| 9.15am |
Arrive at the office and head for my desk. Log on to my computer and check the appointments that are in my diary for the day. Check my emails and respond to those that need immediate attention. I refer to my "to do list" and make a quick plan for the day ahead.
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| 9.45am |
My supervisor explains the details behind a new matter that has come in and that we will be working on for the next few weeks. He explains the legal and commercial principles involved and the broad facts that are known to him at this stage in preparation for a phone call to the client regarding the matter.
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| 10.00am |
I sit in on the phone call between my supervisor and the client and take a note for the file. Following the call my supervisor and I discuss the points raised that need action by us and a timetable for doing them. The client has instructed us to adapt an earlier agreement we had arranged so that it can be used in new circumstances. I start by reviewing certain of the previous documents to see which ones will need to be amended so the client's objectives can be achieved.
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| 11.00am |
Having discussed the issues involved and how we want to approach this matter, I begin the first draft of the new agreement. It is a great opportunity to develop my drafting skills and demonstrates the high level of involvement that a trainee in the Regulatory and Transactional group enjoys at EAPD.
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| 12.30am |
I receive a call from an associate who asks me to research the regulations imposed on companies engaged in credit default swaps. We discuss the details of the client involved so that I can focus my research on relevant matters.
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| 12.45am |
I head out to buy some lunch from one of the myriad eateries on Fleet Street and run a few errands while out. I take my bacon and avocado sandwich to EAPD's top floor 'breakout room' where I meet several other trainees for our regular lunchtime meet-up – involving lounging on the sofas, recounting stories of the last night out and occasionally trying to solve crossword clues!
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| 1.45pm |
Back to my desk and I work on some of the articles my fellow trainees have submitted for the next issue of Trainee Days, which I am editing. I call our marketing and production department about the layout of the magazine and also ask them to find some photos to accompany the articles.
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| 2.15pm |
I discuss my draft of the amended agreement with my supervisor. A couple of additional points have been raised so I review some additional documents that have been received from the client and make appropriate changes to the draft.
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| 2.45pm |
I return to the research regarding the credit default swaps and I draft a memorandum of my findings and discuss the matter with the associate. Together we give a briefing to the partner in charge of the matter ahead of a conference call with the client in the US tomorrow.
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| 4.00pm |
I grab some fruit and a coffee and head into a monthly conference call with the US offices. We are informed of relevant work and market developments within the group, current "hot" topics are discussed and decisions made about business development initiatives. All lawyers in the group are encouraged to participate, including trainees. It is also my turn to take a note of the meeting.
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| 5.10pm |
I dictate the note of meeting to be circulated to the department while it is still fresh in my mind.
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| 5.30pm |
I return to the agreement and make some further amendments to the draft that my supervisor has suggested before handing it to him to review fully. I email the solicitors that represent the other party to the agreement about how the parties intend to execute the document.
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| 6.30pm |
I record my time for the afternoon under the appropriate client matter numbers and check that I am up to date for the whole day.
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| 6.45pm |
I check my calendar to see if I have anything the following day that requires preparation or an early arrival at the office. I leave the office and head for a quick drink to catch up with some of the other trainees at one of the local pubs.
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