Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

(1) Duxton Hill Chambers isnt a law firm - the lawyers there are all independent and practise out of either a sole proprietorship or under a small firm of 1/2 of them.

(2) Which boutique only hires JLCs?

(3) The point on judges being unintentionally/inherently prejudiced to favour JLCs (I'm assuming when the JLCs are in practice) seems to be bothering on contempt.

For (2), prob Audent only. But its a really small sample size. Even Duxton has one non FCH/JLC member. CC is probably the closest you get to an all FCH/JLC team, but I don't think it is 100%.

For rest of the top liti or SC teams (DS, CAB, WP CCD, R&T IA/A&I/R&I, A&G, TSMP, Providence Law) there's plenty of non-FCH/non-JLC folks around.

Lol I think we can all debate until the cows come home on this subject.

My 2 cents worth - JLC is a marker of prestige in lawyerdom because so few get it. A bit like an Oxon BCL.

Will anyone seriously suggest that it's a negative for one's legal career? Of course not.

Does this "prestige" translate to real tangible career value? Especially if you consider the 2 year opportunity cost? Unclear. There are so many other factors which potentially contribute to whether one's career succeeds or not.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lol I think we can all debate until the cows come home on this subject.

My 2 cents worth - JLC is a marker of prestige in lawyerdom because so few get it. A bit like an Oxon BCL.

Will anyone seriously suggest that it's a negative for one's legal career? Of course not.

Does this "prestige" translate to real tangible career value? Especially if you consider the 2 year opportunity cost? Unclear. There are so many other factors which potentially contribute to whether one's career succeeds or not.

Most lawyers in private practice only regard proper undergrad Oxbridge lawyers with that prestige of an “oxford / cantab Man”.. not the NUS + Oxon BCL path.

Sweet. For those going corp, any advice since JLC may not help?

How frowned upon would it be by employers?

2PQE and I’m in with firm #04. Regretably I’ve had 2 short stints in two small firms lasting < 3 months. My current pay is slightly below 5k.

I did 1 year with one of the firms I was in out of the 4.

I have been in my current firm (#04) for more than 7 months and while it is peaceful, remuneration is unsustainable in long run. I feel like I’ve taken too low of a salary and have ruined my career.

I’m thinking of reapplying again when I’m close to completing a year in March/Apr for better prospects as I’ve pigeonholed myself in the small-mid firms throughout my career.

Should I apply to bigger firms in Jan if I look to start in June/July?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How frowned upon would it be by employers?

2PQE and I’m in with firm #04. Regretably I’ve had 2 short stints in two small firms lasting < 3 months. My current pay is slightly below 5k.

I did 1 year with one of the firms I was in out of the 4.

I have been in my current firm (#04) for more than 7 months and while it is peaceful, remuneration is unsustainable in long run. I feel like I’ve taken too low of a salary and have ruined my career.

I’m thinking of reapplying again when I’m close to completing a year in March/Apr for better prospects as I’ve pigeonholed myself in the small-mid firms throughout my career.

Should I apply to bigger firms in Jan if I look to start in June/July?

Any good reasons for leaving firms #1 to #3?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Any good reasons for leaving firms #1 to #3?

OP here.

Small Firm A was extremely toxic. Very abusive and you were dumped in the deep end. I was marked already from day 1. Everybody leaves and quits. Work was just a living nightmare. Probably got PTSD from the workplace. Everybody sabos each other.

Small Firm B was well, a mismatch of practice areas.

I joined current firm #04, as they offered a position in the area which I truly wanted. (Sorry I won’t say what as it will reveal myself), but the area I truly am interested in.

I spent 1 year at mid size A as well I had ties there, but the paltry allowance was well paltry.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

OP here.

Small Firm A was extremely toxic. Very abusive and you were dumped in the deep end. I was marked already from day 1. Everybody leaves and quits. Work was just a living nightmare. Probably got PTSD from the workplace. Everybody sabos each other.

Small Firm B was well, a mismatch of practice areas.

I joined current firm #04, as they offered a position in the area which I truly wanted. (Sorry I won’t say what as it will reveal myself), but the area I truly am interested in.

I spent 1 year at mid size A as well I had ties there, but the paltry allowance was well paltry.

Are you from local or overseas uni? Passed Part A and B on first try?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Are you from local or overseas uni? Passed Part A and B on first try?

Overseas. First try for both no resits.

FCH, qualified in another jurisdiction

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Overseas. First try for both no resits.

FCH, qualified in another jurisdiction

Looks good bro - it’s likely that your PQE is what will draw up issues
Any good reason why you didn’t want to go for big 4 for your first 2 firms?

They’re likely to ask you that - because if work life balance is what you were after from the beginning, they’re bound to ask you that why a change of mind