Free Bluegrass State of Mind by Kathleen Brooks

two
things. First, why you stated in your letter that I could not call
and check your resume with your boss at GTH. And the second, why I
should give you a job whose focus is on criminal law when your main
area of practice has been in civil litigation and public
relations?"
    Boy, Mr. Magoo really could cut to the
chase, she thought. She took a deep breath and answered, focusing
on half truths to make the answer believable. "To address your
first question, I don't know how things are done in smaller firms
and I don't know how they are done in Kentucky, but GTH was very
much a good ol’ boys system. Women did not advance past associate.
I was the first woman to make it to junior partner and that was
only after bringing in a five million settlement fee in a class
action. It was made very clear to me that I would never be part of
the club and that I would never advance any higher. I had a hard
time accepting that sort of sexual discrimination and decided to
start looking for a different avenue where my day wouldn't just
repeat itself."
    "I didn't want to be stuck in civil
litigation all my life, I wanted to branch out to other areas of
the law. But because I was good at it, the partners refused me any
cases in a different field. I asked for you not to contact my boss
as I was still working there. And if this didn't work out, I knew I
would be fired on the spot. When I resigned and moved down here
with the intent of taking this job, if offered, I knew it wouldn't
do any good for you to call GTH. The partners were furious I left
and are not above telling you lies," Kenna finished. She kept it
very close to the truth, but left out that the main reason they
were enraged was because she had evidence that implicated them in a
crime. She disappeared before they could make sure she didn't say a
word to anyone ever again.
    "To answer your second question, I
have always been interested in criminal law. I received A's in my
criminal law, criminal procedure, federal criminal law and federal
criminal procedure classes when in law school. Although I have no
courtroom experience, I was published in the law review for my
research on the Brady Rule, which focused on the ethical versus
legal duties of the prosecutor to turn over evidence to defense
counsel if it helps the defense's case. Further, I have studied
Kentucky's criminal law and criminal procedure and believe I will
be able to pass the Kentucky part of the bar exam in two weeks. And
very quickly after that, I will be prepared to handle the duties of
an Assistant D.A. in the courtroom and outside of it." Kenna had
her hands clasped lightly together in her lap and was afraid to
even re-cross her legs. It seemed to be a delicate time in Mr.
Burns' contemplation period. He sat staring at her. The only noise
in the room was the drumming of his thick fingers on his polished
desk.
    "I am sure you have the school side of
things down. But as you know from experience, law school does
nothing to teach you what it's like in the courtroom. Also, things
that happen in Kentucky are different than in New York. In New York
you probably get a lot of public intoxication and people pissing in
the street. Here we get some drunk bastard thinking it's funny to
ride a John Deere Combine Harvester down the road. Or, for
instance, what would you do if Joe Schmoe is brought before the
court on a drunk driving charge? He blew two times the legal
limit," Mr. Burns stared at her.
    "I would follow the guidelines for
violation of Kentucky Statute 189A.050, which prohibits the driving
of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol." Kenna
re-crossed her legs then. She knew she answered the question
correctly and was giving herself a mental pat on the
back.
    "First rule, Ms. Mason, is to make
sure you get all the facts. You did not ascertain he was driving a
car. In fact, what happened in this case was one of the grooms out
at Stapleton Farm got drunk and his buddies dared him to ride one
of the horses down Main