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Bella Eaton

5.15 AM

My alarm goes off at this rude time because I like to either go to the gym or go for a run before work.  Exercising in the morning sets me up well for the day and also means that I can get a free park in the Christchurch CBD if I get there before 6:00 am!  I shower and get ready at the gym and walk a short distance into work.

Lane Neave Graduate Isabella Eaton going to work

8.00 AM

I tend to arrive at work between 8:00 am – 8:20 am.  I make a coffee in the kitchen and eat my breakfast at my desk while catching up on the news and any emails that have come in overnight.

Lane Neave Graduate Isabella Eaton at her desk

8.30 AM

Today I have a half-day interlocutory hearing in the High Court with my supervising partner for an earthquake insurance case.   I review the pleadings and our submissions and make sure that we have all the documents and everything we need for the hearing.  We walk a short distance down to court just after 9:30 am for a 10:00 am start.

Lane Neave Graduate Isabella Eaton Walking

On days where I am not in court or at a meeting, at around 10:00 am I will do a coffee run to our local café (which does the best coffee) with some workmates.  This helps to break up the morning and keep me focused until lunch.

Lane Neave Graduate Isabella Eaton having coffee with workmates

1.00 PM

After the hearing we rush back to the office to attend our monthly team seminar lunch.  Once a month a team member presents on a civil litigation topic of their choice (each person presents once a year).   Today’s seminar is a civil litigation case law update.  A perk of the seminar lunches is the delicious catering…  If there is one thing that Lane Neave does well it is feeding us (a highlight is the morning teas…)!  On a normal day I will either eat my packed lunch with workmates up on Level 5 in our staff area, or meet a friend in the CBD for lunch.

2.00 PM

After lunch, I catch up on and respond to emails from the morning.  I also like to have a quick look at the news if I get a chance.  I meet briefly with some colleagues to discuss next steps on a shared file.

Lane Neave Graduate Isabella Eaton with Building and Construction team

2.30 PM

I dedicate an hour to an ongoing and very large discovery that our Building and Construction team have been working on and my team has been helping out with (discovery is one of the more mundane aspects of being a junior litigator).

3.30 PM

We have briefs of evidence due in a few days for a matter that has been set down for trial in February.  I have been working closely on this file with my supervising partner.  Last Friday we flew to Auckland to brief the clients and meet with our instructed QC.  We have quite a lot of work to do on this so I stay at the office until around 7:30 pm. 

7.30 PM

After completing what I was working on, I head home for the day.  Usually, I am able to leave the office at around 5:00 – 5:30 pm but today is a busy day.  If I haven’t exercised in the morning I will head to the gym or go for a run around Hagley Park which is just over the road from our office.   I find that this is a good way to unwind and clear my mind after a day of work.  Once I arrive home I cook dinner (unless someone else has cooked for me!).  I find that cooking has the same effect of helping me wind down for the evening.

Lane Neave Graduate Isabella Eaton heading home

8.30 PM

After dinner, I pack my breakfast and lunch for the following day.  I then have a shower and get into my PJs and pack my bag for the next day if I am going to be getting ready for work at the gym. 

9.00 – 9.30 PM

If it isn’t too late and I’m not too tired I either watch an episode of whatever series we are watching (at the moment it is Fleabag which is hilarious) or read a book.   I like to be in bed by 9:30 pm on weeknights.

10.00 PM

I tend to stress out if I haven’t turned off the light by 10:00 pm on weeknights (I need my 8 hours…).  This ensures that I feel refreshed to tackle the next day.