‘HOW I ACE LAW AND LIFE’

Ever wondered if you could hack it as a lawyer? Ellie Hampson-jones gives the lowdown on what it takes to be a legal eagle…

‘AS AN ASSOCIATE at a law firm, I’m in the office at 7.30am. Getting into work early gives me a sense of control over the day ahead – it’s my tip for anyone who’s feeling frazzled by their never-ending workload. That’s my own time to get organised and plan. I’ll start by prioritising urgent emails that have come in overnight, then list my tasks, so I stay focused. I often have early meetings with clients too, to discuss strategy before we go into court.

‘I never get bored because every day is different – I might be drafting prenuptial agreements in the office or dealing with urgent court applications. We work closely with colleagues within the firm and criminal law specialists – that way you get the best-quality ideas, and can talk to someone who’s probably been through it before, has advice and can share the job with you. You don’t need to take on everything yourself – teamwork is essential to get the most out of everyone involved.

‘As we are always rushing to meetings or court, it’s important to use any quiet spells to recharge and calm my mind. I stop, take a breath and take control of the situation. If you spend some time thinking about it, there is probably a quicker and cleverer way of doing a task than rushing and regretting it later. I couldn’t do without my PA, who keeps me up to date with appointments and insists that I eat a healthy lunch, however busy I am. I use lunchtime to debrief with colleagues – it’s good to step outside my own work and see what everyone else is dealing with.

‘In law, you never stop learning, so I will attend seminars in the evening, or work functions where it’s important to network. To unwind, I’ll take an exercise class with a friend – I do everything from Barry’s Bootcamp to Core Collective, Psycle or Frame. Powering through a session really helps me to blast the day out of my system. Afterwards, my husband and I catch up at home over a relaxed meal. Then it’s phone off, ready for a solid night’s sleep, before I get up and start all over again!

‘If I had an extra hour in my day, I’d learn a language or master a sport (I’d love to qualify as a yoga or Pilates instructor). I’d also be tempted to write a trashy chick-lit novel!’ Want to learn more about working smarter, not harder? Visit Redbull.co.uk/productivity for tips on the perfect work-life balance and advice from people who know how to get things done.