A popular misconception is that this area of law is just about employment contracts. In fact, employment lawyers can be expected to handle all areas of employment law, including discrimination, flexible working, workplace monitoring and restructuring, and employee representation. They work on everything from drafting policies to dealing with inappropriate use of the Internet in the workplace.

At trainee level, lawyers assist with the employment aspects of corporate transactions and with preparations for tribunal claims, as well as attending hearings and meetings with clients and helping to draft employment documents.

Rena Magdani is a partner at regional firm Freeth Cartwright LLP. A keen debater, she'd always had a notion that a legal career might be for her. By the time Rena started her law degree, "I was 80% of the way there. Once I'd graduated I was convinced it was what I wanted to do. In my third year, I chose employment as one of my electives. Employment law wasn't that popular 12 years ago - I remember it being one of the smallest areas in terms of students - but that's when my interest started."

Rena trained at a firm in Peterborough and was fortunate to be mentored by a highly reputable employment judge. "My training principal was very busy and he had a specialist department just for employment, so I saw a lot of good-quality work. It was pot luck that I did that as my first seat and I really enjoyed it. For me, nothing else compared to the experience and exposure that I gained during my employment seat. The firm had eight partners, so as a trainee you tended to get more involved than you would in a larger firm. You were seen almost as a fee-earner from day one." Rena then did a corporate seat, a litigation seat and a split seat in matrimonial and back in employment, which was where she qualified. "During my second seat in employment I actually did my own advocacy on a simple breach of contract claim," she recalls.

After qualification, Rena worked her way up the career ladder in the employment departments of two other regional heavyweight firms in the East Midlands, becoming the youngest associate in the first and consolidating her reputation in the second. She joined Freeth Cartwright two years ago and has since been instrumental in developing the employment department. It is no surprise that Rena was made a partner/member in April 2008. Her practice is remarkably varied, but she's mainly involved with contentious cases. She explains: "I act for employers on a whole range of issues: unfair dismissal, sex, race and disability discrimination, breach of contract claims. I do my own advocacy in the employment tribunal. I've dealt with cases that range from half a day to five days in the tribunal. Then, on the non-contentious side, there's drafting contracts of employment, and policies and procedures, getting involved in ad hoc agreements like secondment agreements or advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions - for example, if you're purchasing a business, you'll need employment advice on what you’re buying."

Rena's clients are equally diverse. "One of my largest clients is a local university," she says. "We also act for one of the largest supermarket chains, a national transport company and lots of small to medium-sized businesses. I also get involved in a fair amount of public sector work, as we're on a panel of law firms that act on behalf of the local authorities in the East Midlands."

The highlight of Rena's career so far was a gross misconduct case in relation to the interpretation of disciplinary rules for doctors within the NHS. "It went all the way to the Court of Appeal," she remembers, "and we were correct in our interpretation of the rules. I've recently done a five-day disability discrimination case where I did all my own advocacy. I received a very flattering comment from the client who said that the judgment being read out was better than his wedding day. I'm just glad his wife wasn't there at the time! It was an emotional moment because the case had gone on for around two years and involved a complex area of law. It was really rewarding to win the case."

It's not always plain sailing, though. Rena admits that one of the hardest things is coping with the high turnover of work - indeed, 20 to 50 active cases sounds pretty challenging. "It's a fast environment," she warns. "And you do have tight deadlines to meet when there's litigation involved." Keeping up to date with legal developments in employment law can be tough too. "Employment law has grown significantly over the years. We have such a wide range of claims now. We have to keep up to date with these developments. That's the biggest difference between employment law and other areas. We update ourselves on a weekly basis; you really do have to keep on top of the moving nature of employment law."

Rena recommends that you start thinking about the search for a training contract during your degree, and especially research the firms to which you'd like to apply. "Do as much research as you can about the type of law firm that you want to join. There are so many sizes and different types of firm out there and you’ve got to choose the one that suits you. A big firm might not suit everyone. Also, research the types of work that interest you and make sure that you're applying to firms that are strong in those areas, because it's with a view to qualifying with that firm and staying there. It's hard to get a training contract, so keep persevering."

And don't forget that vacation placements are an excellent foot in the door. Rena advises: "It'll give you a really good feel for what it's like to work in a law firm, the type of work, getting exposure to the environment that you’re going to be training and working in." Rena's more than qualified to make that assertion: not only is she an employment lawyer, but her firm also won the LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Award for Best Trainer - Regional Firm. "I think it's quite right," says Rena, on being named best trainer. "It's a great place to do your training. We really do look after our staff!"