Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Any other news regarding local big firms' retention rates? Rodyk, R&T and the JLVs/FLAs?

Appreciate all the discussion about US/Magic Circle and London salaries but it is unhelpful for us average performing peasants stuck with local firms

Rodyk 3 out of 8 and 4 out of 8

Folks, what about the starting salary that a NQ associate can expect at a small to mid sized firm now?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Folks, what about the starting salary that a NQ associate can expect at a small to mid sized firm now?

That's quite a large range you're looking at it. Small firms range from 2.8 - 3.5. Mid goes from around 3.8 - 4.5.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yeah how is retention coming along? Also, would love to hear from the lawyers still in practice if it is true that "demand has surged for counter-cyclical practice areas such as restructuring and insolvency, commercial disputes, international arbitration, employment, and private wealth investments, said Mr Yong from Withers KhattarWong" (quote from The Straits Times' article "Singapore law firms tighten purse strings, adapt to changes in demand")?

I'm currently a (junior) Assoc in a mid-sized firm doing commercial litigation work. My workload has largely remained the same as pre-Covid. In fact, I see a rise in employment disputes, recovery of debts and even family cases (PPO, divorce). I didn't handle family law cases before this, but have been asked to take on a few contested family matters during this circuit breaker. I do think Covid has affected business development on the part of upper management. There is sufficient work to go around for existing employees but I think firms are less willing to hire new headcount. My firm unfortunately does not intend to retain the current trainees.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I'm currently a (junior) Assoc in a mid-sized firm doing commercial litigation work. My workload has largely remained the same as pre-Covid. In fact, I see a rise in employment disputes, recovery of debts and even family cases (PPO, divorce). I didn't handle family law cases before this, but have been asked to take on a few contested family matters during this circuit breaker. I do think Covid has affected business development on the part of upper management. There is sufficient work to go around for existing employees but I think firms are less willing to hire new headcount. My firm unfortunately does not intend to retain the current trainees.

Which firm

Someone asked a few pages back if got telegram group for this. I think it would facilitate discussion (making 1 post for just 2 words lol) and also "preserve the dignity" of the profession, if anyone is actually concerned about that. But more to the point, if you're all not comfortable talking about your salaries or part or lack thereof with the hoi polloi on the rest of this forum. How do we go about setting up such a group?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That's quite a large range you're looking at it. Small firms range from 2.8 - 3.5. Mid goes from around 3.8 - 4.5.

From personal experience, I've heard offers for small firms ranging from 3.8 to 5. Most of my friends who were in small firms during their 1st year as an associate were offered 4 to 4.5, depending on the kind of work they do.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

From personal experience, I've heard offers for small firms ranging from 3.8 to 5. Most of my friends who were in small firms during their 1st year as an associate were offered 4 to 4.5, depending on the kind of work they do.

5 for a NQ for a small firm is very rare... perhaps it was one of the boutique setups doing highly technical work.

Actually, no. Haha the person who received 5 k per month as an NQE in a small firm was not doing highly technical work - it was general commercial litigation. I guess the person got lucky.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Someone asked a few pages back if got telegram group for this. I think it would facilitate discussion (making 1 post for just 2 words lol) and also "preserve the dignity" of the profession, if anyone is actually concerned about that. But more to the point, if you're all not comfortable talking about your salaries or part or lack thereof with the hoi polloi on the rest of this forum. How do we go about setting up such a group?

I think what is alluring is the anonymity granted on this forum.
If it’s a telegram chat, the anonymity would be gone.