Louis Edmunds explains what a typical day as a trainee might entail.
Currently I am a trainee in the Financial Mis-Selling team, and I am heavily involved in various professional negligence group action claims that the team are currently running. No day is ever the same as a trainee and each day various on what seat you are currently in, but I have tried to give a quick insight into my current daily routine.
8:30 am
I normally get into the office for an 8:30 am start, and my first task of the day always involves reading any emails that have come in from last night or over the weekend. I then prepare a to-do list and prioritise what work needs to be done that day and what can be dealt with at a later date.
9:00 am
Every fortnight we have our team-meeting, where we discuss our capacity, we provide updates on the status of claims, what new work we have coming in and anything else people feel is necessary to make the whole team aware of.
9:30 am
I have been tasked with drafting a letter of response to the defendant’s solicitor in a professional negligence claim we are currently working on, and so I use the morning to start writing up my first draft and send it to my supervisor. I prefer to tackle more complex and challenging work in the morning, as I feel it is when I operate the best and can think more clearly.
12:30 pm
Now I take my lunch break, where I normally like to meet up with other trainees and stretch my legs and get some fresh air. If the weather is nice, we normally like to go into Cardiff market and get some fresh food from there.
1:30 pm
During my lunch break, the team received various new enquires from our website. I then call the potential clients where I had discussions with them, and explained how we can help, how professional negligence claims operate, fees and next steps.
2:00 pm
My supervisor has now reviewed my first draft of the letter of response, so I incorporate his suggested amendments.
3:30 pm
The team usually like to head to the tea point and have a coffee or a tea and a little 10-minute break in the afternoon before heading back to our desks.
3:40 pm
Before we can agree to take on a client and include them in our professional negligence group action claims, their files need to be thoroughly reviewed and risk assessed. Subsequently, my last major task of the day involves carrying out file reviews and risk assessments on clients who have recently instructed us.
5:30 pm
Although sometimes you need to stay later to finish any urgent work, I have checked with my supervisor that he does not require any further assistance with anything and so I pack my bag and go home for the day.
