Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thank a lot.

I find 7-8 pm a bit late still. Especially i have to start work at 9 am. that is like 11 hour a day

a week it is easily 55 hours.

compared to the salary and health aspects
i don’t know if it is worth or not

Ya terrible dont do it

55 hours a week is inhumane

You didnt go to law school to be a bangla worker.

only accept a firm with working hours from 10.30 to 4.30. otherwise don't bother

let's stick it to these sweatshops so that they'll know better than to tarnish the prestige of our degree!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ya terrible dont do it

55 hours a week is inhumane

You didnt go to law school to be a bangla worker.

only accept a firm with working hours from 10.30 to 4.30. otherwise don't bother

let's stick it to these sweatshops so that they'll know better than to tarnish the prestige of our degree!

is this the first time you heard about legal industry?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

is this the first time you heard about legal industry?

Not really, but this seems like the first time you've heard of sarcasm

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not really, but this seems like the first time you've heard of sarcasm

I am just used to it. That's why I left the industry after 2 years.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am just used to it. That's why I left the industry after 2 years.

I was retained by a top firm but left after getting called. Now on a break. No point.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I was retainued by a top firm but left after getting called. Now on a break. No point.

Pls elaborate what you mean by point?

No point because pay too low?
No point because hours too long?
No point because not prestigious enough?
No point because boss sucks?
No point because no career progression?
No point because poor exit options?
No point because you're independently wealthy?
No point because job too mundane?
No point because travel distance too far?

No point because I sleep very little every day.
my hair dropped, blood pressure went up, relation with my wife and parents also getting worse on brink of breakup. moody easily frustrated.
No time to enjoy do things I want. After work its dark, and I am forced to socialised too by drinking and meals
It is not just leaving at 5pm or 6pm or 7pm or 8pm. it is that I have to carry the work in my mind even I am home. I have to constantly check my phone calls messages from bosses clients.
All the above, for a merge $4000-$6000 per month.

Not worth at all.


I am now working in-hourse just doing contract reviews.
I get paid more and goes home on time.
My only regret is that I didn't leave practice earlier.

Unfortunately Singapore is a society obsessed with prestige and fame, in fact, few actually know what goes on behind the scene in the life of a lawyer. I worked as a paralegal for 6 months in a small law firm. Lawyers hardly go to court, life revolves around paperwork, chasing client for legal fees, filing of applications.

I interned in a big firm as well. The lawyers stay until wee hours and bear the stress of clocking billable hours. Associates hardly go to court for big cases, you are tasked to conduct legal research for your big bosses and seniors. I think that is not the worst. The worst is being involved high profile cases (HC or CA matters). Drafting of affidavits, SOC and preparing discoveries etc.

Go to HC and see those courier men pushing in boxes of A4 papers, inside are the works of all these associates. Those arguing in court are lawyers who are usually at the partner or director level. How many law grads can reach the senior counsel level?

Don't watch too much the suits drama or the pupil on channel 5 haha...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

No point because I sleep very little every day.
my hair dropped, blood pressure went up, relation with my wife and parents also getting worse on brink of breakup. moody easily frustrated.
No time to enjoy do things I want. After work its dark, and I am forced to socialised too by drinking and meals
It is not just leaving at 5pm or 6pm or 7pm or 8pm. it is that I have to carry the work in my mind even I am home. I have to constantly check my phone calls messages from bosses clients.
All the above, for a merge $4000-$6000 per month.

Not worth at all.


I am now working in-hourse just doing contract reviews.
I get paid more and goes home on time.
My only regret is that I didn't leave practice earlier.

I fully agreed with you. Got money no life to spend.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

No point because I sleep very little every day.
my hair dropped, blood pressure went up, relation with my wife and parents also getting worse on brink of breakup. moody easily frustrated.
No time to enjoy do things I want. After work its dark, and I am forced to socialised too by drinking and meals
It is not just leaving at 5pm or 6pm or 7pm or 8pm. it is that I have to carry the work in my mind even I am home. I have to constantly check my phone calls messages from bosses clients.
All the above, for a merge $4000-$6000 per month.

Not worth at all.


I am now working in-hourse just doing contract reviews.
I get paid more and goes home on time.
My only regret is that I didn't leave practice earlier.

Some professions are what I call "prestige jobs": jobs that are quite attractive to young people for the perceived pay & glamour factor but few actually stay on in the long term due to various reasons, usually relating to sustainability.

An air stewarding is one such job. Why do you think so many young women want to become air stewardesses but there so few senior air stewardesses? Law to a certain extent, and investment banking are also such examples/

Some careers also only make sense if you're young, unmarried and don't mind pulling all-nighters for weeks on end for that nice bit of cash. Your priorities will naturally change once you get married and want to settle down.

I suppose for your stage of life, more sane working hours are more important. And the salary probably isn't commensurate with the toll personal aspects of your life. However, a big 4 role does make sense for a 23 or 25-ish fresh graduate with no family commitments, still living with parents and think that socialising with drinking is the hallmark of the yuppie life.