Click on the name of the trainee below to see their answer to this question.
Trainee responses...
- Olivier Burnside - Cross Border
The nature of the work and training is such that it's not easy to define. I'm currently in the employment department, and arrive for work just before 9am. The day always begins with a review of any emails. Client meetings can take place at any stage during the day and will vary according to the complexity of the matter at hand. The nice thing about employment law is that the work is both contentious and non-contentious, so work could involve anything from preparing a consultancy agreement for a senior executive to defending a discrimination claim for a commercial client. I usually finish work around 6.00 and will often join other members of the firm for football or cricket (depending on the time of year). - Emma-Jane Burnell - Schools
Fortunately, no two days are the same. I usually get to work about 8:30 and review what work has the highest priority, but often this will change throughout the day depending on what comes in. I usually leave the office between 6 and 6:30 - Nick Martindale - Commercial
I normally spend the first part of the day going through emails and planning the rest of the day. This will include drafting documents (leases, licences, deeds, disclosure letters, contracts, etc.), attending team meetings, research, dealing with clients on the phone, training, checking documents and more mundane tasks such as archiving or the occasional TBSR (Team Bacon Sandwich Run). - Jon Napier
After sitting down with my supervisor and going over the post and having a quick chat about my workload, my days are never the same. One morning I can be in court with a senior solicitor making an application and the next I can be meeting different clients back to back in Gloucester or Swindon taking new instructions. At lunch I either meet up with the other trainees and friends from my old teams and catch up, or attend one of the firm's regular training sessions on different areas of law or on developments in the firm's practice. Then it's back to down to work taking statements from witnesses, updating clients on their cases and sorting out our costs with the other side. I usually leave the office around 5.30pm (there isn't a late hours culture here) and am free to enjoy the great social life Bristol has to offer.
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