The deadline was in April if you want to sit the July exam.”
“Uhm.” Sabrina shifted nervously. She knew she’d missed the deadline, but had hoped to sit the exam in February, since she hadn’t counted on getting an interview this quickly and figured it would take several months anyway, before she’d start with the interview process.
“Well,” Mrs. Vogel continued, “I have some personal connections there. Maybe they can squeeze your application in for the July exam, so that you won’t have to wait until Spring. That is, if you’re ready for the exam.”
“Absolutely. That would be wonderful. I would really appreciate it.”
Ready for the exam in less than a month? She’d have to cram day and night.
“Fine then.”
“Then let’s talk a little more about your experience,” Mr. Winslow said and launched into a case, then asked her what she would do under the circumstances, which laws applied and how she would handle the different aspects of the case.
Before she knew it, two hours had passed. It was the longest—and best—interview she’d ever had.
“Well—” Mrs. Vogel tapped her pen on the table. “—I believe we’re done here.” She stood and extended her hand. “Thank you for coming in, Ms. Palmer. We’ll be in touch soon.”
When Sabrina stepped out into the hustle and bustle of the streets of Manhattan, she inhaled a deep breath of air. Things were looking up.
By the
“And why did you leave the firm?” Mr. Yellin asked.
Sabrina took a deep breath. She knew this question was coming and it was one she’d struggled with. Telling them she’d been fired would reflect poorly on her, even though Mr. Merriweather had offered her the job back after finding out that Hannigan had fired her essentially because she wouldn’t spread her legs for him.
Telling them she’d left to move here to be with her boyfriend would make her look like a woman who chased the man she was dating across the country.
“Well,” Sabrina began, “the potential to move up within the firm was almost non-existent. I felt as though my skills were being under-utilized and I knew it was time to move on.” None of what she’d said was a lie.
“Yes, we’ve spoken to Mr. Merriweather,” Mrs. Vogel said, looking directly at Sabrina as if she’d caught her in a lie.
Sabrina fought to keep her expression calm and didn’t allow any of the apprehension to show on her face. It was perfectly normal for a potential employer to call previous employers for a reference. She only hoped her previous employer had been kind and not revealed too much about the real circumstances of her leaving.
“He was very impressed with your abilities as a lawyer and was sad to lose you. He mentioned that he offered you a substantial promotion if you would consider staying,” Mrs. Vogel said, fishing for more information.
Sabrina felt herself relax by a fraction. “Yes, that’s correct, but for personal reasons, I decided to follow through with my decision to move to New York.”
“Personal reasons?” Mrs. Vogel asked.
Sabrina swallowed. It appeared there was no way around this now. “Yes, a relationship. A long distance relationship I’ve been having for quite a while,” she lied, “developed into something more serious, and it was time to take the next step.”
The female partner nodded. “Good. It’s refreshing to see somebody taking a risk.”
Surprised at her response, Sabrina smiled. “Yes, some relationships are worth taking a risk.”
The three of them smiled at her, and then Mr. Yellin said, “Excellent. Excellent. As you know, this firm focuses primarily on acquisitions. Are you familiar with the laws of New York that pertain to this?”
“Yes, sir.” Sabrina nodded. “As a matter of fact, I’ve been brushing up on New York law and getting ready to sit the bar exam so that I can be licensed here.”
“Did you apply for the bar exam in time? The deadline was in April if you want to sit the July exam.”
“Uhm.” Sabrina shifted nervously. She knew she’d missed the deadline, but had hoped to sit the exam in February, since she hadn’t counted on getting an interview this quickly and figured it would take several months anyway, before she’d start with the interview process.
“Well,” Mrs. Vogel continued, “I have some personal connections there. Maybe they can squeeze your application in for the July exam, so that you won’t have to wait until Spring. That is, if you’re ready for the exam.”
“Absolutely. That would be wonderful. I would really appreciate it.”
Ready for the exam in less than a month? She’d have to cram day and night.
“Fine then.”
“Then let’s talk a little more about your experience,” Mr. Winslow said and launched into a case, then asked her what she would do under the circumstances, which laws applied and how she would handle the different aspects of the case.
Before she knew it, two hours had passed. It was the longest—and best—interview she’d ever had.
“Well—” Mrs. Vogel tapped her pen on the table. “—I believe we’re done here.” She stood and extended her hand. “Thank you for coming in, Ms. Palmer. We’ll be in touch soon.”
When Sabrina stepped out into the hustle and bustle of the streets of Manhattan, she inhaled a deep breath of air. Things were looking up.
By the
Similar Books
