| 9.00am |
Arrive at office having purchased my tea enroute. I check through my emails to see if anything urgent has come in, open my post and check my calendar for any training sessions or meetings.
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| 9.25am |
I head to the meeting rooms for an internal progress meeting with my group. This gives all the fee earners the opportunity to discuss developments on the cases they are working on and also to catch up on any other news in the department. As a first seat trainee this meeting gives me a great insight into the variety of the work of the department. I am asked to discuss the recent developments in the arbitration that I have been working on.
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| 10.30am |
Back to my desk to check my 'to-do' list for today. I receive an e-mail from a partner working on the matter asking me to rearrange a new interpreter for our French witnesses at the arbitration. The partner's initial impression of the interpreter I had arranged last week was negative since she did not have the requisite specialist experience. She had also managed to get her scarf stuck in her brief case (while wearing it!). I speak to an associate working on another arbitration and get several recommendations. I phone a number of interpreters and receive CV's to review and forward to the partner.
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| 11.00am |
I finish my memo prepared for an associate on a separate matter. I give this to the associate to check and we have a discussion on the key issues I have researched.
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| 11.20am |
I head to the third floor to speak to the paralegals as I have just received further documents from the claimant's solicitors for the hearing. These need to be inserted into our hearing bundles and enough copies made for Counsel. The paralegals are very knowledgeable in the preparation required for an arbitration and especially in preparing bundles and documents.
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| 11.35am |
I receive a phone call from Leading Counsel asking me to review the disclosure files in relation to a particular point he is working on. The first few times Leading Counsel called I was very nervous but now I really enjoy being able to help on urgent issues as they arise.
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| 11.45am |
I review the disclosure files and call Leading Counsel to discuss the point.
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| 12.15am |
My supervisor asks me to draft a letter to the claimant's solicitors in relation to arranging the authorities bundles for the hearing.
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| 1.00pm |
Lunchtime – I head out for lunch with a couple of the other trainees to catch up on any gossip. Our office is right by Fleet Street, so there are loads of good places nearby to grab a bite to eat.
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| 2.00pm |
Back in the office. I take notes during a conference call with our clients who are in Paris and New York. This conference call is to make final arrangements for the clients attending the arbitration and to talk over key issues relating to the case.
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| 2.30pm |
I dictate my notes from the conference call while the issues are still fresh in my mind and I can successfully decipher my handwriting and my recently invented personal shorthand!
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| 2.45pm |
I receive an e-mail from Junior Counsel asking me to find a particular document in the underwriting files. The files are all indexed and labelled so I am able to find it quickly. I scan it and send a reply e-mail.
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| 3.00pm |
A partner asks me to research case law relating to contract formation. The partner explains some of the background cases on this and asks me to find out whether there are any very recent cases on this issue. I head to the library to get some textbooks on this and pop into the information centre for a bit of advice. The information staff are really helpful when you have any difficulty finding books, case law or any other research related problem!
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| 4.00pm |
Time for a tea break - I grab a tea and have a flick through 'Insurance Day'- reading this enables me to stay in touch with what is going on in the insurance industry and the City generally.
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| 4.10pm |
I attend a meeting with my supervisor, a partner, Counsel and our expert witness in preparation for the arbitration. On the way my supervisor briefs me on the key issues that will be discussed. I take a note of the meeting. The meeting gives me an insight into what our Counsel are preparing to ask the claimant's witnesses and the tactics and arguments that are likely to come into play, both by us and the other side.
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| 6.00pm |
I return to my office after the meeting and dictate an attendance note covering the main issues discussed. While I was out, the trainees have been emailing each other with drink plans. I finish off my attendance note, finalise my time recording and then go to the bar to meet them.
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