Hannah Reynecke

7.00 AM

I call myself a morning person, but if you ask me anything at 7:00 am when my alarm goes off you would most likely think otherwise. I hit snooze at least two times before dragging myself out of bed to start the day.  I get ready for work and water my vegetable patch (my pride and joy). If the weather is good, I’ll walk or bike to work through Hagley Park. If it’s raining, I’ll hop on the bus.  

8.00 AM

I arrive at work around 8:00 am. I eat breakfast at my desk while clearing my emails and setting out what I need to do today. Once I have a ‘to do’ list, I am ready to get started. But first – coffee. I like to have a chat with anyone I encounter in the kitchen while making my coffee. It’s a really nice way of getting to know other people around the firm.

9.00 AM

My brain is best in the morning, so I like to tackle my hardest tasks first. My most demanding task today is a research task for one of the Partners on the Litigation team. The parties are embroiled in a contractual dispute over principles of the Contracts and Commercial Law Act 2017. Ever since my Contract Law course at Victoria University of Wellington, I have particularly enjoyed the attention to detail that contractual disputes require, as well as the logical principles of contract law.

I break down the research task and make a list of all the legal elements that need to be researched. First, I look to understand the general legal principles before moving to the relevant principles at issue. I find applicable legal cases which shed light on the legal issue and begin to set out my findings in a Research Memorandum.

12.30 PM

By now I will have made myself another coffee, had another chat with a fellow Lane Neaver, and will have started to piece together the legal puzzle of the dispute. If the deadline allows, it can be good to take a break from research and come back with fresh eyes. I have a couple more days to complete this task so I summarise my findings so that I can pick this task up tomorrow. 

1.00 PM

I break for lunch around 1:00 pm with most of the firm. I like to get moving at lunch so typically go for a 20-30 minute walk to clear my head and eat my packed lunch outside. On other days I take lunch with the other Law Clerks at our usual café spot. I take my full break to allow myself to get back to work with a clear head.

2.00 PM

Once I get back to my desk I move on to the next task on my list. Today that involves issuing statutory demands and letters of demand on, respectively, companies and individuals. I go through the various loan agreements and make a note of what documents need to be served. I dedicate at least a couple of hours to this.

4.00 PM

At 4:00 pm an Associate on the team asks me to do a quick research task to confirm a piece of advice to a client and to file a document in person at the High Court. I take a short stroll to the High Court Registry to file an affidavit. When I get back, I complete the research task and send my findings over email.

5.10 PM

I usually leave the office by 5:10 unless my team is particularly busy and it’s all hands on deck. I like to walk home through Hagley Park and clear my head after a busy day. I often call friends and family in other cities to catch up during this time.

5.45 PM

My flatmates are generally home by the time I arrive, which makes for entertaining evenings. We exchange stories about our day and wrestle for space in the kitchen while we make dinner.

Tonight, I have a youth choir rehearsal, so have a quick dinner I prepared earlier in the week before heading out.

7.00 PM

I’ll be at rehearsal for two hours today. I get to spend time with my friends and relax as I focus on the music. On nights I don’t have a rehearsal I usually brave the gym at peak hour (it takes courage, I know) or spend time with my flatmates.

9.30 PM

After I get home from the choir I immediately shower and start getting ready for bed. I pack my lunch and my bag for tomorrow. I usually read a good book before bed to help me relax. At the moment I’m reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, which I would definitely recommend.

10.30 PM

I am a poor sleeper, so I try and have the lights out by 10:30 pm. I often get distracted by my book, but it’s the intention that counts, right?

Thinking of experiencing life as a  Lane Neave Graduate? Sign up to GradAustralia to receive job alerts for Lane Neave.