A day in the Life of a Pannone Trainee
Tom Jordan: Second Year Trainee, Pannone
Seats to Date: Personal Injury, Employment and Family
University: The University of Nottingham
Degree and class: LLB Hons Law 2(1)
8.30 am – I arrive at my desk and check the emails that have come in since I left the office yesterday evening. There is nothing urgent, so I make myself a drink and have a quick chat to the solicitor who I share an office with about the goings on in last night’s edition of The Apprentice! I then plan the tasks that I need to complete by the end of the day.
9.00 am – I attended a conference with counsel, a solicitor from the group and a client late yesterday afternoon. The conference was really interesting as it involved an ancillary relief matter where there are a lot of high value assets. I therefore review my handwritten note of the conference and then dictate the note so that it can be typed up by one of the secretaries. Dictating can be quite daunting at first as it feels very strange talking into a recording device and not seeing the words in front of you. However, it is a skill which can save you a lot of time in the long run!
10.00 am – I had recently drafted a consent order for one of the partners in the department. It was a really challenging and complex piece of work as there were many different parts to the order. He has now reviewed the work and comes over to my desk to chat through his suggested amendments. My draft is generally along the right lines, but I really appreciate that he takes the time to explain why the amendments are necessary and I can ask questions along the way. Once we have reviewed the draft in full, I make the necessary amendments so that the consent order can be sent out to the client for their approval.
11.00 am – One of the solicitors recently saw a client who wants to get a divorce, but also wants to keep costs down as much as possible. I have therefore been asked to carry out the majority of the work on the file, which will then be checked by the solicitor before it is sent to the client. I really enjoy the responsibility as it is almost like running my own file! I draft all of the documents that will be required, using a set of helpful precedents which have been given to me for guidance. I then draft a letter to the client explaining what all the documents are and setting out exactly what he needs to do next.
1.00 pm – I am meeting with one of the other trainees for lunch today. It is good to catch up on each others news as we were in the same department during our first seat.
2.00 pm – I have been asked to go to Rochdale Magistrates Court to attend a hearing in relation to a contact application. Usually the solicitor comes along too, but on this occasion I have been asked to meet the client and counsel there by myself. I drive over to Rochdale and meet with counsel who I recognise as I have been to hearings in the past with her. We then meet with the client and head to a conference room. The court allows the parties’ time to negotiate before the hearing itself which is done through counsel. My job is to keep an accurate note of all the advice that counsel provides to the client and also to speak to the client when counsel leaves the room to negotiate with the other side. Negotiations go very well, particularly for our client and the parties manage to reach an agreement between themselves which had not been expected. We all then head into the court room to explain to the Judge what has been agreed which the Judge then approves.
5.00 pm – I return to the office and go to update the solicitor who had asked me to go to court of the outcome. It is nice to be able to pass on the good news and she is very pleased (and surprised!) by the result. I then have time to check my emails from the afternoon and put together a rough outline of what I need to do tomorrow.
5.45 pm – We're having a team night out tonight so everybody leaves the office together for an evening of good food, drink and socialising
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