Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Personally, I recommend you do the 4 years at NUS Law. After that, go do your BCL/LLM at oxbridge can liao. Here's why:

(1) tbh nus is as good as oxford. most of my profs were from oxford BCL/PHD anyway and teach in a similar fashion.
(2) you can get oxford profs as well when they visit - just take their intensives.
(3) exams are generally open book - why the hell you wanna memorise like mad?
(4) where is it you wanna practice? If you want to practice SG Law, don't waste 1 year for Part A and RLT - easier to just study at NUS for that additional period - heard of oxbridge people failing Part A (bless their souls).
(5) Do your BCL/LLM. you can then call yourself a oxbridge graduate as well. Can take a year off work/get firm to sponsor - life also good.

Poster is right about (1)-(4). Partially correct about (5). No firm will sponsor a person for the BCL/LLM. This is not management consulting where you work 2-3 years and then they pay for your MBA. Salty about this because it’s the truth

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If I have a first from Kings, does that mean I am half as good as a Cambridge graduate?

should have saved ur money and went to bristol. 1 pqe can make chief legal officer.

Hi everyone, I’m a law student studying in the UK and I’m graduating in June 2019. I’ve been applying to firms for RLT/TC but so far not a single one has responded. My grades aren’t amazing but they aren’t bad either, and I have tons of extra-curriculars. Does anyone have any advice? It’ll be appreciated, thanks!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Poster is right about (1)-(4). Partially correct about (5). No firm will sponsor a person for the BCL/LLM. This is not management consulting where you work 2-3 years and then they pay for your MBA. Salty about this because it’s the truth

Hi, poster from above (the nus fellow). I agree with you that most firms don't offer to sponsor. I guess I'm a bit luckier cause my firm made me the offer (an int firm). But need to bond a few years in return - I think lawyers can and should try to pitch for it especially since mid-level associates are quite in demand for now, can try your lucky perhaps

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi everyone, I’m a law student studying in the UK and I’m graduating in June 2019. I’ve been applying to firms fpor RLT/TC but so far not a single one has responded. My grades aren’t amazing but they aren’t bad either, and I have tons of extra-curriculars. Does anyone have any advice? It’ll be apreciated, thanks!

in today's market, it's either gonna be top grades or great connections. to be very honest no one cares about extra curriculars if you have neither.

if you have neither, be prepared to grit your teeth and lower your expectations and keep applying.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi everyone, I’m a law student studying in the UK and I’m graduating in June 2019. I’ve been applying to firms for RLT/TC but so far not a single one has responded. My grades aren’t amazing but they aren’t bad either, and I have tons of extra-curriculars. Does anyone have any advice? It’ll be appreciated, thanks!

Time to be shameless & pull any possible strings you/your family may have.
Rewrite your cover letter. I've heard of people with decent grades who were not shortlisted because of a bad one.
Modify your CV. Clearly, something isn't working. The other reply is not wrong in saying that extra-curriculars are not really important. If you want to include them, make sure you mention how they're relevant to your application/your suitability as a trainee.
How many places have you applied to? You need to apply to way more. You can check the LawSoc TC listings page for any vacancies but many of those require immediate commencement of training. Then again, keep in mind that firms take anywhere from 1 week to 3 months to respond, so you may just need to sit tight. It should help if you did any internships, since those tend to be the places you get your TC from.
Google for tips on TC apps, if you haven't done so yet. There is quite a lot of sound advice from seniors out there/resources available to prep you for the process. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

TSY is more than a decent litigator for sure. But if the question relates to TSMP Corp, I fail to see how the litigation side of TSMP is relevant... did OP mean "opposing counsel" as in on the opposite side of the deal? If so, then it would be Stef's ability to assess, not TSY's

Managed to share a conversation with TSY once a few years ago. It was like speaking with the devil. Hahaha.

As for corp, I have been on the other side of the table from them as well. Felt like they were just being antagonistic for the sake of it...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, poster from above (the nus fellow). I agree with you that most firms don't offer to sponsor. I guess I'm a bit luckier cause my firm made me the offer (an int firm). But need to bond a few years in return - I think lawyers can and should try to pitch for it especially since mid-level associates are quite in demand for now, can try your lucky perhaps

What about applying for jobs in the UK itself? I know of some Singaporeans who joined magic circle or silver circle firms there after graduation.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Top barrister chambers only hire Oxbridge. Even if it’s a 2:1 Oxbridge grad.
Very rare to see a KCL first as silk/door tenants at top sets.
That explains it.

None of them are JLCs either. Even the legal service is aware they are degree mill products.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What about applying for jobs in the UK itself? I know of some Singaporeans who joined magic circle or silver circle firms there after graduation.

If you are set on starting your career at an international firm in London then an Oxbridge undergrad degree (or any UK uni degree tbh) is far superior to any qualification you can get at NUS.