8.15am: I tend to get into the office around now and begin my day by checking my emails and considering the tasks on my 'to-do list' over a cup of tea. This morning I am attending a client meeting with a partner in my team on a new matter involving an alleged copyright infringement. I am a trainee solicitor within the contentious intellectual property and media team, and although this is the type of dispute we come across frequently, the facts of each matter are always different. I familiarise myself with the background documentation to this dispute in preparation for the meeting. Client meetings are always great experience for trainees as you get brilliant exposure to a wide range of cases. In terms of trainee development, meetings give you the chance to see how the law applies in practice and to learn more about client care, interviewing and advising. I make a detailed note of the meeting as this will then form the basis for the letter of advice we will send to the client.

10.00am: Following the meeting, I am asked to carry out research in relation to some technical points of copyright law. I prepare a memo of my findings and email that over for my supervisor to review. I share an office with a partner and so am able to discuss various points that arise during my research with her.

1.00pm: I have arranged to meet some of the other trainees for lunch. You get to know the other trainees really well as there are plenty of social events organised by the firm. It's always lovely to catch up on how everybody is doing with work and outside of work.

2.00pm: I get back to my desk and finalise preparations for a second meeting I have been asked to attend on behalf of a client. I have been asked to attend a meeting to interview potential witnesses to a defamation dispute. I have prepared a questionnaire in order to ascertain exactly what was said during the event at which the alleged defamatory comments were made. The answers to the questionnaires will then form the basis of witness statement evidence. It is great being given this level of responsibility and involvement in ongoing cases. Following my meeting I diarise the preparation of the witness statements for the following day.

4.00pm: I then begin research preparation for our IP know-how presentation. We have weekly update sessions, presented by the trainees on a rota basis, to members of our intellectual property and media team. I consider various updates in case law and legislation and produce a handout which I will go through at tomorrow's session. The sessions are a good way to keep updated on legal developments and brush up on presentation skills.

5.30pm: I meet with several members of the team as we are due to attend a seminar on recent changes to the Patents County Court presented by a barrister. We meet with many other lawyers and agents in the field of intellectual property and there is the opportunity to network after the seminar. This is a good chance to catch up with both members of the team and attendees at the seminar. It seems to be a really sociable crowd and there are plenty of drinks and nibbles to keep people entertained.

This is an example of the day in the life of a trainee, but in reality every day is different. The type of work I am involved with includes client meetings, carrying out research, drafting letters of advice, attending court, drafting court documents and liaising with clients, opponents and experts. There is a lot of hard work involved, but the firm is also great at organising social events and with monthly drinks evenings, department parties and firm parties, there is also plenty of fun to be had.