Salary.sg Forums - Lawyer Salary

Am an NQ from disputes jumping into tax practice, after having some thought on how picking an area of specialisation would help. Going to a small tax outfit instead of the big names out there - any advice on the timeliness of my move? I took a paycut of SGD1k for this jump and am going for a month long break because of burnout with my soon to be ex boss, a bit worried about whether my departure from disputes appears too rushed. New firm boss is older and slower (as much as I could glean from the interview) but his assocs all leave due to the low pay. (I took it because I really want to train in tax as an NQ....)

Any views on tax practice in SG? Is it a better idea than disputes?

Why not IRAS? Lots of IRAS lawyers go on to big4/baker after a few years.

Unregistered

21-02-2023 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered (Post 240765)

Heard its NQ is approx 14.5k, which is magic circle rate.

Lower than the US firms which give cravath rate (24.5k starting) or mid-atlantic (17k starting).

But still higher than silver circles which start 11k.

How do i know which US firms pay cravath rate , and which pay mid-atlantic?

JSKM

Unregistered

21-02-2023 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered (Post 240850)

How do i know which US firms pay cravath rate , and which pay mid-atlantic?

JSKM

If you ask around enough, you'll find out. Only a few firms in Singapore pay Cravath outright - MoFo, Milbank, Cooley. The latter two require US qualification. The former - depends on practice area.

The rest of the US firms pay mid-Atlantic. Some of these US firms will bump you up to Cravath scale if you get US qualified and/or if you have proven yourself as capable in the firm (e.g. Dechert, L&W, Sidley, etc.).

Unregistered

21-02-2023 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered (Post 240765)

When talking about salaries across US / UK firms, it's always good to state at the outset whether, for UK firms, "NQ" refers to the Singapore or UK scale. No Singapore qualified NQ moving to a magic circle firm is going to get 14.5k.

Unregistered

21-02-2023 11:50 PM

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Originally Posted by Unregistered (Post 240819)

How to leave law for consulting/IB?

Unless you have a business / economics / accounting degree, CFA, and/or actual experience in financial modelling, you're not moving into consulting or IB. Fat hope. Skillsets for law vs consulting / IB at the low level are completely different.

If you are dying to leave the profession, go pick up these skills and get an MBA.

Unregistered

22-02-2023 02:59 AM

Thoughts on gateway law’s arbitration practice? Team looks pretty formidable vis a vis the international outfits.

Unregistered

22-02-2023 11:24 AM

WOw the regret has never been stronger to be stuck in law

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered (Post 240855)

Unregistered

22-02-2023 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered (Post 240860)