Aussie uni
 

How would a Melbourne JD be perceived in SG? I fully intend on pursuing the BCom > JD pathway at Melbourne as my high school marks have ensured a scholarship for the BCom. That said, I see myself returning to Singapore to work as it is my home after all.

Thank you.

what are the latest covid era pay figures for PQE 1-3 and 4-6 at the big 4?

You should train in Australia if you can. Better training, more international exposure, much more options to work in London and HK and international firms in Singapore if coming back to work in Singapore is your fancy.

I think foreigners need MinLaw dispensation to train as lawyers? (But not to convert). Check the Legal Professions Act

I did an internship at Baker many years ago. Quite a few nice Lawyers (even in disputes, although those i worked with have now left) but I was struck by one associate who took 3 hours of billable time out of his day to “assess” intern presentations and scold them continuously. What a colossal waste of time just for him just to get a power trip.

Not untrue, but Australia is quite like HK. The gulf between small and international firms is huge. The competition to get into the latter fresh out of uni is insane.

Not sure the local/intl gap is quite as big as in HK, in London I do see a few people from the local Australian and NZ firms who lateraled (eg Minter Ellison, Clayton Utz, Simpson Grierson, Coors Chambers Westgarth). I don’t see anyone from Deacons!

I also was not terribly impressed by the work quality some of the Australian laterals (although they are very hardworking).

Why do so many Australians come here though

Singapore pay can be higher than london pay for intl firms (same base pay, lower taxes). Also it’s closer to home for them.

Eg for an intl firm with Singapore, Aus, London, Dubai and HK offices with same base pay throughout, each office will have something different to commend it to an Aussie - eg london will have the largest and most complex deals so give more exposure, SG and HK have lower taxes but HK may require Mandarin, Aus will be their home country but even they may have to move states. Dubai lowest tax of all but the largest lifestyle adjustment.

Where someone ends up will depend on what they prioritise and available vacancies (eg Aus may be full but they may be offered SG instead).