A day in the life of a Greenwoods Trainee - Myles Shearman

6-8AM: I’m not usually up this early, but today I have been invited to a Business Forum at Peterborough football stadium by an accountant I met at a previous networking event.

I met local business leaders over breakfast and gave a 45-second pitch on the legal services Greenwoods can offer. It was a great chance to practise my networking and presentation skills!

8:30AM: I get in before 9 am to make coffee, say hello to colleagues and get ready for the day.

After considering emails and my matter list to create a to-do list of tasks I need to complete in priority order. I start work. Our client is a tenant, and I am reviewing the latest draft lease received from their landlord’s solicitor and raising queries and commenting on provisions for our client to consider.  I have input from more experienced lawyers in my team.

10:30AM: I have a Microsoft Teams meeting with one of our real estate partners and a client to discuss an Option Agreement I helped to draft. We discussed comments raised by the seller’s solicitors and possible solutions to a sticking point in the negotiations. I explained some of the seller’s solicitors’ comments to the client and took notes throughout the meeting.

12PM: I’m now reviewing/responding to emails that have come in during the morning and am finishing my lease review to get comments to our client by lunchtime.

1PM: Lunchtime – I forgot my lunch today, but no worries as our office is right in the centre of Peterborough, so I grab a sandwich from the local deli. I head upstairs to round up colleagues, and we have lunch in the kitchen which is a nice communal space.  We get coffees from the local coffee shop to gear us up for the afternoon! For me, it’s important I step away from my desk at lunchtime, working around client requirements, to get some fresh air and to make sure I’m refreshed and focused for the afternoon.

2PM: I’m asked to review an overage deed and provide a draft summary to go to the client following the Teams meeting earlier today.

I haven’t dealt with an overage deed before, so I undertake some research and a detailed review of the deed before I draft an email to the client, which I discuss with my supervising partner before sending it to the client.

3PM: I have my weekly catch-up call with an Associate in Cambridge who is supervising me on several matters. This helps me to keep on top of my work and is an excellent opportunity for me to ask questions, plan the next steps and pick up tips on how to best manage my time and be as efficient as possible.

4PM: A colleague calls me requiring urgent assistance on exchange of a contract of sale. I shuffle a few things around on my desk and take on the work. Not only is my colleague grateful, but it’s also a great opportunity for me to extend my knowledge of pre-completion and completion processes. I spend the remainder of my afternoon supporting this project and exchange just before 5pm, resulting in a happy colleague and client!

5PM: Leaving the office slightly early today to catch a train to Cambridge to attend a Junior Lawyer Division event. Peterborough is ideally located and has excellent train links going up/down, and across the country, so it’s easy to make these events. This time it’s punting on the River Cam. I meet trainees, paralegals and solicitors from across the region where we talk about everything from useful events to build our networks, the firms they work for and their work. It’s a great way to make friends and network; as an added bonus, we luck out with the weather. Plus, I didn’t fall into the river – result!