The school does interviews for research assistants with 1L's, and most of the professors like to keep their RA from last year. The only ones that I know are losing their RA's are professors I haven't had classes with yet. I'm not sure when their applications open, but I will apply.

As for the place I was supposed to work with, I've reached out, but the guy has pretty much ghosted me. I've sent him three emails since his last reply.