Isobel Graham

6.15 AM

My alarm goes off and I get up to take my dog Rory for a quick walk before getting ready for work. I know I might be brought into a client meeting today, so I grab my blazer on my way out the door to the station. 

8.30 AM

I arrive at the Melbourne office and say a quick hello to everyone as I log in to my computer. 

The first thing I do is check my emails – I have a couple from my Principal and a Senior Associate in my team for this rotation – Employment, Safety and Migration.  

I also have a quick read through my weekly email from the Workplace Express newsletter to see if there are any recent Fair Work Commission rulings or legislation changes so I can be across these and let our team know. 

8.45 AM

I create a to-do list in order of priority based on my emails and any tasks from the day before. 

I need to finish drafting a memorandum on a High Court case relating to superannuation calculation before my Senior Associate has a client meeting at 12.30 pm, so I know I need to put in some solid work on that. I set my Outlook to Do Not Disturb and pull up my research notes from yesterday.

10.00 AM

I’ve sent off the memorandum for review, so it’s time for a coffee break. I shoot a quick Teams message to our graduate cohort to see if anyone is free to head out. A couple of them are keen and we grab anyone else who wants to come along on the way. We go across the road to Axil Coffee Roasters and chat about what we’ve got coming up this weekend. 

10.30 AM

Our team has our weekly planning meeting, where we discuss workloads, interesting matters, and upcoming important dates. I let my team know that I have some capacity now that I’ve sent off my memorandum, and my Principal tells me he has a couple of tasks for me that we can discuss after the meeting. I also get some feedback on some work I completed earlier in the week. 

12.15 PM

My Senior Associate comes to discuss my memorandum with me ahead of the 12.30 pm meeting with the client. She asks me what I think on the issue of how superannuation should be calculated for our client’s employees. I discuss the memorandum with her, and we come to a conclusion about the advice we should provide to the client. She asks me to join her at the meeting and I jump at the chance.   

1.30 PM

Our meeting finished, we have a quick debrief and let our Principal know how it went. I write down the follow-up items that we will need to action and finalise my file note of the meeting. 

Then it’s time for lunch! There are so many good options around us in the city that the biggest debate of the day is usually what to get for lunch. Today a group of us decide on dumplings and walk down to get them (Number 4 Spicy Wonton Soup is my go-to). We head back and eat in the MK café with anyone who is around. Good banter is definitely a key ingredient of lunchtime. 

2.30 PM

After lunch, I check in with my Principal and we have a quick meeting so he can give me a few tasks. He explains the context of the matter, so I know what’s going on, and tells me to check back in if I have any questions. 

I have another look at my to-do list and re-prioritise based on what needs to be completed urgently. 

3.00 PM

Time for our Social Committee Meeting! The 2023 graduates head to a breakout room to have our weekly meeting. We discuss our plans for an upcoming pub trivia night and finish organising the matchups for the firm-wide table tennis competition. It’s also great to just have time to catch up and discuss how we’re all going! 

4.00 PM

I make a cup of tea and get stuck into my next few tasks. I ask my buddy a couple of questions as I go – it’s so good to have her there and know I can ask questions judgment-free. I get a call from another Senior Associate in my team, and she lets me know that she’s sending some work I completed earlier in the week off to the clients. 

5.30 PM

After finishing my last task for the day, it’s time to pack up and head home. I check my calendar for tomorrow so I know what my day will look like. I leave the office and walk to the station with a couple of others. 

7.30 PM

After getting home and changing, I walk to my yoga class. I got into yoga during lockdown and it’s so nice to continue in person in the studio! It’s the perfect way to wind down after a busy day.

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