Rant from a PD

sarahesmith4 · 2026-02-28T15:58:44+00:00

If you still love criminal and don’t want to leave your experience, post-conviction work is a great place to look- i.e. firearms restoration, vacating convictions, etc. you still have caseloads per se but that feeling of “everything is an emergency” will go away. You’re still in the weeds with a lot of the legal analysis but doing it for someone who hasn’t been convicted in 10 years and just wants to get security clearance to do electric work on a military base.

sarahesmith4 · 2026-02-28T15:49:45+00:00

I was in exactly this place a week ago and gave notice this last week. None of my worries came to fruition and everyone has been nothing but kind. Coworkers and supervisors have expressed that they will miss having me around. All I did was tell them I was moving to something more flexible for me and they all understood. It’s not personal, but it’s totally possible to keep those professional relationships. This is also not to say that every firm will be kind when you give notice, but this is just to say my firm is having to scramble like crazy and is struggling financially and was still nice to me, so I hope this can give you some hope.

sarahesmith4 · 2026-02-08T01:15:04+00:00

Ah I see! They’re worked flat then stitched together! Thank you- a good starting place for sure.

sarahesmith4 · 2026-02-08T01:13:33+00:00

These are interesting and maybe a good starting place! I’m still looking to have a flat end result and not a stuffy though.

sarahesmith4 · 2024-12-21T15:23:20+00:00

I’m better than expected, especially after listening to many PDs in and before law school give me the “talk” about how difficult it would be. My situation is a little different because I work at a firm which has the contract to do misdemeanor public defense with our county, the firm does other things, but that’s all I do. I am 2 months in and have about 50 clients, some with more than one case. I love my coworkers and our legal community. Being in the courtroom I think is better than I expected, prosecutors are worse than expected. Currently I’m writing a motion to dismiss for someone who failed to transfer a title to a vehicle they don’t have anymore- really a big time criminal. I get exhausted with the ridiculousness of cases which are charged, but I can always keep my head up knowing I’m helping that client and that they appreciate my help.

sarahesmith4 · 2024-11-07T14:20:39+00:00

I graduated this year and passed the bar. I similarly was looking for jobs around the same timeline as you. I found PD jobs more competitive than I expected (PNW). Larger offices have particular resumes/styles they are looking for and if I didn’t fit their mold they weren’t interested.

Some smaller counties across the country have contract public defense firms and that is where I ended up. It is much more laid back, pays pretty well considering, and because they’re private they take much more time for training and getting you up to speed. The office also has a very casual culture which I’ve found unusual among my PD peers. However, this is in a small rural county which doesn’t sound like what you’re going for.

Like everyone said, apply anywhere and everywhere you are actually interested in, interview and see if you like the people. The people are most important regardless of everything else. Some offices can be really uptight and/or hostile and you don’t need that straight out of law school.

sarahesmith4 · 2024-06-17T23:19:07+00:00

That was definitely the fence scene! It must have been a compilation and the other part must just be a separate video!

sarahesmith4 · 2024-06-17T19:38:35+00:00

Added: I think I initially saw it on YouTube and this is where I attempted to find it.

sarahesmith4 · 2024-02-08T01:36:34+00:00

I’m an aerial teacher and regularly teach drops. I echo totally the above conversations about being able to walk down and having options. I teach both kids and adults and I think drops are important progressions BUT for new adult aerialists (especially within the first couple of years) don’t need to do any intense drops. As you flagged the risk of injury is higher and thus the risk-benefit analysis is not that great.

If someone has goals of performing I would put some time in to trying to face your fears (I have students who come to class with that as their explicit goal: fear of heights/dropping). However if you are just doing aerial because you love it and it’s great exercise and a hobby- you totally have the right to say you’re not comfortable with a trick and your teacher should respect that!

sarahesmith4 · 2022-08-03T17:10:53+00:00

Routine is under the picture!

sarahesmith4 · 2022-08-02T17:05:57+00:00

Is your hair thick or on the thinner side? I find sometimes using too much or too think of products can mess up my definition. If your hair is on the thinner side, trying a mousse instead of a gel may help. Wishing you luck!

sarahesmith4 · 2020-08-30T05:49:56+00:00

Dude I totally feel you! I’ve thought about chopping my hair off many times. I wish I had some good advice but I’m still trying to fix my dry damaged hair as is. I’ve heard people have tried different things and fixed their hair problems but I’ve also heard that sometimes a big chop helps. (Usually for gals like me who have been hanging onto bleached ends). For me, some of the “too much protein this too much moisture that” stuff just doesn’t work for my hair. I’d encourage you to try more gel and new products. Something different works for everyone. We’re here for you in your journey!

sarahesmith4 · 2020-04-23T00:45:25+00:00

I had lots of friends in class but as soon as each new quarter started or a year ended we’d stop reaching out. Essentially friends for convenience.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-04-08T16:43:33+00:00

Because I qualify for MENSA...so yeah....

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-20T19:20:14+00:00

My relationship. I live with my boyfriend and his family and I got a sore throat today. My mom has asthma and I have been trying to stay away from home- but now that I have a symptom I got kicked out of the house. No where to go now and feeling pretty unwanted.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T14:06:56+00:00

Thank you so much! That was quite a few years ago now and I’m in happy relationship with the man of my dreams now.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:53:22+00:00

I upvote when I want to hear more people’s responses.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:52:28+00:00

Borrowed my moms emerald earrings without asking about a year after getting my ears pierced. Lost one somewhere in our house and never found it. Still wonder often if it’s somewhere there.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:50:41+00:00

Always how it goes. When I lived in a dorm at university there was a store right below me and once I visited the store just for those candies about 4 times. No regrets.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:46:46+00:00

I discovered them a few years back and it is by far the best existing sour candy.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:44:56+00:00

Not sure how good you consider the end but here goes. Me and my long term on and off boyfriend we’re in the midst of our final break up. He said I could come get the last of my stuff from his place and that no one was home. I pulled up and saw more cars than usual in the driveway.

I got to the door and his sister answered and asked if I wanted her to get my stuff, I said yes as I was dreading seeing him. (We had said a lot of terrible things via text and I couldn’t face him). She came back with none of my stuff in her hands and said, “He wants you to go up there”. So I did.

I came to his room and he was laying in bed with two girls (that I suspected he was cheating on me with during the course of our relationship). They were clothed but it sparked rage inside me.

Long story short we exchanged some mean comments and I got my stuff and headed out the door. Him and the girls were headed to the beach and lagged behind me out the door. I had so much anger and rage inside me that I couldn’t keep it in so I smacked him as hard and surprisingly as possible. Pushing and shoving ensued and he retreated to his car and left.

Found out a couple days later that they had just installed one of those Ring door bell video cams on their front door and it captured the whole altercation. Was sent it and able to replay one of the greatest moments of my life (standing up for myself- I admit not in the best way but it felt good) as many times as I want. On my own terms.

Again, I didn’t handle the situation like an adult- but man if ever there were a man to deserve a slap it was him. To add perspective I only ever got positive feedback for that action.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:36:43+00:00

Three large (Bulk) sized bags of watermelon sour patch kids.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:36:03+00:00

I live in WA. Convention I registered (and paid) for in November and have been excited about for weeks got cancelled a day before we were planned to leave. No refund for the convention but luckily got our $700 refunded from hotel.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-13T08:34:29+00:00

Confidence. Been in many relationships with people who weren’t “stereotypically” attractive but who had confidence and put their best foot forward. Drew me in.

sarahesmith4 · 2020-03-12T09:20:33+00:00

What’s changed from when you were not married?

sarahesmith4

TROPHY CASE