5.15 AM

The alarm goes off at 5:15 am and I jump out of bed! The morning is my favourite time of the day. I gulp down an espresso, put on my active wear and lace up my sneakers. 

5.30 AM

By 5:30 am, I'm out the door, walking through the quiet inner-city streets to my reformer Pilates class. I prefer to walk - not just for the movement, but to breathe in the fresh air before Sydney wakes up. It's my way of easing into the day before the busyness begins.

6.00 AM

Class begins! Pilates is my preferred way to start my day; it challenges my strength, improves my posture, and helps me feel centred before a busy workday.

7.00 AM

By 7:00 am, I'm making my way home. I have a quick shower, throw on some clothes, and most importantly, feed my two cats who are impatiently waiting for their breakfast.

Here's Clementine… She's not impressed…

8.15 AM

I'm out the door again and on the train to the office!

8.35 AM

I've arrived at Wynyard station. The office (and more importantly, coffee) is a short walk away. I grab my usual order and head to Level 10!

8.45 AM

I make it to my desk, review my Inbox and Calendar and start planning my day. As a new solicitor, I'm still learning, so sharing an office with a senior lawyer who is both willing to answer my questions and guide me through tasks is helpful.

Today's task list includes document review for a large litigation, drafting an application for substituted service for a debt enforcement matter and preparing a large exhibit for an affidavit.

9.10 AM

At 9:00 AM, I meet with a senior lawyer on a large litigation matter. We debrief on recent developments in the matter, discuss priorities for the week, and strategize the review. These check-ins are invaluable - they provide insight into the case and allow me to contribute meaningfully to our approach.

The collaborative nature of litigation is something that drew me to the Group!

9.30 AM

The Litigation Group has check-ins twice a week to discuss capacity. These meetings ensure that work is distributed evenly across the group. They also provide an opportunity to assist on new matters and gain exposure to different types of litigation.

At today's check-in, I told the group that I am currently at a 4/5 capacity - and likely to stay that way for the next couple of days. Its unlikely I'll be assisting on new matters over the next week, but we will see how the next check-in goes.

I like keeping busy, so I'm keen to keep the momentum!

9.45 AM

I settle in and begin the review as this is the most pressing task on today's list.

11.30 AM

Snack break! I head to the kitchen for a quick sugar hit… I'm in luck as there are a couple of Monte Carlos left!

While I'm in the kitchen I bump into another junior Solicitor. We have a quick chat about our day before grabbing a biscuit and heading back to our desks.

1.00 PM

I send an email to my supervising Partner, letting them know that I've completed the review and outlining my key findings.

One of the things I value about working at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers is the direct access juniors have to Partners. This level of exposure has been invaluable in developing both my legal and communication skills.

1.10 PM

The weather is good, so I head outside to soak up some sun during lunch. I brought lunch from home, though the eatery at Australia Square is very tempting!

I meet up with another junior who has just had her first appearance in court - a milestone for any litigator! She tells me about the experience, and we chat about advocacy, courtroom dynamics and what it's like appearing before a judge for the first time… before changing the conversation to Friday night's drinks!

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers puts on drinks one Friday per month. It’s a good way to meet lawyers from other groups in a social environment! I recommend getting there early to grab a pink gin! They go fast!

1.45 PM

After lunch, I lock in for an afternoon of focused work. Before I begin drafting the application for substituted service, I take some time to review the law on service and the Court's requirements for these applications.

As a junior in litigation, it is important to review the courts' rules and practice notes before preparing any court document and advising the senior lawyers and Partner of any recent changes.

4.00 PM

I send my draft to a senior lawyer for review. As a junior, its good to have any drafts reviewed by a senior lawyer before sending it to a Partner for final review. Senior lawyers know what Partners expect, and their feedback helps ensure that this is met!

4.15 PM

I move on to my last task for the day… compiling a large exhibit for an affidavit. I carefully read through the affidavit and began pulling the documents from the file. As a junior, focusing on the smaller details and honing your attention to detail skills is a good way to build trust with Partners.

5.50 PM

It's time to wind down! I check my task list and ensure that I haven’t left any urgent tasks pending before heading out of the office.

6.20 PM

I arrive home and it's time for soccer! I quickly change into my gear, grab my boots and, for the last time today, head out the door and to the field!

It’s a mixed competition - which means my fiancé is also in the team! He heads straight from work and meets me at the field.

6.45 PM

Kick off! No better way to de-compress than to kick a ball around!

7.30 PM

We won 5-4! A close call but good to end the day with a win! We head back home to make dinner, unwind, and reset for tomorrow!

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