Lawyer Salary

Hi, could people share about their retention experiences this year? How is it like in the Big fours, mid size and smaller firms? Are there any pay cuts? - Curious Trainee

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, could people share about their retention experiences this year? How is it like in the Big fours, mid size and smaller firms? Are there any pay cuts? - Curious Trainee

Yeah I would like some insights too! And with international law firms coming in, how are the local firms coping?

Hi guys, I was not retained in one of the local big firms (although I expected it due to capacity issue). Could I ask when's the best time to apply for an assoc position considering that I will only be called next March since I still have Part B to do later this year? Thanks.

If you're willing to work long hours everyday (3-4am daily) and Saturdays included, you should flag this out in your CV and apply specifically for capital markets. That's if you know you can take the hours and can undertake to do so without quitting or burning out.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If you're willing to work long hours everyday (3-4am daily) and Saturdays included, you should flag this out in your CV and apply specifically for capital markets. That's if you know you can take the hours and can undertake to do so without quitting or burning out.

This is for who?

Wonder if you guys ever worked out the remuneration per hour of sweat you put in. Do this and compare with the remuneration of other professions with 9-to-6 office hours and you may realise it is not worth burning yourself out, what more at such a young age.

There are no two ways about this. You trade your youth and health for wealth and at some point, you will have to spend it all to gain back your health and sanity.

Other professions may start low and slow in the remuneration game, but you can have a life and what you dont earn in a short time, you will have the endurance to accumulate your millions and enjoy the journey as well.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If you're willing to work long hours everyday (3-4am daily) and Saturdays included, you should flag this out in your CV and apply specifically for capital markets. That's if you know you can take the hours and can undertake to do so without quitting or burning out.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If you're willing to work long hours everyday (3-4am daily) and Saturdays included, you should flag this out in your CV and apply specifically for capital markets. That's if you know you can take the hours and can undertake to do so without quitting or burning out.

That's hardly useful advice at all. Everyone who needs a job will claim that they are willing to work long hours and its certainly an unsubtle and amateurish way of trying to impress the recruiters.

In any case, working until 3 to 4 am is usual across many practice areas and certainly not limited to cap markets.

Its better to focus on your substantive experience, and if one doesn't have any, then examples of character, creativity or problem solving skills etc. from past concrete instances, rather than making spurious promises.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Wonder if you guys ever worked out the remuneration per hour of sweat you put in. Do this and compare with the remuneration of other professions with 9-to-6 office hours and you may realise it is not worth burning yourself out, what more at such a young age.

There are no two ways about this. You trade your youth and health for wealth and at some point, you will have to spend it all to gain back your health and sanity.

Other professions may start low and slow in the remuneration game, but you can have a life and what you dont earn in a short time, you will have the endurance to accumulate your millions and enjoy the journey as well.

Brilliant advice. And your suggestion is?

Hi seniors,

I've a few questions and would appreciate some tips.

I have a TC in a mid-sized liti firm, but am keen to do corp work in the long run. How soon should I make the jump - apply during my training, or after 1-2 years as a liti assoc?

For the latter option, do corp practices (in general) in big firms even consider taking in a liti assoc with 1-3 years PQE? What's the pay like, given the "wasted years" in an entirely different area?

Hello. My fellow liti friends have told me that starting off in liti helps when they eventually jump to the Corporate side. However it may be difficult to make the jump since you have no experience and what can you offer the firms with your liti background? Besides, what's stopping the firms (i am assuming the big 4s) from hiring another fresh trainee at 2k a month given both of you probably have the same amount of experience?

I started off in corporate. Dont think i made the wrong decision. Made a move to international after 2 years. Some of my friends in liti were keen to join Corporate but could not find a space within the firm / other big 4s.

I think if u some how managed to join the big 4 after 2 years in liti, i think they would still pay you the equivalent rate despite your luck of experience.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi seniors,

I've a few questions and would appreciate some tips.

I have a TC in a mid-sized liti firm, but am keen to do corp work in the long run. How soon should I make the jump - apply during my training, or after 1-2 years as a liti assoc?

For the latter option, do corp practices (in general) in big firms even consider taking in a liti assoc with 1-3 years PQE? What's the pay like, given the "wasted years" in an entirely different area?