Lawyer Salary

If anyone would be kind enough to answer, if you were given a choice for M&A work in the Big Four, and a City firm (based in Singapore) which will you choose?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If anyone would be kind enough to answer, if you were given a choice for M&A work in the Big Four, and a City firm (based in Singapore) which will you choose?

you're not planning to be called first?

i left practice at the end of my 1st year

BEST. DECISION. EVER !!

im obviously making less than my peers who are still in practice (not many of them left!), but i've gotten my life back

Hey guys, does anyone know which of the big 4 firms have higher/lower retention rates of trainees?

I feel that doing internship and being able to shine is mostly luck and some hard work. Given that law students are trained to work hard to outshine their peers at all cost, the luck factor makes alot of difference. Some meet great mentors who give them the chance to shine (and proceed to secure an early TC) while others (who are brilliant on paper) meet mentors who are too busy to notice them. Source: "I heard from my friends" and personal experience (had no early offers post internships so maybe i'm just bitter and very lousy at shining

I recently had a chance to listen to a QC from UK who said some very applicable and wise words. To paraphrase, the only guarantee in getting a job is to ask your mother and father who they know and get you there.

I agree with the post from 'somebody'. It's really about luck and having a mentor very early on who's willing to help. First on paper can only help so much, and I have to agree with the learned words from the QC - that's it's helpful about who your parents know.
Without luck and good mentors, the learning curve is going to be steep and unpleasant in general.

Is it true that lawyers are taking a pay cut now?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is it true that lawyers are taking a pay cut now?

Yes, from the grapevine there's some penny pinching shenanigans going on in the sector now, even among the big firms (won't say which one).

Just remember that partners will generally sell their parents if that would avoid a blow to their take home profits.

A word to all disgruntled associates out there. If your firm is screwing you over, vote with your feet and make them think twice about doing stuff like that.

I am sick of the penny pinching in the local firms. I am leaving for an off-shore firm soon. Just accepted the standing offer.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes, from the grapevine there's some penny pinching shenanigans going on in the sector now, even among the big firms (won't say which one).

Just remember that partners will generally sell their parents if that would avoid a blow to their take home profits.

A word to all disgruntled associates out there. If your firm is screwing you over, vote with your feet and make them think twice about doing stuff like that.

Starting pay was $6800 when I joined. Now, I hear that it is $4,800. I wonder if the excess supply of the bottom feeders will suppress the salary of the upper levels.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is it true that lawyers are taking a pay cut now?