Mass call
 

Hi all! I will hopefully be called in August this year. I put that I was represented on the OS by my supervisor law firm but my friends recently told me that they had stated that they were unrepresented in the OS. How will this affect my mass call? :(

Mass call is common mover. You will probably need to file an application for leave to amend. Call SILE to check the details.

Not really. In terms of getting hired, your grades and maybe extracurriculars (e.g. mooting wins for dispute roles) are more important - an NUS FCH will have a leg-up over a Cambridge second-upper. NUS FCH and Cambridge FCH will both get a close look and the decision will turn on your interview performance rather than the brand name of your school.

In terms of career progression after you are hired, your school becomes totally irrelevant. It's all about on-the-job performance.

I think FCH anywhere stands better chance for consideration for JLC than 2:1 from Oxbridge even.

Genuine question, what extracurriculars will give a leg up for corporate track? Case comps, are usually business school thing. I suppose moot competition wins look good anywhere, but it's not exactly on point.

is rht a good firm to join. hows the pay progression n culture like

If you’re not retained in a small firm, should you still stay in the same practice area (Liti) after qualifying, try another area or pivot out of law entirely? Boss had nothing but criticisms about my work standards and personality when he told me he wouldn’t retain me. Since the start of the tc, I was assigned to more menial tasks compared to other trainees who came from higher ranked unis. Deep down, I felt that I was not really part of the team doing the real work and even after requesting for more work, I still never really had much learning opportunities in terms of file exposure. To him, I’m not as fast/smart/jovial as the other trainees. At times, he would single me out in front of everyone to comment on a particular mistake that I have made although other trainees have done the same as well. I have made mistakes along the way but I have tried to improve on the aspects that he had criticised me for and did my assigned tasks nevertheless. I come to office punctually and work late as and when it was required as well. I have come to terms that he doesn’t like me as a person generally and as much as I try to remain positive, I’m not sure how this non retention will aggravate my chances with future employers in the same area. Would anyone be able to share their experiences on how they moved on after not being retained and how they are doing in their new firms? Also, any tips for improving working relationship with future bosses? Thank you.

2019 called
litigation in B4

what is the salary for in-house move?

Non-retention in a small firm can be framed simply as the firm being unable to afford to retain all their trainees. Don't fret too much about this. Based on your described relationship with your principal, you should be seeking another employer in any event.

The more pertinent question is whether you lack the attributes necessary for practice. Right now, you're only receiving feedback from 1 source, which as you claim, is thoroughly biased against you. You may have simply drawn a bad hand for your TC.

To truly assess your capabilities, you should definitely stick it out in practice a while longer under another employer, where you're given opportunities to do substantive legal work and can be assessed fairly on that basis.

The formative years of your career isn't only about substantive experience-building, but also to acquaint yourself with your own strengths and weaknesses, and inclinations. Its better that you find out about your attributes at an early stage, rather than later on when you have more financial responsibilities and it's difficult to switch careers. Good luck.

Thoughts on dentons rodyk branding itself as the "Big5 law firm in Singapore"?

In the biggest ever sig block. But nobody outside of Rodyk takes them seriously.

Low-key annoyed at the Catholic case. When our legal bro and sis cheat, their names are all over the news. But when a Catholic chi ko pek went hanky panky with minors, got gag orders? Huh?

When the six cheated, Lawsoc already lodged a report. But when the Catholic commited a crime, it took more than a decade to be reported? Tsk tsk tsk when will the hammer of Angel Michael strikes these hypocrites down ah.

be careful vocalising your thoughts publicly. lots of powerful people in the legal fraternity are catholics n very active in the community

Only God can judge me.

Not really. Choo Han Teck also can.

The Glassdoor reviews should tell you all that you need to know.

Hah. Good one.

what is the most chill area of law for fresh grad enter for private sector? is it conveyancing cos mostly paperwork?

Conveyancing for HDB flat transactions, non-contentious employment, etc.. Don’t expect to be earning top dollar though.

Debt recovery too. Some firms are on the panel of banks.

Basically any area of law that largely relies on paralegals, with lawyers to only check and sign off, and the fewer dealings with Court, the better.

These areas are dead end and low paying though. You will almost always never get far career wise. You have been warned.

Cheng He Ti Tong
 

How is our learned friend as opposing counsel? Any experiences?

Any seniors willing to share insights into banking and finance practice? Will be starting my TC next year in a mid-sized; wondering what life would be like there.

Separately, have been hearing people commenting that starting out in real estate would put yourself in a less advantageous predicament to shift around practices. Any truth to this? TIA!

Any experiences to share of burnout, panic attacks, coping with stress in this profession?

It's because Real Estate is abit too specialised. General corp work/M&A is more transferrable so you can pivot to doing alot of corp-related fields, whereas you can't really do that with Real Estate.

It's possible also, just harder.

A decently well paying option would be tax - although you will then be competing with the tax accountants for work.

Interested to know about this option. I understand tax law is rather niche is SG. The usual top players: BMWL, Rodyk (cos of Edmund Leow), Drew and a very few smaller outfits / tax boutiques with presumably better WLB.

My question is, do the Big 4 accounting firms (e.g. KPMG) hire tax lawyers? I know that in the US, Oz and Europe, the Big 4 have large tax advisory practices and hire lots of legally trained people, due to the complexity of their tax codes. Is there a similar employment market for lawyers in Big 4 accounting firms' tax depts?

The only other option would be IRAS on the regulator side.

The other bar exam cheat is from our most highly esteemed University

Other jurisdictions also have character & fitness or character & suitability assessment

Whether sg bans them ornot, these cheats try to gain admission anywhere in the world, their app will get flagged for character & fitness irregularities inc cheating in exams. song bo

so 2 NUS vs 5 overseas. Delist NUS nao! SMU and SUSS wan sui!
SMU = sure get white shoe job!
SUSS = sure get magic circle job!

I am genuinely confused..this new guy applied to withdraw his admission on the basis that he will not apply for admission in the next five years. He probably wants to withdraw so his name won’t get publicised like the rest (but it eventually did as we all know). Is it even necessary for him to withdraw since he probably won’t even be allowed to get admitted in the first place? Now because he applied to withdraw, he has to agree to these onerous conditions that don’t even apply to the five other cheats in the first place. I don’t understand the rationale for this at all.

Why is there a need to even cheat on the exam when you would pass if u had studied???

Seeing what happened to the initial 6 who were publicly named, the writing is on the wall (i.e. that he and the other remaining 4 would be publicly named too). He probably saw that and knows he'll be unemployable for the foreseeable future.

As reported, both he and Lynn Kuek took the same approach of trying to downplay their conduct, unlike the other 5 who fessed up the moment they came under SILE investigation. So in the public's eyes, his conduct is even more egregious.

The withdrawal is probably an attempt to portray remorse. Sorta like an act of hara kiri, falling on his sword to rehabilitate his public image. In truth, he likely has little inclination or motivation to continue pursing admission or gainful employment in the legal sector anyways.

My 2cents of the possible strategy here.

Where's the reported judgment on this?

about the five year thing, not clear based on public reporting that he applied to withdraw on that basis. more likely it was imposed by CJ as a compromise between dismissal asked for by AG and unconditional withdrawal. ("... allowed to withdraw his application to be called to the Bar after he agreed to two conditions set by the court.")\

(interesting legal question - any difference between withdrawal and dismissal of AAS? is there such a thing as res judicata for AAS?)

before we speculate that he is trying a strategy, where he seeks anonymity as some sort of exchange for withdrawal (as opposed to the adjournments for the six), we should probably look at the timelines.

[2022] SGHC 87 was heard on 13 april and decided on 18 april.

ST reports that he applied to withdraw his application on 22 april and sealing and redaction was only sought later. ie, not at time of his application. this is somewhat against the theory that he applied to withdraw to avoid further publicity.

it should also be noted that the AG's application to rescind the sealing order was heard and allowed in [2022] SGHC 93 on 27 april. therefore, at the time of his application, for all he knows, he can expect similar treatment to the six - adjournment and anonymity.

only ST reporting. written grounds to be released at later date. only heard on 11 may.

Thanks

10 char

Relinquish your position and job to cecas if you need to ask that question, law is not for the weak.

His lawyer explains, read into this what you will: s://wakeup.sg/cheating-trainees/

Actually why can't we turn the tables around and join ceca law firms? We speak english and are common law qualified.

Cyril Amarchand or Khaitan & Co hiring?

Frankly I thought the post by the lawyer was misguided and ended up giving the matter much more publicity than it otherwise would have gotten, not to mention trying to put a positive spin to a matter that is impossible to defend. But maybe they had their reasons. Some of the criticisms have been uncalled for though.

Ex-Catholic and EP at major firm here. This is true. Catholicism is a tool of the New World Order used to control the minds of the people of the Global South within a neocolonialism context. I quit the religion after refusing to follow orders of the Vatican and NWO overlords.

Those who are old enough to remember Operation Spectrum will know how Singapore confronted the existential threat posed by the New World Order.