Day in the life of a secondment

Kate Daly, paralegal, is currently undertaking a secondment with a Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) team.  Below is an account of a day in the life of a Sparke Helmore secondee.

7.00 AM

I like to (try and) start my mornings with some sort of exercise or movement, typically a swim or a walk. It takes some extra motivation at the moment in Canberra winter, but this morning I went for a walk around the lake! I live close by so enjoy walking down and doing a quick loop. After, I head home to start getting ready for the day.

8.45 AM

I arrive at my office. I like to get a coffee before I start for the day. I have been at this agency for a bit over three months now and have tried lots of spots but have reached my verdict on where to get the best morning brew! I haven’t packed lunch today so I quickly grab a salad from the Grocer.

9.00 AM

I arrive back at the office and get set for the day. I check my messages and emails to see how the team is and what I need to action.

9.10 AM

On secondment, I am working with the FOI Team. I usually have several matters to work on which all have a 30-day timeframe. At the start of the week, I write down my matters, when they are due and whether they have any special requirements. For example, they may require a third-party consult, or may be quite voluminous and require extra attention. I like to check in with my list each morning and add any new matters I may have been assigned. Once I am set up with my items to action for the day, its time to get into it!

10.00 AM

Today is Tuesday and the busiest day in the office, so I join the team in going for a quick walk and coffee. We often chat about our weekends and its great to hear about what everyone is up to. 

11.00 AM

I have a meeting with my colleagues within our branch. I always enjoy this weekly meeting as I learn what is going on within the agency.

11.30 AM

Once the meeting is over, I am back into my work. My favourite thing about FOI is the diverse range of cases I get to work on. This morning, I have been reviewing documents that concern a local matter and this afternoon, I will be working on a matter that is federal, with a number of international considerations as well. I think it’s a great way to learn, beyond the important legal skills, what you enjoy and what draws in your passions. I am in my penultimate year of university and have loved the diverse exposure. It has led me to gain an interest in areas I would not have expected!

1.00PM

I sit down for lunch with my team and have the salad I bought this morning on my way in.

1.30PM

Back to work and time to lock in for the afternoon! My job is to mark up the documents and determine what sections of the FOI Act are relevant. This matter is quite large and includes diverse documents, so will probably take a lot of the afternoon. My team is lovely and always willing to help. It is a very collaborative environment where lots of questions and conversations are welcomed.

5.00 PM

Time always seems to fly in the afternoon. As the day is wrapping up, I like to send off any matters I completed that day to be reviewed, as a form of quality assurance. This is an essential part of the FOI process, ensures the Act has been applied correctly and nothing has been missed. It is always good to get a shared perspective as well.

5.30 PM

It is time to wrap up for the day. I tick off the items that have been completed and say goodbye to my colleagues before heading home. Tonight, I have a Pilates class, some university work and will make dinner with my housemates.

If you or your team requires assistance with FOI processing (either through secondment, overflow or briefed models), please don’t hesitate to reach out Molly or Chantal.