I think it's approximately $9,000 per month starting.

Where got so little? It's around 15k per month starting

It's been 7.5pm w/o frontload for the past few years. SOURCE: seniors and current retained trainees

On cc pay - while what you said is true, cc's trainee pay (6k starting - goes up in a year, last I checked) is higher than the big4 associates' starting pay (now hovering on the low end of 5-6k)

On the PQE issue, I hear we are discounted by 1-2 years, which is only fair because the UK TC is 2 years while ours is 6 months (1 year if you include Part B).

So baker has not raised their associate's starting pay? Why are our salaries half that of Hong Kong when we do almost the same kind of work. Comparing corporate work at least.
I've heard starting pay in large firms still at 5-6k. And more towards 6k.

Is the trainee pay in CC or Baker better?

CC trainee and associate pay are by far the highest in Singapore, followed (after a big gap) by Baker.

FWIW, local HK firms don't actually pay that well. When you're talking about HK's salary being higher, you're actually looking at international firms. Think of it as local vs foreign bank pay.

HK's legal market is more liberalized (fewer restrictions on international firms, JLV not required to practise HK law); as a result, there are more international firms in HK, and they compete with local firms directly for talent from the trainee level. When US firms like Davis Polk or Skadden pay that well (and sometimes deliberately so because they're new to HK or want to poach people), it puts pressure on the rest to pay decently too.

No clue about CC vs Baker, but anecdotally my impression is that Latham & Watkins Sg has the highest trainee pay, although they're only allowed to take UK trainees. If memory serves me right, it's around 7-8k.

Singapore legal market is like chatuchak market. everything "cheap cheap". clients want cheap cheap, legal associate salary also cheap cheap.

The only thing not cheap cheap is what your equity partner takes home every month.

No use comparing CC and Baker since you won't be able to get into either anyway

Singapore market is now like a flea market...everyone wants cheap, cheap cheap and cheaper. Those that get good money is those that know the hiring manager. HR practices is at the lowest all these years, not business partner..more like stamp chopper...

I think it is more prevalent in GLCs than in MNC...