Lawyer Salary

What are the responsibilities for a 7PQE associate / senior associate?

Like how different is it from a JP at big 4? Because same PQE but different “rank”

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What are the responsibilities for a 7PQE associate / senior associate?

Like how different is it from a JP at big 4? Because same PQE but different “rank”

7PQE associate / senior associate in international firm

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What are the responsibilities for a 7PQE associate / senior associate?

Like how different is it from a JP at big 4? Because same PQE but different “rank”

I'd also like to know the perks and drawbacks of being a 6-7pqe assoc/SA at an int'l firm vs an junior partner/assoc director at a local firm.

Hi, in need of some advice here.

I unexpectedly got a FCH but I have already accepted a TC with a B4 (but not the dept I am interested in, because at that time I did not have stellar grades).

Will it be advisable to apply to other firms to jump TCs ?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, in need of some advice here.

I unexpectedly got a FCH but I have already accepted a TC with a B4 (but not the dept I am interested in, because at that time I did not have stellar grades).

Will it be advisable to apply to other firms to jump TCs ?

Congratulations! You can try applying, but maybe proceed carefully (assume you won’t be applying to same practice area as current TC firm) to minimize risk of firms talking about you to each other! (Just in case you wanna change firm a few years down the road!)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

7PQE associate / senior associate in international firm

Broad strokes wise, the SA at an int firm will be doing the same as a JP in local firm. You might be able to run smaller files by yourself, and will be expected to do business development (i.e. trying to get clients).

I am not sure of this for b4, but I have heard that you start actively trying to build rep and get clients at JP level, meaning you get promoted then start BD.

For SA in int firms, you don't really get promoted until you already have BD skills LOL.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Broad strokes wise, the SA at an int firm will be doing the same as a JP in local firm. You might be able to run smaller files by yourself, and will be expected to do business development (i.e. trying to get clients).

I am not sure of this for b4, but I have heard that you start actively trying to build rep and get clients at JP level, meaning you get promoted then start BD.

For SA in int firms, you don't really get promoted until you already have BD skills LOL.

I thought that generally, if a SA who showed no potential of being able to BD new clients (or generate new business from existing ones), one would be shown the door aka managed out instead of being promoted to JP? I suppose it also depends on how long your partner is willing to retain you as a cost centre? I imagine that there would be ways to do it such as spreading the work around which would naturally lead to unfavoured SAs not being able to bill. Haha

Of the salary war that is ongoing in the UK legal industry, what’s noteworthy to me is not the headlining big number salary; but the fact that firms are in fact competing for young associates, unlike in Singapore. The industry is so protected/entrenched in its ways, even a bump of 1-200 is a “competitive” salary advantage.

And lawyers with more PQEs under their belt in the UK, are faced with a new phenomena where their NQs are taking home the same scale as them, perhaps even more.

Not saying SG shld expect a 150k SGD NQ starting, but a measly 500 bump should not be celebrated as though kingdom had come. You can see your own billables yourself. What amount of revenue are you generating per month?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Of the salary war that is ongoing in the UK legal industry, what’s noteworthy to me is not the headlining big number salary; but the fact that firms are in fact competing for young associates, unlike in Singapore. The industry is so protected/entrenched in its ways, even a bump of 1-200 is a “competitive” salary advantage.

And lawyers with more PQEs under their belt in the UK, are faced with a new phenomena where their NQs are taking home the same scale as them, perhaps even more.

Not saying SG shld expect a 150k SGD NQ starting, but a measly 500 bump should not be celebrated as though kingdom had come. You can see your own billables yourself. What amount of revenue are you generating per month?

What’s the impetus to increase local big 4 assoc pay though?
Everyone across the big 4 is about the same, plus minus $200 for gym perks, and sign on tc bonus

As in even if the big 4 assoc leaves, someone else will just apply in, and the senior assocs / partners will check the work

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Of the salary war that is ongoing in the UK legal industry, what’s noteworthy to me is not the headlining big number salary; but the fact that firms are in fact competing for young associates, unlike in Singapore. The industry is so protected/entrenched in its ways, even a bump of 1-200 is a “competitive” salary advantage.

And lawyers with more PQEs under their belt in the UK, are faced with a new phenomena where their NQs are taking home the same scale as them, perhaps even more.

Not saying SG shld expect a 150k SGD NQ starting, but a measly 500 bump should not be celebrated as though kingdom had come. You can see your own billables yourself. What amount of revenue are you generating per month?

How to compare. How much do the top tier firms in the UK (and ofc US firms) bring in compared to Singapore's top tier local firms? Furthermore, the headline rates are also enjoyed by a far smaller proportion of the total legal profession in the UK. The average high street solicitor isn't making much.

Our Big 4 law firms are probably bringing in annual revenues roughly equivalent to a Top 35-40 UK law firm (if you go by The Lawyer ranking of Top 200 UK firms), i.e. ~SGD 250m to 300m