Lawyer Salary

#**20271** (**permalink**) 02-10-2023, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

OP here. Thought I'd take this time to answer your question since I feel it's something most people don't really understand.

Regardless of whether one eventually qualifies into the int'l side or sg side, all practice trainees of fla/jlv firms MUST do their practice training contract in the singapore entity - for regulatory purposes. The firms literally can't take you into the int'l side as a trainee (bar some rlt trainees) because this requirement is prescribed by minlaw/the regulations.

The above is subject to you training to be qualified as a sg lawyer. Of course there are firms which take on graduates to do the E&W route - which has its own challenges (i.e. low intake in a small number of firms, additional time burden, need to do practice areas which are many times outside of your control). Although many people on this forum like to worship such firms for "exit prospects", I would counter-argue that on a practical real-life thought process, I'd rather do what I like (e.g. corp m&a) for 2.5 years rather than rotate through banking, disputes, ip/employment, etc etc. which would be a drain.

Now, continuing on back on track to as a practice trainee completing your tc at a fla/jlv firm (assuming it is actually an international firm which engages cross-border work), then depending on training/qualification structions, headcount and need/opportunity (as well as any additional qualifications that you have, predominantly common-law based, esp in the key markets), then the firm may actually have a space for you in their int'l arm. This is where being additionally-qualified in a key market would enable the firm to park you in their int'l arm - assuming they have a need/opportunity to do so.

I realise that this may not be particularly helpful. But one thing I would say is that regardless of whether you are parked at the int'l arm or sg arm, many times even if you qualify into the sg arm, you are STILL working on cross-border matters- by virtue that the partners you are working for are working on those matters, and you are assisting them. So, assuming you actually get put on such files, your would be satisfied with your earnings as it comes from the profits of the matters you work on (i.e. if they are really cross-border, or high-value sea/sg deals, then you earn a lot no matter where you are).

Therefore, it's not so reductionistic as "if you are in sg arm of int'l firm, then you are paid less than big4" because this is not true for ALL flas/jlvs as noted above. Although, I suppose if you are unhappy with your salary as a NQ of the sg arm of a fla/jlv, then I suppose you could always apply to join an int'l entity subject to their need (which your actual exerience working on cross-border deals would prove marketable, by virtue that you actually work on those matters).

This is a long post, but I'm not for sorry for being long-winded. Some things need to be clarified, because there's a lot of nonsense in this salary forum thread.

No, this is a really good post, and I appreciate all the insights and tips.
I understand that you have to qualify on the SG side / get called with the SG side first. But just wanted to ask what happens next. So many different accounts from so many different friends. 1) Some say they’ll move to the international side. 2) Some say they stay on the SG side and get paid less. 3) And yet some say they stay at the SG side, but it’s no different from the international side, because they all sit on the same floor and are supposedly all paid on the same scale.

So, I was hoping you could shed light on this. Thanks

#**20272** (**permalink**) 02-10-2023, 11:07 AM

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RHTLaw has an overall rating of 2.1 out of 5, based on over 73 reviews left anonymously by employees. 11% of employees would recommend working at RHTLaw.

Cons
Screaming partner No development for junior lawyers who are left to fend for themselves Senior personnel do not take responsibility for their business There is a female partner who frowns a lot and screams. There is also another female chinese partner who pushes work to junior lawyers with minimum supervision and expects quick replies via whatsapp.Disgusting equity partners (not all, just many) who deserve all the bad karma. From dishing out threats to ruining the livelihoods of employees, their vast array of scheming tactics have been witnessed and attest by many former (and even some current) employees. In my batch of trainees, I found out that a surprisingly large number of young lawyers have connections to the firm in one form or the other, but even then, many have agreed as to the above.