Lawyer Salary

Thanks for putting it in perspective. It's really helpful advice. Just got back some of my drafts from the associate and it's covered in corrections. I don't remember a time in law school where a research paper I wrote had so many corrections. It's frustrating.

One thing I wonder is why law firms are so bent on hiring dean listers and summa cum laudes when the knowledge acquired in law school is so irrelevant to corporate practice. If everyone starts on an equal footing, i.e. new, on their first day of work, it simply does not add weight to such a hiring policy.

I have friends working as management associates in private banking this year and their work hours are surprisingly good. I don't mind long hours but what I find frustrating is that there is so much wastage involved when you don't know and the whole exercise becomes one of trial and error.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for putting it in perspective. It's really helpful advice. Just got back some of my drafts from the associate and it's covered in corrections. I don't remember a time in law school where a research paper I wrote had so many corrections. It's frustrating.

One thing I wonder is why law firms are so bent on hiring dean listers and summa cum laudes when the knowledge acquired in law school is so irrelevant to corporate practice. If everyone starts on an equal footing, i.e. new, on their first day of work, it simply does not add weight to such a hiring policy.

I have friends working as management associates in private banking this year and their work hours are surprisingly good. I don't mind long hours but what I find frustrating is that there is so much wastage involved when you don't know and the whole exercise becomes one of trial and error.

are you from WP? heard there's a trainee from CRE who ended at 12mn... Well to answer your questions: (1) in school the profs dont really care abt how well you do; its your responsibility (not theirs) to do well (2) a few years ago, the big firms hire every tom dick harry with a PC, whether first class or second lower; they are only choosy now because they can.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I don't think it's normal for a trainee. It is an insane amount of data entry and formatting. Law firms should consider investing in voice recognition services that the iPhone Siri is so capable of.

"I don't think it's normal for a trainee". What makes you think that trainees are better than associates? We also spend a lot of time formatting documents, typing minutes and proofreading. Ask around in 2-3 months if 12mn is abnormal for a trainee.

keeping it intentionally vague but yeah it's one of the big fours. can anyone here list down the firms in which they are able to end work within normal hours? i'm summa cum laude but i'm ok with smaller firms. seems like such long hours is only confined to the big fours. wasn't successful with jlc, agc though.

i'm about to grad next year. unfortunately, i'm in the list of universities that MinLaw removed in March 2015. my seniors who have graduated this year have all told me that they cannot find a RLT/TC. even the only person in their batch who had obtained first class had to settle for a small firm. i'm on track to receive a 2:1. i took many loans from relatives and banks as well as my savings to do this LLB in the UK, so i'm very worried that i wont be able to pay back if i cannot even get a RLT/TC.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

keeping it intentionally vague but yeah it's one of the big fours. can anyone here list down the firms in which they are able to end work within normal hours? i'm summa cum laude but i'm ok with smaller firms. seems like such long hours is only confined to the big fours. wasn't successful with jlc, agc though.

you can ask around for the firms with shorter working hours; but my understanding is that there are a lot of law firms that end later than 8pm - offshore, big, small and medium sized. i don't know whats your definition of "smaller firms", but if you are referring to rodyk, SML and the like, they don't end at 6pm either. if you want to jump ship, better do your homework first. the problem with smaller firms is that the exposure is typically not as good as big firms, as most of the brand-name clientele go to the bigger firms.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i'm about to grad next year. unfortunately, i'm in the list of universities that MinLaw removed in March 2015. my seniors who have graduated this year have all told me that they cannot find a RLT/TC. even the only person in their batch who had obtained first class had to settle for a small firm. i'm on track to receive a 2:1. i took many loans from relatives and banks as well as my savings to do this LLB in the UK, so i'm very worried that i wont be able to pay back if i cannot even get a RLT/TC.

I heard even NUS/SMU peeps can't find RLT/TCs these days. You can try applying for firms in the UK or other legal positions like legal officers in stat boards. Or consider working in a non-legal field.

Does anyone know if work at international firms like the UK magic circle firms in Singapore have better working hours?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

keeping it intentionally vague but yeah it's one of the big fours. can anyone here list down the firms in which they are able to end work within normal hours? i'm summa cum laude but i'm ok with smaller firms. seems like such long hours is only confined to the big fours. wasn't successful with jlc, agc though.

For someone who is summa cum laude and was shooting for clerkship or the AGC, you seem rather naive about the nature of the industry that you're about to enter / have just entered into.

I'm very surprised to be honest. Not putting you down or anything, but this should have been something you would have well been aware of as early as Year 2 or Year 1 by talking to seniors or just asking around generally or on internships.

Its sort of like someone getting into a bulge bracket investment bank and suddenly realising, *holy ****! the hours are bad*, does any one know of another investment bank with normal hours?

Did you not ask around before you decided to secure a traineeship?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Does anyone know if work at international firms like the UK magic circle firms in Singapore have better working hours?

Dude, working hours in the magic circle and white shoe firms are crazy. People work till 4 to 5 am everyday with only half a night of break on Friday nights if there is an urgent deal!

And there are lots of crazy deals around, many of which starts on Friday.