Lizzy Rogers

6.45 AM

My first alarm wakes me up and I manage to get out of bed without hitting snooze (quite a feat for me!). I make myself a cup of tea and some porridge for breakfast and get ready for the day.

7.30 AM

My commute into the office is a tram and a train and it takes me about one hour. It is a good time to chat with my family who live interstate and catch up on podcasts. Today, I text with my sister about my niece and listen to the “Squiz Today” – a short and easy to follow daily podcast with quick updates on major news items.

8.30 AM

I arrive at work, make myself a coffee and get set up for the day. Yesterday was meeting heavy, so I am glad to have time in my calendar today to tick of some to-do items. I do a quick scan of my inbox and seeing nothing urgent, I spend some time researching Australian Consumer Laws. I am currently rotating through the Legal Regulatory team, and a large part of our work is responding to ad-hoc queries and support requests from different stakeholders in the business. Being across current laws, regulatory guidance and reform discussions is an important part of this advisory role.

10.00 AM

I log into the Quarterly Graduate Forum; a presentation series hosted for the graduate cohort where we get the opportunity to hear from leaders across the business. Today was an informative session on Coles’ evolving strategy and goals for the coming years. I dialled into the presentation from a meeting room with another graduate, and once the session ends, we spend some time catching up on our different rotations.

12.00 PM

I sit down with my line manager for our weekly Work-In-Progress meeting. I update her on the different matters I am working on, my proposed next steps and seek her guidance on anything I am unsure of. We have another more informal catch-up session scheduled for later in the week to discuss any outcomes or necessary follow ups. These meetings are a great support as a graduate, and ensure I have visibility of the projects and matters being handled by the broader team.

12.30 PM

Lunch! I am yet to get into a good routine for preparing food at home, so I head down to the “Little Coles” store in the Hub and grab some noodles before catching up with colleagues.  

1.00 PM

I am back at my desk and spend the rest of the afternoon actioning items from my to-do list. This includes drafting a letter for review by my line manager and getting started on some requests for support from the business. When new requests come through, the first steps are often to clarify exactly what is required and any relevant deadlines, and then start to come up with an action plan. Often, this can involve liaising with our other legal teams for their support or input. Working in such a large in-house legal function with multiple teams is great experience as a recent graduate. The knowledge and expertise shared across these legal hubs is invaluable.

5.15 PM

I send my last email and do a scan of my inbox to make sure I have not missed anything urgent. I pack up my desk, say goodbye to my colleagues and start the commute home.

6.15 PM

I arrive home, give my cat Pip a quick hello cuddle and get ready for an evening run. I accepted long ago that I am not a morning exercise person, and I really enjoy getting outside after a day in the office. Some exercise and fresh air are a great way to clear my mind, and it is especially nice now that the spring weather means it is warmer and lighter in the evenings.

7.30 PM

I finish dinner with my partner and tidy up, and it is now time to wind down. I have submitted all my course work for my Practical Legal Training qualification, and my final exams are not scheduled for another couple of weeks. I set study aside for the evening and relaxed with a book and a cup of tea. I am an avid reader and am in a book club with some friends; this month’s pick is “Rodham” by Curtis Sittenfeld.

10.30 PM

I set my alarms for the next day (five, just to be safe!) and went to sleep.

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