Today was my first day back in the office from my vacation.

I walked into the law firm this morning and greeted the paralegal, and then made my way back into my cozy yellow office. Opening the door, I flicked on the light switch, and immediately saw an letter on my computer, addressed to me.

I rolled my eyes, thinking the card was another correspondence from a convicted inmate's sister, who is convinced her brother is innocent, despite the Supreme Ct's decision. She has been begging for my help, and saying God sent me, even though we have told her that it would be a conflict of interest for me to help, seeing as her brother is already represented in his post conviction relief. I hate drama, and this particular women is brimming with it.

I sauntered over to the sealed letter, and was immediately relieved, and excited, when I saw that it was from the first person I ever got to help. The lady had a tax lien on her house, wrongfully imposed by the IRS for over 1 million dollars, and within a few weeks I helped get it removed. I ripped it open. Inside was a card thanking me and wishing me luck. It was such an upper.

Thinking back to when she first arrived at our office with her sister- worried, sleepless, and complaining of ulcers- and now knowing that I helped- this is what drives me to be a lawyer- people. I wish she knew how much it means to me that she is the first person whose issue I got to resolve as a law clerk. As much as she thinks I have done for her, she has given back to me. When I help people, I feel like I get as much out of it as they do.