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Dear fancy-schmancy law firm,

So I had a major country girl conundrum last week. I had been invited to a law school reception at the home of the partner of one of the law firms down here in New Orleans that I'm really interested in working for. I had heard through the grapevine that the firm really uses the reception as a way to get a good look at the candidates and it was highly encouraged that I attend.

But I couldn't. See, I had already committed to being in Paducah for the long Labor Day weekend to work on our roof, which has needing working on for a really long time.

I chose the family and the roof, of course, but I felt it necessary to send the law firm a note to explain my absence. I decided to just lay it all out for them. Here's what I sent:

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Mr. Law Firm Partner,

I regret that I was unable to attend the law school reception at your home last week. I have heard from several of my classmates that the event was delightful.

My absence on Thursday is in no way a reflection of a lack of interest in working for the firm, however. I was disappointed that I was unable to be there, but I had a prior family commitment. Lest you think my "family commitment" was a Labor Day barbecue or something equally trivial, I shall provide a bit more detail.

I am the oldest of six daughters born to a farmer/rancher and school teacher in a small Texas town called Paducah. The country house we live in is 80-plus years old and has needed a new roof for several decades. The roof situation has drastically worsened over the last five years, so much so that leaks had developed in the house.

For the past year, my family has been saving money to fix the roof. I enlisted the help of my best guy friend from high school, who agreed to serve as the general contractor of sorts on the project, while myself and Sisters 4 and 6 climbed up to help.

I have had the roof project on my calendar for Labor Day weekend since this summer, and I had promised my family I would be on my roof at sun-up Friday. There was simply no way I could be in New Orleans at your reception Thursday evening and then in Paducah on the roof Friday morning. As you well know, I chose the roof.

I am very interested in the firm because of its commitment to excellence and reputation in the New Orleans community as being the best of the best. I think I am an excellent candidate for a position at your firm because of my scholastic excellence, work experience as a journalist, and my diverse life experiences, roofing now included.

I look forward to meeting you and/or your colleagues at my interview with the firm Thursday morning.

Thank you for your understanding.

Lara K. Richards
Tulane Law School, Class of 2011

Posted by Lara Richards at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)