Ben Olushola: 2nd seat trainee
Denton Wilde Sapte LLP

Departments to date: Project Finance and Financial Markets & Regulation.
University: Leeds
Degree and Class: Law (LLB) 2:1

9.15am

I arrive at the office, put down my copy of the Metro (for 'Metro' read 'Financial Times') and check to see if I have received any voicemails overnight. Next I look through my e-mails, and remind myself what is on my to-do list to see what is in store for the day ahead. I share my office with my supervisor; a 3.5 years qualified Associate in the Financial Markets & Regulation Group. I have been exposed to a range of work, notably advising various banks on their obligations under the Consumer Credit Act, drafting various types of derivatives contracts and helping with applications to the FSA from two of the group's major clients for permission to set-up ground-breaking multi-lateral trading facilities in the UK.

10.30am

Having completed a research task for a Partner which was waiting in my inbox, I carry on with an advice note, which I started yesterday. I'm advising on the reporting and notification requirements in the FSA Handbook for Recognised Overseas Investment Exchanges. As with all my work, this note will be going straight to the client, so I'm conscientious in checking that I've covered all the issues and there are no mistakes!

1.00pm

I e-mail my finished note to the relevant Partner and after a couple of quick phone-calls I head down to reception to meet three other trainees for lunch. We usually go down to the staff restaurant, but today it's sunny and we fancy a burrito.

2.00pm

Back at my desk and I've managed to keep the burrito sauce off my white shirt. It's a blessing as I am accompanying a Partner and an associate to a preliminary meeting with a Kenyan investment house that want to start offering investment advice to customers in the UK.

2.30pm

I take the lift to the ninth floor for our meeting; the views across London never fail to impress me. Following introductions and exchanging of business cards we get down to business. My role in the meeting is to note down all the information which the clients deliver about their business plans and aims. This is harder than it sounds as the meeting moves at an unrelenting pace!

4.00pm

When I return to my desk I'm greeted by a couple work requests, one of which is for the close of business today. After reading through the e-mail again I walk down the hall to the Partner's office armed with some questions to clarify what the exact content of the note should be.

4.15pm

The discussion has been a great help. The Partner has even suggested a starting point for my research and so I head over to the Infobank to consult a hard copy of the FSA Handbook.

5.30pm

After drafting my research note on UK consolidation groups and capital adequacy, I head back to the Partner's office to discuss my findings.

5.50pm

I breathe a huge sigh of relief as I emerge from the Partner's office. I've managed to cover all the issues and my research note doesn't need any further work. I check my e-mails one last time to ensure no more work has come in, turn off my PC and dash downstairs just in time to catch my taxi.

6.30pm

I arrive at the Beckham Academy with the rest if the DWS Football squad, made up of trainees, a few senior associates and a couple of guys from the post room. Tonight we've got a crunch game in the London Legal League against KPMG, so we are all anxious to return with the three points!

9.00pm

Following a resounding 6-2 victory we walk over to the nearby O2 arena for a much-deserved 'quick pint'. Four pints later and with the dubious honour of having to wash the kit I jump on a bus home!