8.45am: I arrive at my desk and check my calendar to see what needs to be done. First up is amending a letter I drafted to clients requesting further disclosure of documents to prepare for an arbitration. The case involves a fire on board a vessel off the coast of Egypt. I arrange a quick meeting with one of Ince's in-house mariners to clarify the specific vessel documents we are looking for. Ince has a team of master mariners who are able to give guidance on specific shipping matters, very useful for trainees who have no background in shipping law (like myself!). I finalise the letter and send it out.9.30am: One of the partners asks me whether I can assist on a case which he has just been instructed on. I am asked to do some initial research on competition law in relation to cross-channel ferry services. I need to look at the market in this area and the EU's attitude to its development over the last few years in order to advise a French client.1.00pm: I attend a lunchtime workshop on post-incident documentation. There are lunchtime lectures run for trainees and solicitors, mainly in the areas of work that Ince specialises in.

In the lecture today we are divided into groups and given a scenario (taken from real life) involving the grounding of a vessel and the steps that solicitors should take in the crucial hours that follow the incident.2.30pm: After lunch and a quick coffee with some of the other trainees I get a call from a partner on one of my cases and, on his instructions, begin to draft a claim form and particulars of claim. One of the advantages of Ince is that trainees are expected to have a lot of responsibility in the day-to-day drafting and dealings with clients. This case is also interesting as it differs from the practicalities of some of my other shipping cases. It involves futures contracts, which are far less tangible than vessel collisions but no less interesting once you get to grips with them (essentially parties betting what the freight market will do in the future).4.00pm: I attend a meeting with clients, counsel and experts on a large case I am assisting with that is due to go to trial in two months. It is an international trade case involving a joint venture agreement importing and exporting fuel from Iraq. One of the benefits of being an Ince trainee is being involved on long-term cases that allow you to experience every aspect of the running of a case. A large part of my job on this case is helping to prepare trial bundles for the court case. This involves liaising with counsel and the other side as to how we will collate the files. So far, I have been working on shipping and international trade matters. However, trainees at Ince & Co are expected to take a pro-active approach to their cases and seek out the work they want experience in. I am due to move offices in a couple of weeks to sit with an insurance partner, so I hope to get involved with some insurance cases once I move. However, I do not give up the cases I am currently involved with - the variety of work here means my day is never dull!6.45pm: I head off with some of the others to play netball. We are entering two teams in the 'Corporate Olympics' and have been training every week for a month to see who suits which position (and to teach the boys how to play!). Ince have also entered myself and a number of others in a triathlon in a couple of months time, which should be interesting!