8.15am: This morning I am heading to Civil Courts in Manchester as I have a Case Management Conference (CMC) for one of the cases I have been working on. I have to admit I am quite nervous, as this is only the second CMC I have conducted myself. I remind myself that I am well prepared. 9.00am: On the train I go through the documents and review my submissions. The CMC should be fairly straightforward as the parties have agreed joint draft directions in advance of the hearing. I only need to persuade the judge to allow both parties to instruct their own medical experts and to allow both of these experts to give oral evidence at the trial. The facts of the case are not in dispute, but the medical opinions differ dramatically. As I am going through the papers I get a call from my supervisor. He tells me that the other party will not be attending the CMC today - so it's all down to me! He reminds me again that the judge is very likely to grant the directions that both parties seek and that I have prepared well. My supervisor and I went through the case and my submissions in some depth yesterday and that helped to put my mind at rest.10.00am: I arrive at Manchester and I reach the courts with half an hour to spare, so I go through the documents - again!10.30am: I am called into the court room. I open by asking if the judge requires a summary of the case? He does and as I address the court my nerves disappear. I go on to provide the judge with a précis as to the medical opinion in the relevant area before presenting my arguments. He provides directions, amongst others, for each party to instruct their own medical experts. 11.30am: On a train back to Leeds I sit back and reflect on the CMC.

12.30pm: I go back to the office. All the team are interested to find out how the CMC went. So pleased that we were granted the directions we wanted!12.45pm: I check my emails and discover that I have settled my first case. I was given six pre-litigation road traffic accident cases, the instructions from the insurer client being to settle them if at all possible. With this particular file I had settled the case for less than half of the claimant's original schedule of loss. I get on with informing the client and updating our systems.1.15pm: At the beginning of the week I drafted instructions to obtain surveillance on a claimant in a case on which I have been assisting. In this case both parties have produced differing reports with regards to the extent of the claimant's injuries. My supervisor has just informed me that the surveillance video has arrived. I read the surveillance report and then my supervisor and I watch the surveillance DVD together. The evidence clearly leaves the claimant with some serious questions to answer! 3.00pm: My supervisor and I have a detailed discussion regarding case strategy. We decide that, to avoid the claimant being able to argue that we observed him on a 'good day', we need to obtain further surveillance. I draft these instructions.3.30pm: There is a conference taking place between counsel and one of our clients in a road traffic case that I have been working on. The partner with conduct of this case asks me if I am free to attend. As nothing on my to-do list is urgent I accompany her. The client is accused of death by dangerous driving. I take a full note of the conference.6.00pm: The conference has concluded. I do a final check of my emails. There's nothing urgent and I see that some of the other trainees have decided to go for a quick after-work drink in a local bar. I decide to dictate the note of the conference tomorrow and head out to meet them.