why do most seem to have negative exp in law firms? are there any firms that are non toxic

when a firm puts the tc pay as "tbd", is it a sign that it will be low?

It is more like, people are compelled to voice out about injustice, suffering, etc.

The lawyers who are happy and too busy working up their career do not visit salary.sg

Well true, but most SG lawyers have visited this forum at one point or another because it's one of the top hits if you google something like "lawyer salary singapore".

But that's also the point - it is predominantly populated by law students / trainees / junior associates who are still super hung up about salaries at the junior level. Once you get to a certain point the discussion here is irrelevant to you

It's a trade-off, health and time vs more money.

would like to know this too

Describe? I heard from the inside that it was one of those "okay" places

Usually means that it is not market rate (at least 2k or increasingly ppl are giving 2.5k).

The TBD is to fool you (and themselves) into thinking that you can probably nego the pay to 2k.

However, in the small firm's eyes, market rate is reserved for ppl who would not be applying for their firms (i.e. local FCH/Summa or high 2.1 etc). Nobody expects that they will actually pay market rate unless some rare unicorn comes along.

What should you do if you’re stuck as a 3 pqe small firm associate doing low level work and have no chance of making partner?

If you're a crim lawyer, try to go civil service to boost your resume.

If you're a corp or corp liti lawyer, apply out to bigger firms, they need people now desperately.

Assuming you're really in a small firm (that generally finds it hard to recruit), u can also ask for a cut of your files, or threaten to walk away.