Danielle Moon, Government Legal Service (GLS)

Danielle Moon graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in law with European law. She is a qualified lawyer with the Government Legal Service.

Life as a Government Legal Service lawyer

Suitably armed with caffeine, I arrive at work and switch on my computer at around 9.15 am. I answer a couple of e-mails and then call my client to get instructions on a case. The case concerns the law around freedom of information and we've got a hearing before the Information Tribunal next month. After a long conversation, I circulate a note of our conclusions to the Cabinet Office and Department of Constitutional Affairs to gauge their feedback and assess the legal implications for wider government.

Working with barristers on a human rights law case

After lunch I start on an interesting judicial review case for the prison service about a high security prisoner who is alleging a breach of his human rights. I work on the summary grounds of defence for a couple of hours and then break at 3.00 pm for a conference with counsel (barristers) and Home Office clients concerning a mental health review tribunal we're attending at a medium secure hospital next week. I get back from the conference at around 4.30 pm and deal with the e-mails that came in while I was away before writing a note on the conference and circulating it to the relevant parties.

Workng flexibly in the legal profession

By the time I've finished the above it's about 5.45 pm and I've got an hour left before I go home. I work compressed hours, so I work an extra hour every day and have every other Friday off. I have just enough time to update my case list and brief my work partner on anything that might happen on my files tomorrow - also remembering to remind my clients that they should contact her if anything urgent crops up. At 6.45 pm I lock everything away and head off for drinks in Covent Garden to start my long weekend.