Anh-Tuan Nguyen

6.15 AM

I wake up around 6.00 am to drive to the Inner West suburbs of Sydney to head to the gym. I train powerlifting for around 2 hours, so the morning sessions are the best way to make sure I don't need to worry about feeling too tired to train after work. I found training early also ensures I sleep on time and adhere to a regular schedule to give me better control of my day.

I have worked at Baker McKenzie since clerking with the Firm in 2020/2021. I subsequently worked as a paralegal in the Construction team in late October until I began as a graduate in March 2022 in the same team. I later rotated to the IP Team in September 2022.

8.50 AM  

I commute to the city, a swift 20-minute ride from my gym. On the train, I try to get a 'heads up' on what my day looks like, by checking my emails on my work phone. Today, I see I have a few phone calls to make to the Court and counsel to sort out their availabilities for an upcoming trial. In the afternoon, I have a pro bono research memo to finalise and a contract negotiation.

After a quick flick through, I cruise through the news or edit my photos and videos (I'm a hobbyist videomaker and photographer) as I blast my morning playlist.

Sometimes, the train runs late or I take too long getting changed in the morning, but my team is fairly flexible with when I get to the office. This really takes the stress off fitting my personal life into my days and mornings.

I pick up some fruit from the Firm's kitchen for a snack later in the day and, after dropping off my bags, I check in with my team.  We debrief with each other on our weekends as we grab a tea from the firm cafe. It's a nice way to connect with each other and also a good way to receive additional work, especially since today I have some extra capacity. I make sure to always check in with my allocated 'work buddy' too, who is a senior associate in the Sydney Construction team. She tells me about the chicken festival she volunteered for, which her local neighbourhood ran over the weekend, and then tells me she has a research memo she needs to be completed before close of business. I pen down her instructions - to look at the filing process of joint memorandums and how the Court refers to expert reports referenced within joint reports. One of the best parts of the Construction team is the diversity of work I receive, from litigious to more transactional work.

10.00 AM

I shoot out a Microsoft Team message to my graduate cohort, seeing if anyone is free to catch up and grab a coffee at our in-house cafe. I pick up two graduates on the way to the cafe and by the time we get there, it is filled with familiar faces who all have the same idea. It's a great ritual to make sure we don't lose touch and can check in and support each other. Christina, our in-house barista, treats us to our favourite orders and offers a warm and welcome chat to start off the day. It's a chilly but sunny day in Sydney and our offices are fortunate to have an incredible 360 view of the city. I take a moment to appreciate the view and rare sunshine before heading back to my desk.

10.15 AM

After I make some phone calls to confirm Court requirements on the filing of Court documents later in the week, I get tucked into the research work from the senior associate. Often, I have a few questions to clarify to narrow down my research. I am in the office 3 days a week, so I turn around and quickly run through my questions with the senior associate. Thanks to her guidance, I manage to finish the research ahead of time and send off the memorandum without any additional hitches. It is always so satisfying to send off a research task with confidence that you managed to tick all the boxes.

1.00 PM

During lunchtime, we have a professional development seminar run by the National Construction team. This means I don't have to pack lunch today because all our training sessions are catered! Today, the session is about insurance fundamentals in construction contracts - something that I know very little about and that is really eye-opening - especially in relation to the growing insolvency and COVID-19 supply chain risks that have added additional pressures to the insurance market. I find that these sessions are a great way to deepen my knowledge of the practice area in a relaxed and conversational environment, without taking time away from the rest of my day.

After the session, I shoot a thank you email to one of the junior associate presenters from Melbourne. Being a part of the two person team that organises the professional development seminars in Australia, I know it often takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for these seminars!

2.00 PM

After lunch, I swing by for a quick coffee upstairs to refuel for a hectic afternoon. I sip on my ice long black, as I prepare to do a final review of a pro bono memorandum prepared for a client that is a charity looking to fundraise additional funds. I had been working on a memorandum with another graduate and a senior associate in our Pro Bono team on requirements and regulations for setting up small to medium sized lotteries. I always try to offer a helping hand with the pro bono team, especially as it often involves novel areas of law that I would not otherwise get exposed to in my practice area.

After sending the memo through to the senior associate, I take a few moments to prepare the agenda and minutes for a contract negotiation with our European supermarket client which I have been working on during the past few months with my supervising partner.

3.30 PM

I jump onto a Microsoft Teams call with my partner and our client where we gather instructions and develop our plan for the meeting. Prior to each client meeting, I prepare a list of matters we need instructions on for my partner and occasionally raise any of the issues that slip through the cracks. The scale of these projects often means partners are reliant on juniors like me to ensure nothing is missed. It is a great opportunity for me to be able to work with the client directly and learn how to develop deepened relationships with clients.

We then dial into the meeting that includes our client, the other side and their lawyers. My responsibility is to take detailed notes of the action items and amendments to the contract. These minutes are then circulated after each meeting to all of the parties. In these meetings, both sides take time to explain their position and the operation of each clause, providing useful insight into the practical operation of these very construction-specific contracts. The project we are working on will allow for the future expansion of supermarkets in Australia and is the first of many projects to be rolled out across the country. Talk about food for thought!

6.30 PM

The contract negotiation meeting ends around 6.30 pm. It's a long call - with a lot of back and forth. I debrief with my partner, to recap the meeting, and highlight all of the key issues to discuss later with the client. After closing off my timesheets, I realise that I am one of the last few people in the office.

I hurry to catch the next train home. Tonight's plan is to get ahead of some more College of Law readings and assignments and catch up on the latest Star Wars series on Disney Plus. A perfect way to end a fulfilling day!

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