A Day in the Life of an HFW Trainee

Robert Shorrock

09:15 

I sit down at my desk at home (my virtual office before we return to the London office) and check my emails from the previous evening/that morning. I open the time recording software and respond to those emails that need a reply that morning. 

09:30 

I have been provided with some "sample files" to review for one of our key clients whilst my supervisor is away. I review one of the sample files which contains details of possible insurance claims around the world. I draft a summary email of what the sample file contains and draw reference to some particular jurisdictional considerations. I email a summary of my findings to my supervisor for him to review when he returns from annual leave. 

11:15 

I take a short break and message the other trainees in my intake via Microsoft Teams to arrange a catch-up. 

11:30 

I receive a call from a senior associate in my department who asks if I have capacity to provide support on a case. I grab a pen and pad and note down the facts of the case and the tasks that I will need to complete..

11:45 

One of those tasks involves contacting the Foreign Process Section at the Royal Courts of Justice to enquire about the process of serving documents overseas. I call the Foreign Process Section and speak to a member of the department about the likely timescales involved. I also enquire about how long it will take for us to receive documents in the UK. Following this call, I draft and send a summary email to the senior associate and partner setting out my findings.

13:00 

I pop out for lunch and then have a "virtual" coffee break with another trainee in my intake.

14:00 

When I get back to my desk, I start the next part of the above task by collating documents to form an exhibit to a witness statement. I add the documents to a consolidated pdf and amend the witness statement in track changes to include cross references to the documents. I also make some suggested changes to the parts of the witness statement which discuss service.

16:00 

I take a short break and then start another task which involves creating the initial draft of a standstill agreement, which will effectively delay the contractual limitation period on a case. I send the draft agreement to the partner in charge of the matter, and we discuss what changes will need to be made before we send it to the client the following day. 

18:30

I make sure that I have completed all the narratives for each time recording entry and I submit them. I then log off for the evening.