Lawyer Salary

I wonder if my situation is common for training

Am doing my TC

But spending my weekends in office from 830 am to 1 am for saturday and sunday weekends

for weekdays the hours end at 2 am

there is too much work.

yet when I submit my work to bosses or associates, they are always not happy with my draft and throw it back at me for more amendments.
I kept getting scolded.
I am disheartened and wonder if law is really for me at all.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is anyone able to share more about the culture, hours, etc at international firms in Singapore, particularly Clifford Chance?

I'm in an international firm. Hours are erratic because clients all over the world. Depending on which office is coordinating/lead office things only get worse. Fast moving and you are expected to always be on the ball.

I am from international firm

Not very good hours as we tend to serve europe and not the other way round

Everyone seems to be either unhappy or just feeling "meh" at best here. Are there any happy lawyers out there? It would be great to have some positivity in this thread.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Everyone seems to be either unhappy or just feeling "meh" at best here. Are there any happy lawyers out there? It would be great to have some positivity in this thread.

It's a contradiction of terms to say that there's a happy lawyer.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's a contradiction of terms to say that there's a happy lawyer.

Got lah. some people hit the sweet spot: decent pay, understanding boss, acceptable hours.

U think being miserable is the only permutation meh.

That's the reason behind the attrition rate. the people feeling miserable will quit. those that aren't, either because they like practice or it is tolerable for them, stay on.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Got lah. some people hit the sweet spot: decent pay, understanding boss, acceptable hours.

U think being miserable is the only permutation meh.

That's the reason behind the attrition rate. the people feeling miserable will quit. those that aren't, either because they like practice or it is tolerable for them, stay on.

Yah lor. Life is so unfair

It seems like everybody else hit the sweet spot except me.

PH plus long weekend, still have to go back to office and work.

Though am barely one year pqe, I’m about to tender and leave this pathetic hour sad place

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Everyone seems to be either unhappy or just feeling "meh" at best here. Are there any happy lawyers out there? It would be great to have some positivity in this thread.

You want positivity? Go find another profession

Anyone considered moving to alternative career paths like academia? Hearsay the lecturer position at SMU/TA at NUS pays like 5-6k, for fresh grads

[LegalBeagle]

Life in international firms is harsh but rewarding. Pay is better than anything a law student would ever imagine. Silver circle firms start their NQs at about 10k, while magic circle firms do about 12k. You’d be an “NQ” when you finish SG 2PQE. Monthly salaries generally increase by 2k each year thereafter until Year 8-10 or so, which is quite decent.

US firms pay even better, but generally work you somewhat harder (though i’d say the higher pay more than justifies this additional burden).

My advice is always to jump out of a big4 and go international as soon as you can. Then pull yourself all the way to the highest tier you can reach (Magic Circle or White Shoe ideally).

Sorry i can’t say much about work life balance. It’s a tough profession which rewards the tough. Definitely not a bed of roses. Been in the game 9 years and it doesn’t get any easier...