In order to study law in my state, I have to “register” so they can start checking into my character and fitness. Do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with the CURRENT name and address of every supervisor you’ve had since you turned 18? I have lived all over the U.S in the past 10 years, worked almost 20 jobs (you have to include paid, unpaid, volunteer, etc.) and almost no one I worked for is still with their company. I also have to have a large number of personal references who cannot be family, fellow law students or former supervisors. I’m not sure I can come up with that many people, especially if they have to discuss me in-depth. I think people might vaguely remember who I am…

Anyway, of course I waited too long to start on this and now I’m rushing to finish. The good news is that (I think) I’ve tracked down two former supervisors who I’d actually enjoy reconnecting with. I need to call one tomorrow because her company web site just gave a general email and I’ve directly emailed the other after finding her web site (she’s a publisher-turned realtor). The other good news is that the kind old jewish lady I worked for as a proofreader at my first “real” job still works there! One less person to hunt down. Now I wonder if I should call everyone I’m listing to give them a heads up that sometime in the next year they might hear from a bar examiner?

And what do you do about restaurant jobs? The turnover in restaurants is so high that supervisors have come and gone. The instructions say that you should find an updated address for your supervisor. How on earth do I do that for restaurant managers? I also worked for a catering firm as one of many, many seasonal tuxedo-clad servers. I got to rub bosoms with Dana Delaney and direct Rob Lowe to the men’s room at a crowded White House Correspondents Dinner after-party and also got a brief glimpse of President Clinton at a White House state dinner. But could I tell you who the boss was among all of those earpiece-wearing glam gals and guys? Nope. Wonder if “HR Director” is appropriate in that case? Should I attach an addendum explaining? Am I overanalyzing a bit?