Sam Cleeve

6.30 AM

Alarm goes off. Eyes are blurry, brain still asleep, but by some miracle I find myself driving to the gym. It's packed. I can only guess everyone had the same thought as me - there was zero chance they were coming after work.

Headphones in and The Grade Cricketer podcast on. I try not to think about work or the day ahead. It helps keep me fresh for when I eventually arrive at my desk.

8.00 AM

There's a parallel universe where I am on a train stopping all stations to Flinders Street. The other passengers would quickly identify me as a freshly minted graduate - a new suit, a new shirt, polished shoes and an oversized tie.

Instead, I'm getting changed into a t-shirt and shorts. I open my laptop and thankfully I only have a handful of emails from the night before. Nothing urgent. Some mornings I will watch TV but today I'm keen to get cracking.

Task list time - daily meetings at the top, then work tasks, followed by administrative matters, personal or otherwise. Next to each task, I estimate how long it will take - a challenge of sorts to beat throughout the day.

10.00 AM 

Trust deed is finished and in the partner's inbox. I reward myself with a 10-minute break messaging people and reviewing Teams chats. 10 minutes turns into 20. OK. Time to get back to it.

I call our seasonal clerks. They are doing their clerkship virtually and I remember from my online clerkship how isolating it can be. They are both super impressive and I am hopeful they'll get offers.

10.30 AM

Our big 12:00pm meeting is creeping closer. We act for a potential buyer in a competitive bid to acquire a company. We are meeting with the seller's representatives and their financial and legal advisors.

Prep for this meeting commenced five days ago and our list of questions is set. We will have 90 minutes.

My role? Chief-Note Taker (unofficial). The meeting won't be recorded so my notes will actually be important. A transcript of sorts is required. Fingers crossed there aren't any quick talkers. 

I have several tasks to complete pre-meeting. We need to check the shareholders in the data room documents match the seller's ASIC company search. I put my head down for an hour.

12.00 PM

I click the meeting link - 25 online already. Am I feeling brave? Do I go in with my camera on? Microsoft Teams turns it off for me - clearly Chief Note-Taker isn't an important enough position.

Meeting starts with some chit chat and introductions. The questions are ready to go on my second screen, but you know what they say about best-laid plans.

The seller wants to start with question 5, then 8, then back to 2. OK. I scroll down. Chaos ensues. The seller talks at 2x speed and his advisors at 2.5x. I look like Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty.

My notes are all over the shop. I revert to a blank email so I can record the meeting chronologically. Is this innovative?

1.30 PM

90 minutes later. My fingers are numb, but the meeting was a success. Lunch time.

Today's lunch is leftover salmon and salad. My lunches are not usually this healthy, but it does the trick.

Lunch breaks fluctuate for a grad. Personally, if I have a lot on, I will work through or take a short break. Not because I am asked to, but because it helps to keep the momentum going. Other days I take a full hour.

2.00 PM

I cut lunch a bit short. I am eager to clean up my notes. I am surprised how legible they are - they seemed like pure dribble during the meeting. Notes sent to team. 

On Teams and 10 minutes turns into 20, again. I receive a message from my supervisor. She's checking I'm not overloaded.

I tell her I am fine, which I am, but it's reassuring to know people at work have your back. Being a grad can be tough, but knowing people are invested in your development makes a big difference.

2.30 PM

Research - the epitome of the grad life. Today's topic? How to apply to remove an ASIC business name registration.

Research tasks are hit-and-miss as a grad. You can spend a whole day going down a LexisNexis rabbit hole or you can find the answer straight away. Today's experience is closer to the latter.

ASIC's website has a nice breakdown of the process, but as with all research, there are a few gaps. Eventually I'm satisfied with my findings. I spend a little too long colour coding my memo and send it to the partner.  

3.30 PM

I log onto the group call - it's buzzing. The chat rarely revolves around work but today the grads are retelling their experiences at a mediation and talking about a potentially vexatious litigant.

From Day 1 our grad group has got on like a house on fire and it's made full-time work so much more enjoyable. I love the group and feel grateful to be part of it.

4.00 PM

Energy levels are dipping. My attention turns to a due diligence report. I'm reviewing registered trademarks, patents and designs owned by the client.

It's surprisingly confusing. Different databases show different statuses for the patents and some of the titles are in foreign languages. The German translations are hilarious, and I send them on to a few people.

I annex the tables to the DD report and draft our recommendations, grading the issues high, medium or low-risk.

As a grad, there is safety in knowledge your work will be reviewed. I try not to rely on this process, but inevitably I will make mistakes and the final product that goes to the client will be flawless.

6.30 PM

I won't send my work off - I want to review it in the morning as my brain is starting to fade. Time to wind up. My task list is complete save for some personal admin matters. I can push those into tomorrow (more likely the next day or the next).

I double-check my billing, a daily thorn in my side. I don't know why it grinds my gears so much. What narrative do I write for the research task? Does it sound impressive enough? In the end, I default to writing exactly what I did.

Log off. It's unlikely I will check my emails before tomorrow. I try to actively manage the separation between my personal and work life - it helps keep me motivated for the next day.

7.00 PM

I call my girlfriend from the supermarket - what would you like for dinner? Agnolotti. We share the cooking responsibilities and eventually find ourselves in front of the TV. Tennis with a side of Big Bash tonight.

I walk her through my day. She's not as amused by the German translations as me, but humours my immaturity. I pat myself on the pack for going to the gym as I slouch further into the couch. 

10.00 PM

Lights off. I try not to think about work. There are nights when it's unavoidable - an urgent task due in the morning or a hectic week coming up. I take advantage of the nights when this isn't the case. I remind myself I have my whole life to be working and it's important to keep something in the tank.