A Day in the Life: Second-Year Corporate Associate
As discussed earlier, your working life is very dependant on the specific firm and city in which you practice. The economy also plays a role, as is clear from the following lawyer's diary. Here's a look at a day in the life of a second-year Minneapolis corporate associate during the 2001-2002 recession
5:45 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Wake up, walk dogs.
6:15 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Read U.S. News & World Report, Pioneer Press news and sports sections.
6:50 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Shower, have breakfast.
7:20 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Play with dogs.
7:40 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Drive to work with wife.
8:05 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Check voice mail and e-mail; one new voice mail message from client regarding their credit facility.
8:15 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Read Star-Tribune.com and American Lawyer online.
8:35 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Meet with partner regarding the credit facility which is to be signed today.
9:10 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Draft legal opinion for bank client regarding hedge funds.
10:00 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Receive call from client regarding a merger and the shareholder meeting to approve the merger which is two days away.
10:35 a.m. : ?? ?? ?? ?? Draft script for shareholder meeting.
11:15 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Telephone call with an acquaintance regarding a potential new securities litigation matter.
11:45 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Meet with senior litigation partner to discuss whether we can represent the parties in this securities litigation matter, it appears unlikely.
12:30 a.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Lunch with four other corporate associates in an adjacent food court.
1:25 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Research and draft the legal opinion regarding hedge funds. I came across some sticky points which is quite frustrating.
3:45 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Meet with partner to discuss our firm's legal opinion for the credit facility. We walk through the back-up that I have put together for the opinion. We are still missing a signature from the written action of the client's board approving the credit facility terms and we can not issue the opinion until this is received.
4:25 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Receive call from Canadian client to discuss the credit facility. The client will not be able to get the signature on the written action until tomorrow morning so we will not sign up the credit facility until then.
4:45 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Draft legal opinion for bank client regarding hedge funds.
5:00 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? I am to go to dinner and a basketball game tonight with a client. Research this client on the Internet and review names and backgrounds of the people that will join us for dinner and the game so we can discuss current things occurring at the client's business.
5:15 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Meet with three partners in the lobby and walk over to restaurant.
5:30 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Dinner with clients at Italian restaurant.
7:00 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Attend basketball game with client using the firm's tickets (second row - courtside).
9:35 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Game ends; say goodbye to client and walk to car.
10:20 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Walk dogs, talk with wife about plans for this weekend; call friend to arrange social engagement on Saturday.
10:45 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Receive call to attend a benefit auction on Friday evening.
10:50 p.m.: ?? ?? ?? ?? Go to bed.
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