Kate Moore
University: University of Leeds
Degree and class: Law LLB, First Class Honours
8.40am
I arrive in the office, make a cup of tea for me and my supervisor and have a quick chat in the kitchen about last night's TV. I then check my e-mails and flick through the daily legal updates sent by Information Services. I ensure my task list is up-to-date and organise myself for the day's work.
9.10am
My supervisor spends 15 minutes giving a brief synopsis of a file he wants me to look through. Our client has just purchased a warehouse in Liverpool which is not registered with the Land Registry. I read through the file and set about preparing the relevant Stamp Duty form and drafting an application for first registration.
10.00am
Post arrives. The Land Registry have confirmed the registration of a property I purchased for a client. I also receive pre-contract enquiries from a purchaser's solicitor and a letter from a client enquiring about a completion date for their shop in North Wales. I locate the files and begin drafting letters to the relevant parties.
10.45am
I am due to simultaneously exchange and complete on the sale and leaseback of a warehouse in Liverpool today. I check over the paperwork and ring the purchaser's solicitors to confirm arrangements.
11.15am
I get an e-mail from a member of the property team asking me to research the consequences of accepting a rent payment from a guarantor who is not yet liable under the agreement. I diarise the task.
11.30am
I begin to draft a Licence to Assign and Authorised Guarantee Agreement requested by a Partner for the end of the day. I search through Halliwells' precedent bank for some assistance and read through the lease.
12.30pm
The completion monies for the sale of the warehouse arrive. I telephone the purchaser's solicitors and we exchange and complete. I make a couple of agreed amendments to the lease and date all the documents. I make an attendance note of the transaction and inform our client that completion has occurred.
1pm
Lunchtime. I meet the other Halliwells trainees together with a few friends from college who are also working in firms in Liverpool. We all head to a café round the corner and spend the next 20 minutes deciding what to eat!
2pm
Back in the office. I deal with the final matters on the sale and leaseback file, which includes photocopying, billing and drafting letters. I finalise the Licence to Assign and Authorised Guarantee Agreement and prepare a memo to send the same to the file handler. Time for more tea!
4pm
I get a call from a client asking for an update on a file. I locate the relevant information and call him back once I've familiarised myself with the details of the matter. Back to the application for first registration.
4.45pm
Finished! I pass the file and application back to my supervisor who checks through it. He asks me if I'm free to attend a client meeting next week. I diarise it and book a meeting room with reception.
5.15pm
I hit the library to make a start on the research task set earlier today.
5.45pm
I check my task list to ensure that there is nothing urgent outstanding and ask my supervisor if there is anything he needs me to do before I leave. I pack up, shut down and take a quick tour of the office to see if anyone is heading out for a drink.