Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

There is a specific international firm i have in mind (only one) that has a designated paralegal-associate route... you must get hired into that route, not just apply to become a regular paralegal. I'm pretty sure it's still available (i may be wrong), but not many people know about it and they usually still require the candidate to be quite exceptional. The last person i know on this route (5 years back) got fch (low ranking uk uni) and did her rlt/tc in big4.

I largely agree with the poster above though. Apart from this route, i know of very few paralegals who make the transition over to becoming an associate. I also agree that the exposure to law is generally quite minimal.

You shouldn't take this route over a Big 4 TC. But if you don't have any other better options you should just take it. Better this than no job. Or dead end job in unreputable one-man firm.

[QUOTE=Unregistered;131997]You shouldn't take this route over a Big 4 TC. But if you don't have any other better options you should just take it. Better this than no job. Or dead end job in unreputable one-man firm.[/QUOTO

OP says he can't get a TC.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You shouldn't take this route over a Big 4 TC. But if you don't have any other better options you should just take it. Better this than no job. Or dead end job in unreputable one-man firm.

A dead-end job in an unreputable one-man firm is still a job and better than being jobless. The HR department of any future employer draws a very adverse inference if they see gaps in the CV.

dumb question from a uni student, but when people say big 4 pays 5.5, 5.8, how is the CPF component calculated in? i.e. what is the final take home pay for B4 per month? Thanks in advance

Hi all, saw that ST Engineering is hiring a 4PQE+ legal counsel. Does anyone have any insight as to how the work culture and pay is like there? 5PQE general litigation SA here in mid-sized firm.

There is a lot of information and feedback about their engineering roles on glassdoor but nothing much on the corporate support functions.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

dumb question from a uni student, but when people say big 4 pays 5.5, 5.8, how is the CPF component calculated in? i.e. what is the final take home pay for B4 per month? Thanks in advance

It's not calculated differently from any other job. The 5.5k - 5.8k figure is before your CPF contribution. So you need to take away 20% from that figure to calculate your take home pay, and it applies to the first 6k of your pay. Anything else is not subject to CPF contribution. Even if you earn >6k, your bonus is also subjected to contribution because of some additional wage ceiling thing, I can't remember how it works exactly but you can easily find out on the CPF website.

The law firm will also have to pay another 17% which goes straight to your CPF account. So in total you will get 37% of your monthly salary in your CPF account.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

dumb question from a uni student, but when people say big 4 pays 5.5, 5.8, how is the CPF component calculated in? i.e. what is the final take home pay for B4 per month? Thanks in advance

you take home is 80% of 5.5k.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all, saw that ST Engineering is hiring a 4PQE+ legal counsel. Does anyone have any insight as to how the work culture and pay is like there? 5PQE general litigation SA here in mid-sized firm.

There is a lot of information and feedback about their engineering roles on glassdoor but nothing much on the corporate support functions.

Thanks!

I heard it's a good place to learn when you first transition to in-house, but there is a ceiling in terms of progression. A lot of seniors above you waiting to be promoted.

Pay increase is really shitty. Must literally threaten to leave and even then pay increments are minimal.

hearsay, so cannot confirm. but i doubt people will lie about such things lah.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Heard number 5 is reducing bonus. Not too sure about the rest.. Please share if you have heard anything else.

Heard that:
Drew is laying off associates
WongP making people take mandatory leave
Norton Rose cutting salaries by 20% across the board
Rodyk cut bonuses for associates

All hearsay/not verified. Any one can add/clarify/confirm?

i'm a corp lawyer with zero liti experience

have been offered an inhouse role which requires management of contentious matters

am terrified that i can't cope. should i make the jump?