Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I often see people transfer from litigation to corp, but not the other way round.

Any reason?

Litigation is far less forgiving than corp, so if you can't survive corp you probably can't survive liti either.

While hours can be bad in both, in corp you are basically paid to structure transactions and complete legal paperwork for the client so that they can person their business activities. Client is happy if it achieves its commercial objective without falling afoul of the law.

In liti something has gone wrong, there is a dispute, and you are paid to match wits with someone on the other side who is literally looking to tear down your client and your case at every opportunity. Usually it's zero sum and only one side can win, so 50% of the time you are losing and having to explain to the client why you lost. And you have to go to court and be scolded by judges/registrars if you screw up the procedure or the law.

Just from the nature of the work alone, you can see why one is more intellectually and psychologically demanding than the other.

You will be lucky to start at $4K for a NQ bro. And don't expect $1K increments for every PQE year like the big firms. In a "bad year" and every year seems to be bad, ur boomer partner will probably tell you: sorry cant afford to pay u more. Suck thumb.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You will be lucky to start at $4K for a NQ bro. And don't expect $1K increments for every PQE year like the big firms. In a "bad year" and every year seems to be bad, ur boomer partner will probably tell you: sorry cant afford to pay u more. Suck thumb.

4K???? Drive grab sua

Originally Posted by Unregistered

4K???? Drive grab sua

Ok la been there done that. Started out in small firm doing chapalang, from State Court claims to contracts. Went to mid size firm doing liti. Pay marginally better but boring af . I tell u, working for mid tier local firm is really the dumps. Boring local clients, boring colleagues, boring office, lame firm culture n some weirdass uptight rules. Basically, like any typical sinkie-run company.

Gtfo from there and managed to land inhouse role. I'm not paid fantastic by any means but the amount of free time to shake leg is really unbeatable man. Shiok max. Full WfH. Morning answer a few emails, usually stupid question from sales teams. Bounce some docs back n forth. Pangkang by 430pm go jio friends to drink, meet gf for dinner. Friday is unofficial half day can gym during lunch. Boss and office all slacking anw.

Tldr, slogging it out in a small or mid market local firm is really bo hua one. Same amount of grind is foisted on u without the prestige or pay of a large firm. Know what u want n never stay contented to be exploited.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ok la been there done that. Started out in small firm doing chapalang, from State Court claims to contracts. Went to mid size firm doing liti. Pay marginally better but boring af . I tell u, working for mid tier local firm is really the dumps. Boring local clients, boring colleagues, boring office, lame firm culture n some weirdass uptight rules. Basically, like any typical sinkie-run company.

Gtfo from there and managed to land inhouse role. I'm not paid fantastic by any means but the amount of free time to shake leg is really unbeatable man. Shiok max. Full WfH. Morning answer a few emails, usually stupid question from sales teams. Bounce some docs back n forth. Pangkang by 430pm go jio friends to drink, meet gf for dinner. Friday is unofficial half day can gym during lunch. Boss and office all slacking anw.

Tldr, slogging it out in a small or mid market local firm is really bo hua one. Same amount of grind is foisted on u without the prestige or pay of a large firm. Know what u want n never stay contented to be exploited.

Intro leh can?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ok la been there done that. Started out in small firm doing chapalang, from State Court claims to contracts. Went to mid size firm doing liti. Pay marginally better but boring af . I tell u, working for mid tier local firm is really the dumps. Boring local clients, boring colleagues, boring office, lame firm culture n some weirdass uptight rules. Basically, like any typical sinkie-run company.

Gtfo from there and managed to land inhouse role. I'm not paid fantastic by any means but the amount of free time to shake leg is really unbeatable man. Shiok max. Full WfH. Morning answer a few emails, usually stupid question from sales teams. Bounce some docs back n forth. Pangkang by 430pm go jio friends to drink, meet gf for dinner. Friday is unofficial half day can gym during lunch. Boss and office all slacking anw.

Tldr, slogging it out in a small or mid market local firm is really bo hua one. Same amount of grind is foisted on u without the prestige or pay of a large firm. Know what u want n never stay contented to be exploited.

I'm working at a top local liti firm, and your role still sounds amazing lol. But most inhouse work is for Corp rather than Liti, how you change one lol.

Am doing structured finance at a Magic Circle firm at the moment. Hopped over from a Big 4 2 years ago.

I think at the baseline, Liti is more demanding than Corp work. But when we are comparing Big 4 and above where the complicated structures and market leading deals come in, I wouldn’t exactly say a corporate lawyer’s life is better or easier than a litigation lawyer.

Ultimately, to each his own. The real reason why people swap more from liti to corp is because liti is really in a realm of its own, with its own customs and rules. Whereas for corporate, the barrier to entry is not as high.

Inevitably, if associates get jaded practicing court work, they usually have to transit to corporate practice before going in-house - that is another reason - whereas corporate lawyers go in-house directly.

anyone knows wither khattarwong starting salary for NQ now? right after passing part b, thanks in advance!

There’s a reason why you only ever hear of people switching from liti to corp and never the other way round. Anyone who suggests that corp is even remotely at the level of lawyering and stress and quick thinking as litigation is either someone who has never practiced or a corporate lawyer who is butthurt by reality.

Not in those areas but those in family and criminal law are especially stressed and overworked given the nature of the work and stakes involved. Very commendable work but rewards not commensurate with effort and stress.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

There’s a reason why you only ever hear of people switching from liti to corp and never the other way round. Anyone who suggests that corp is even remotely at the level of lawyering and stress and quick thinking as litigation is either someone who has never practiced or a corporate lawyer who is butthurt by reality.

Not in those areas but those in family and criminal law are especially stressed and overworked given the nature of the work and stakes involved. Very commendable work but rewards not commensurate with effort and stress.

meh, honestly if one is so affected by "stakes" etc then its not meant for you. the best lawyers i've met (even junior ones) are not easily flustered regardless of stakes