8.30am: I arrive in the office after nipping to Pret for my early morning coffee. Whilst my computer warms up, I have a quick chat with the partner and secretary in my team about our adventures of the previous evening (ironing, Tesco and fajitasā¦!). I always check my emails and read the daily business news bulletin before starting my daily tasks. I notice that I have a drafting job from my supervising partner. I check when it needs to be done by to add it to my checklist before planning out my work for the day.
9.00am: I quickly record some time from the previous day. Time is recorded on a centralised time recording system. I promise myself that I will never leave it until the next day ever again (for the hundredth time). My first task concerns a matrimonial client who needs some employment advice. I have been instructed to draft a memo to an employment partner and attach all the relevant correspondence. The employment team are in meetings so I leave the memo with a secretary to pass on.
11.00am: After sending a couple of routine emails to clients (copying my supervising partner in at all times!), I start my second substantive task of the day. I have been assigned a statute bill for a client who hasn't paid. It is an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge of the 'business' side of the firm - and understand where our wages come from! During the task, the solicitor in my team informs me that she has a meeting that she would like me to attend that afternoon. She would also like me to take the client to court to swear a document. Although I am now aware of the swearing process, I have not been to the Family Court counters before. Every day tends to come with its own new experiences - no matter how big or small.
12.00pm: Having a productive day, I quickly move on to a court form I have to fill out. Much of it has been completed by the solicitor in the department, and I just have to add the further information. The form is a standard one which is filled out in nearly all of our cases. However, a new version of the form has recently been released; therefore, the whole team is getting used to it.
1.00pm: I go for a quick lunch and bring a jacket potato back to my desk. I usually go for lunch with my fellow trainees or paralegals, but as today is Friday I am hoping to get out at 5.00pm on the dot! Eating a jacket potato at my desk sparks some dangerous food envy from the rest of my team.
2.00pm: I attend the client meeting with the solicitor in my team. He has come straight from work and needs to be quick. The solicitor runs through his financial disclosure, which he confirms is mainly correct, although there a few amendments to be made. Whilst the solicitor is making them, I take a copy of his disclosure for the file. This is my only photocopying job of the week. Life as a trainee is not all photocopying and making coffee.
4.00pm: After walking the client over to court to get the document sworn, I draft a brief letter to the other side to ensure that it is in the last DX delivery of the week. I run it down to the postroom to ensure it is delivered. Fortunately, I make it with time to spare.
4.30pm: I have a missed call at my desk from a client. It is a matter that I have been working on throughout, and have day-to-day control of under close supervision. She is keen to move things forward quickly. I explain that it will be Monday before anything gets out to the other side, which she is happy with. Clients are often demanding but usually react well to some sensible 'expectation management'. I reply to all my emails from throughout the day and dictate file notes of my telephone calls and meetings.
5.45pm: Well, I didn't quite make 5.00pm on the dot, but I'm not far off. I'm meeting an old colleague and some of the other trainees at Asha's. It's happy hour 'til 7.00pm - I better run!
, first-year trainee solicitor, Irwin Mitchell