Sabrina Rodrigues

6.45 AM

I wake up and start my day early with a brisk walk (because it's freezing outside!) before coming back home to get ready for work, eat breakfast, catch up on the news and catch the train to the office. I'm lucky I live quite close to the office, so it only takes me 20 minutes to get in!

8.30 AM

I get into the office, check my emails, and make a to-do list for the day. As Baker McKenzie is a global firm, I tend to get emails overnight from colleagues in other offices - whether that be about the Firm's global initiatives or about pro bono projects that I'm working on with other offices. I'm currently rotating through Baker McKenzie's Employment practice group, so every morning I get specific employment-related updates delivered to my inbox through the Firm's subscription to an employment publication. I scan these updates to see if there are any interesting or notable developments in the employment law space.

As part of being a junior in the team, it is my job to provide updates to the team on any notable developments. This was (and continues to be) the case, particularly in light of the ever-changing COVID-19 directions and requirements imposed by the government. Whilst news on the COVID-19 front has mostly quietened down now, it is still important to keep up to date with any updates, particularly any employment-related case decisions that relate to pandemic mandates.

9.30 AM

We have our weekly team meeting. This is a great opportunity for the whole team to get together and discuss what matters everyone is working on. It's also accompanied by some delicious morning tea! If someone is working on something particularly interesting or challenging, it is raised, so everyone can bounce ideas off each other - it's also a great opportunity to learn about different areas of law as a junior. In addition, our team meetings provide a chance for everyone to share their workloads/capacities - and those who have the capacity to take on more work can let others know.

10.15 AM

I start on my first task of the day. This is a big project. I will probably keep returning to it throughout the day and will also have it on my to-do list for the next couple of weeks. We are essentially drafting a whole new suite of employment template agreements for a multinational retailer. This client has many Modern Awards (legal documents that set out the minimum terms and conditions of employment) that apply to various employees. We are trying to streamline their employment agreements by making templates that cater for the different employee entitlements in the Modern Awards. As I'm just working with a partner and senior associate on this project, my role is to draft the templates, ensure they're all Award-compliant, ensure the client's considerations are included and then send them off to the senior associate for review. It's challenging work with great responsibility and a fantastic learning experience for me, as employment agreements and Modern Award compliance is a significant aspects of the Employment team's work.

11.15 AM

I pop out of the office to get a coffee with an associate from my team. There are many great cafes around our office so we are often spoiled for choice. Today, we decide to go to one of the cafes located in a very Melbourne-style alleyway. When I get back to my desk, I continue working on the employment templates. I have a call with the senior associate I'm working with to discuss some of the issues I'm facing and we work out the best way to approach the issues.

1.00 PM

Time to have lunch! If I don't have a Professional Development seminar, I like to eat lunch with some of the other graduates. We all get along really well, so tend to go down to the lobby of our building and have lunch together (and often get a short walk around the block in if the weather is nice). Because we're all in different teams, it's a nice way to catch up on what everyone is working on as well as what's going on in everyone's lives.

2.00 PM

I'm back at my desk and working out what I'm going to tackle this afternoon. Some of the tasks I'm currently working on are:

• Putting together a brief for counsel for an upcoming mediation. This entails collating all pleadings and court documents that have been served so far in the matter and collating all of the correspondence that has transpired between us and the other side's solicitors. To create the brief, I have to save all of these documents in one place, create an index to the brief, and then number them according to the index so our counsel will be able to easily locate the documents.
• Assisting with the employment aspects for due diligence. Our client is considering buying a target company. The Employment team is reviewing all of the target company's employment contracts and has to flag any issues with the contracts. As a starting point, an associate in my team wants me to go through 104 employment contracts and note the key terms of each employment contract and any material discrepancies between the contracts.
• Researching employment law legislative and case updates for a global client. This is an ongoing project, coordinated out of our London office. The purpose of the project is to flag any employment-related developments that might require a change of practice or create a new risk for the client each quarter. My role is to keep an eye out for any notable developments in the Australian jurisdiction.

5.30 PM

I finish off my urgent tasks, close my time for the day and head to drinks organised by our Social Committee. Each month the Social Committee arranges drinks at a bar close to the office with a bar tab and food provided. This is one of the many events the Committee puts on. There are also other fun events such as our Annual BBQ and Bowling Night and the End of Financial Year Dress Up Party. These events are a great way to meet and catch up with various people across the Firm.

7.00 PM

After drinks, I grab dinner with some of my friends from work. Tonight, we're heading to an Italian vegan restaurant. The food is delicious!

9.00 PM

I head home, catch up with my housemates and start winding down before bed. I get ready for my day tomorrow, which includes packing lunch and ironing my clothes. If I'm not watching a show on Netflix or Binge, I try to read most nights for at least half an hour before going to sleep.

After an engaging and productive day, I look forward to another fruitful day tomorrow!

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