7.50am: I leave my flat and walk to the office. It only takes me ten minutes and I walk down past Nottingham Castle, which looks amazing as the sun is rising.
8.00am: I arrive in the office, turn on my computer and make a cup of tea. The first thing I do is open Outlook and check my to-do list for the day. I am currently doing a split-seat working in the property public authority and planning departments in Nottingham. On today's agenda I have an afternoon meeting with a client and a new pro bono matter to attend to.
8.20am: Having reviewed my emails and updated my to-do list, I draft and send out an email on behalf of the Nottinghamshire Junior Lawyers Division advertising a careers talk we are holding with one of our sponsors. As marketing secretary I have to create and circulate all the marketing materials and information to our 200-strong membership.
8.45am: I make a start on the new pro bono matter. It is on behalf of a local sports club who are leasing new athletics fields. Browne Jacobson has a real focus on charity and pro bono work, and it's great to work for a firm that love giving back to the local community. I meet with the fee-earner who has assigned the matter to me and we discuss what needs to be done. I am told that I will be running this file myself, under supervision. At Browne Jacobson trainees are given a lot of responsibility so you really feel that you are contributing to the work of the firm and it gives you many great opportunities to learn and develop everyday.
9.15am: Following my meeting, I make a list of what needs to be done. I call the landlord's solicitor, inform them I am acting and request registers of title for the land being leased.
10.35am: I receive an unexpected call on another file. The landlord is ready to complete early. Having received our signed documents, I agree to complete. I draft covering letters to send to the landlord's solicitor and inform the client that the matter has completed. Another successful job!
11.45am: My supervisor asks me to draft a precedent licence to occupy that will be used for future NHS clients. This is a fairly big job and I will be creating a document that will be used over and over again.
12.45pm: Lunchtime. I grab a quick lunch in our café No44, briefly chat to the other trainees and then head off to my lunchtime learning session on 'How to Draft Defences in Tort'. Browne Jacobson always has a great range of lectures and seminars, which provide great opportunities to get updates or learn about new areas of law.
2.00pm: I meet with my planning supervisor and we travel to a site visit with a longstanding client to review planning consent issues. I take notes and pictures of the site for the file. My supervisor tells the client that I will be managing the file on a day-to-day basis. At Browne Jacobson you get a lot of client interaction, which makes you feel valued, especially when the client thanks you personally for doing a good job.
4.30pm: I arrive back at the office and my property supervisor talks through a report that I drafted. We go through the stylistic changes that he has made and he advises me on the more complex issues.
5.15pm: As the day draws to a close I check my emails and cross off the tasks I completed on my to-do list.
5.45pm: Tonight I am taking part in a summer touch rugby league with the Browne Jacobson team. This is a great way to wind down, get some exercise and network with the professionals in the other teams. I play a good game, except after scoring a try I realise that I have only run as far as the five yard line… oh well, we live and learn!