Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Academic wise, don't disagree, but after a while you realise it doesn't really mean anything once you start practice and get more senior. So there's no real need to compare so much also.

Agree. I don't quite agree with delisting schools either but I think there's some truth in MinLaw/SYT saying what she says. The level of intellectual rigour across the board is different. There are always exceptional people that transcend the sorting functions of school label but those are very very rare. This is a general statement.

I have not met a NUS 2.1 being outdone by a delisted UK FCH.

I know this is quite a controversial thing to say, but I don't mean to offend anyone. Just fax.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Agreed. Whilst someone’s pseudo passion in a practice area can usually be seen through at the interview level, do you think partners/interviewers are apt at seeing through the interviewee’s personality fit then

I know of some teams are quite high profile (likes socialising around) while some other partners prefer their members to be more quiet and down to earth

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Agreed. Whilst someone’s pseudo passion in a practice area can usually be seen through at the interview level, do you think partners/interviewers are apt at seeing through the interviewee’s personality fit then

Depending on partner and firm, yes. At any place worth its salt, your interviewer is seasoned enough to read you. After all this is part of what lawyers do for a living - read people. They size you up and know you from your interactions. If you are fake, it is easy to see through.

What are thE prospects for suss law grads? Can they clear part B easily?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What are thE prospects for suss law grads? Can they clear part B easily?

Depends on modules don't take ACP

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Academic wise, don't disagree, but after a while you realise it doesn't really mean anything once you start practice and get more senior. So there's no real need to compare so much also.

I would also think that honours categories even at different local law schools should be differentiated prudently during the selection process. After all, no SMU student will go into SMU if they can get into NUS.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

A UK FCH is a dime a dozen nowadays, and as a trainee, don't expect to start on the UK scale.

The pecking order of firms in terms of pay for a junior is something like this:

1. US White Shoe Firms (eg Milbank, MoFo, LW, W&C) - these pay over 20k per month but only usually start taking in juniors at 2 PQE and beyond (SG scale)
2. Other US firms (e.g. Dechert) - less than White Shoe Firms but more than Magic/Silver Circle firms (not confirmed)
3. UK Magic or Silver Circle firms (e.g. CC, Links, HSF, A&O, Ashurst, Hogan Lowells - note, L&L side not counted) - these pay around 12-13k per month for 2 PQE (SG scale)
4. BMWL, NRF, Clyde - these pay around 8-10k for 2PQE (not sure about Ascendant though)
5. Big 4 - these pay about 7-8k for 2PQE
6. Firms like WKW, Dentons, TSMP, and other boutiques (e.g. Blackoak or the accounting-linked law firms) pay similar or slightly less than Big 4. These also include some JVs like MPillay and Morgan Lewis).
7. Then you have everyone else. Some of the JVs also fall in this tier like EHE or DMS.

Most of the JVs are scams, the only obviously integrated ones (i.e. where you aren't on local payscale and the place functions as one firm) are BMWL, Clyde, CC (not sure about about the smaller ones though).

TC wise, above the Big 4 only CC & BMWL offer TCs. Although A&O has a UK-linked TC and Ascendant is now offering TCs on behalf of NRF - don't know how integrated they are to NRF though. So if you wanna start as a trainee in Singapore and want to go "above" Big 4, you only have very few choices.

How difficult is it for a B4 liti 1-2 PQE to move into an international? Will the work be relevant or useful at all? What other kinds of liti spin off practice areas should be considered like perhaps arbitration insolvency etc

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I would also think that honours categories even at different local law schools should be differentiated prudently during the selection process. After all, no SMU student will go into SMU if they can get into NUS.

Nah a lawyer billing 2000 hours will not have time to differentiate honours classes across schools. Its like in law school, do you really care which school’s IP system is more rigorous?

An FCH or high 2:1 and CV gets you to the interview. That’s it.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How difficult is it for a B4 liti 1-2 PQE to move into an international? Will the work be relevant or useful at all? What other kinds of liti spin off practice areas should be considered like perhaps arbitration insolvency etc

arbitration experience can help. At that level though its probably down to how confident you are and how you can convince people of your analytical skills.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

List of "Internationals"

ASHURST ADTLAW
CLIFFORD CHANCE ASIA
CMS HOLBORN ASIA
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS PROLEGIS
INCE LAW ALLIANCE
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT ASCENDANT
REED SMITH RESOURCE LAW ALLIANCE
STEPHENSON HARWOOD (SINGAPORE) ALLIANCE
WFW & WTL
BAKER & MCKENZIE.WONG & LEOW
CLYDE & CO CLASIS SINGAPORE PTE LTD
DUANE MORRIS & SELVAM LLP
HOGAN LOVELLS LEE & LEE
KENNEDYS LEGAL SOLUTIONS PTE LTD
PINSENT MASONS MPILLAY LLP
RPC PREMIER LAW PTE LTD
SIMMONS & SIMMONS JWS PTE. LTD.
MORGAN LEWIS STAMFORD LLC
BIRD BIRD ATMD LLP
RHTLAW TAYLOR WESSING LLP
K&L GATES STRAITS LAW LLC
EVERSHEDS HARRY ELIAS LLP
WITHERS KHATTARWONG LLP
DENTONS RODYK DAVIDSON LLP

How do these firms rank?