I went straight to in house after TC. Of course I was offered employment in a small law firm, but time is a major factor for not practicing.
Very little guidance or mentor ship during RLT and TC at the same firm. I was like the lead trainee, doing the job of an associate for 1 and a half years, guiding the paralegals, other trainees and signing off email responses and letters on behalf of my boss, meeting with clients. Basically I was running the whole firm and I stayed till about 9pm daily.
When the offer to be retained came about after my
NS reservist, I told my boss I will no longer carry on. I was so drained being in the office. My boss tried to convince me to stay, saying that she will give me a cut of profits and I can choose to do whatever new files I want to do. I told her no, and I was replaced by a lawyer about 1 week after I said no. (maybe she wanted to show me that everyone is replaceable, I am not so bothered LOL, I spent the last 2 months of my TC surfing internet after that).
Today, I am in an MNC as the General Counsel. Pay is decent. Work life balance, most of the time there is. A China in house Lawyer reports to me and I still have my secretary in another part of China. Be expected to fly down anytime to other parts of the world to settle problems. Will still be asked to confirm legal matters that you are not so familiar with, can outsource with permission from the CEO or CFO. Lots of online meeting with others in the same group of companies. Probably sometimes expected to OT to meet international timing.
(Cons: In the law firm, you are the boss, in an MNC you are viewed as just a specialised executive. Another Con, in a Manufacturing MNC, alot of things are based overseas, if factories are in China, you need to know and brush up on your mandarin also. There is no escaping China. )