Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

This one is also tale as old as time. In NUS only about 50% will get second upper, 10% will get first class and the remaining 45% will get second lower.

Good math there. Must be a real lawyer.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Salary post for those interested after qualification (compilation from prev threads)

CC: double-digits
Baker: 7.5k
WP: 6k
R&T: 5.8k
A&G: 5.6k
Drew: 5.6k
Rodyk: 5.5k
TSMP: 5k
L&L: 4.5k
RHT: 4.5k

Legal service (incld JLC): 4.8/4.4k (with NS, 1st/2.1); 4k/3.8k (wo NS, 1st/2.1) - seems low but this is payable from part b/RLT onwards and there is a further increment after 1 year or so

The hours dont justify your pay. I rather earn lesser. Yes I am that in house counsel who earns lesser, but I get much more free time on my hands.

Originally Posted by NassimTourneuil.Phenix

Case study for the kind of situation you are envisioning: [s://.linkedin.com/in/kelly-tseng-5aaa5aa3/[/

Trained at TSMP, started practice somewhere else.

Shes not chio in real life leh. I met her in her office. She seems to have heavy eyebags. What a poor thing. Shes an associate (meaning she does the grunt work), but definitely a great law career awaiting for her in years to come.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Salary post for those interested after qualification (compilation from prev threads)

CC: double-digits
Baker: 7.5k
WP: 6k
R&T: 5.8k
A&G: 5.6k
Drew: 5.6k
Rodyk: 5.5k
TSMP: 5k
L&L: 4.5k
RHT: 4.5k

Legal service (incld JLC): 4.8/4.4k (with NS, 1st/2.1); 4k/3.8k (wo NS, 1st/2.1) - seems low but this is payable from part b/RLT onwards and there is a further increment after 1 year or so

Sub $5k for NQ private practice is damn sad man. Unless you're leaving at 6pm on the dot everyday, which is highly unlikely. And omg what happened to TSMP and their top paying reputation??

From my understanding, legal service bonuses are higher than law firms so eventual take home compensation matches private sector anyways

Hi guys, i need some advice here.
I am graduating next year.
I wonder whether I should take bar and practice? Would it be waste if I dont?

I have a hard time finding a tc and the firm that offered me doesn't pay for my bar course, and its only $300 per month allowance for 6 months during training. Also the firm is not going to retain. So that leaves me another problem to solve a year down the road upon graduation again.

If I just start working, I can earn $3-4k per month.

My question is what opportunities can I get for a legal related role even I do not do part B + tc? Is being called to bar so important?

When I do not get retained, are other law firms keen to hire?

Do law firms pay for part b course?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi guys, i need some advice here.
I am graduating next year.
I wonder whether I should take bar and practice? Would it be waste if I dont?

I have a hard time finding a tc and the firm that offered me doesn't pay for my bar course, and its only $300 per month allowance for 6 months during training. Also the firm is not going to retain. So that leaves me another problem to solve a year down the road upon graduation again.

If I just start working, I can earn $3-4k per month.

My question is what opportunities can I get for a legal related role even I do not do part B + tc? Is being called to bar so important?

When I do not get retained, are other law firms keen to hire?

Can you provide us with more details? Are you a local or overseas graduate? If you are local, a decent 2.1 or 2.2 should be able to get you a non-practising career in the public sector.

Local grad
Frankly market is very bad.
I am just thinking ahead.
For these so called non practicing careering in public sector
If they do not need a practicing lawyer, should I go for part b and tc then?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can you provide us with more details? Are you a local or overseas graduate? If you are local, a decent 2.1 or 2.2 should be able to get you a non-practising career in the public sector.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The hours dont justify your pay. I rather earn lesser. Yes I am that in house counsel who earns lesser, but I get much more free time on my hands.

I left practice.... and earn more as an in house.

The industry as a whole is just not worth it anymore.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi guys, i need some advice here.
I am graduating next year.
I wonder whether I should take bar and practice? Would it be waste if I dont?

I have a hard time finding a tc and the firm that offered me doesn't pay for my bar course, and its only $300 per month allowance for 6 months during training. Also the firm is not going to retain. So that leaves me another problem to solve a year down the road upon graduation again.

If I just start working, I can earn $3-4k per month.

My question is what opportunities can I get for a legal related role even I do not do part B + tc? Is being called to bar so important?

When I do not get retained, are other law firms keen to hire?

Is getting called to the bar important?

Yes, getting called to the bar is important. Go on a job search website and look up in-house positions. Almost all will require you to have been called to the bar.

Sure if you start working now you can earn 3-4k a month, but your progression will be slow and it will honestly be extremely difficult to negotiate an increase in salary thereafter.

Public Sector Legal Roles

Getting a legal role without any experience (even in public sector) is difficult and to be honest, I have yet to see a legal role in public sector that doesn't require you to have been called to the bar. What they do offer, though, is training for you to get called to the bar - this option is great because they tend to pay you full pay (you will be a legal officer and be able to rep the org in court). These job Ads will usually include a line which informs you that working exp with them counts towards the training requirements under the LPA. I've seen one for MOM in the past... but you'll still have to do part B.

I'm not going to be retained!

Worry less about retention rates and more about your abilities as a lawyer. Gain as much exposure as you can and learn as much as you can. My CV always had a list of cases i've assisted on and the contributions i've made in those cases. Its about how much you've done and how well you can market yourself.

I would even say that you're in a better position because you know for sure you won't be retained and can start looking for full time opportunities almost immediately after you start (well... give it 3 months). This means you won't be in a situation where your job search is dependent on when your employer decided to tell you if you will be retained.

Finally

Make a commitment and stick to it. You've already spent 4 years in law school. At this point, what is that one additional year?