My third week at the OBA

Last week, I worked a total of more than 18 hours across Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The February issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal (OBJ) went to press on Thursday, so the beginning of my week was spent wrapping up loose ends around the office and assisting the communications staff with odd jobs to make sure the issue was ready to go. I also did some of my usual tasks such as preparing Law Day documents for Web release, filling OBA informational brochure orders and locating old OBJ issues to send to attorneys who had requested specific articles for research. The OBA has a library with archived OBJ issues that date back to before the 1950's. When someone contacts the communications department with a request for a piece, the article is located in the library, scanned and e-mailed to the attorney. Last week, I located and sent an article to a legal professor in the U.K.!

On Friday, I got to assist with the filming of an interview for the OBA Law Day t.v. show that will air on OETA. This year, the show will feature in-depth, personal interviews that target certain aspects of Oklahoma's legal system. This interview focused on Oklahoma's Alternate Sentencing Program and featured a man who got behind on child support payments and eventually found himself homeless and jobless. The interview emphasized the goals of the Alternate Sentencing Program, such as securing employment and teaching its participants to follow strict guidelines. Each participant is assigned a court liason to monitor his/her progress and enforce the program guidelines. If requirements are not met, the participants are incarcerated, but if the program is completed successfully, many benefits can be reaped. The man being interviewed in this piece now has a home, solid employment and has re-established relationships with his children. I think the interview will be very educational to those who tune in to the Law Day t.v. show.

After helping out on the set of the interview shoot, I thought of a few tips I would suggest to interns working with professionals in a high-pressure environment:

1. Never sit down on set. There is always something to be done. If you don't see anything, ask what you can do to help.

2. Share good ideas. Even if you don't get credit, a problem could be solved because of your suggestion. All that really matters is that the job gets done right.

3. Take initiative. Even if it's the smallest chore, taking care of things without having to be asked will impress the people you're working with and save them the time of having to do it themselves.

4. Stay out of the way, but be accessible. Never make someone you're working for have to look for you. Be available and energetic, but not a bother.

5. Always say, "thank you." Remember that an internship is not always an essential staff position. Even though you do valuable work, you've been given an opportunity to have a job that is also a priceless learning experience. Be appreciative of every assignment and make sure the ones you're working for know you are.