Lawyer Salary

With the latest news today that VK Rajah will join Essex Court Chambers Duxton, this will probably be ranked the most prestigious outfit to be in and even on a higher footing than JLC, CC and BM. It’s very difficult to join Essex Court Chambers and usually the minimum requirement is a top first class degree from Oxbridge and also a top masters from Oxbridge with distinction. The list of achievements of the barristers in Essex Court is one of the most impressive and just like the other top chambers in London - very impressive and very competent.
The three other joiners with VK Rajah are all former JLCs, oxford educated (with a long string of academic prizes), and hold other teaching positions in the local law schools. This is probably the most impressive outfit in Singapore at the moment.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

With the latest news today that VK Rajah will join Essex Court Chambers Duxton, this will probably be ranked the most prestigious outfit to be in and even on a higher footing than JLC, CC and BM. It’s very difficult to join Essex Court Chambers and usually the minimum requirement is a top first class degree from Oxbridge and also a top masters from Oxbridge with distinction. The list of achievements of the barristers in Essex Court is one of the most impressive and just like the other top chambers in London - very impressive and very competent.
The three other joiners with VK Rajah are all former JLCs, oxford educated (with a long string of academic prizes), and hold other teaching positions in the local law schools. This is probably the most impressive outfit in Singapore at the moment.

Seems largely irrelevant because it’s not a law firm

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Seems largely irrelevant because it’s not a law firm

If comparison is drawn with BM/CC, both firms handle a lot of international cross border work. This is the reason why the salary variance for lawyers in such firms as compared to big four is significant.

In the press release - Rajah added: “Singapore's first pure chambers practice introduces a different concept of specialised legal services that will focus on advisory and advocacy work. This will be a new platform to give Singapore and the region a wider choice in first-tier legal services in both domestic litigation and international arbitration briefs.”

This is a very novel development for legal practice in Singapore and top advocacy is a niche practice area that has a lot of potential.

For further details, see s://.cdr-news.com/categories/singapore/7743-exclusive-landau-and-rajah-join-forces-as-essex-court-expands-in-singapore

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If comparison is drawn with BM/CC, both firms handle a lot of international cross border work. This is the reason why the salary variance for lawyers in such firms as compared to big four is significant.

In the press release - Rajah added: “Singapore's first pure chambers practice introduces a different concept of specialised legal services that will focus on advisory and advocacy work. This will be a new platform to give Singapore and the region a wider choice in first-tier legal services in both domestic litigation and international arbitration briefs.”

This is a very novel development for legal practice in Singapore and top advocacy is a niche practice area that has a lot of potential.

For further details, see s://.cdr-news.com/categories/singapore/7743-exclusive-landau-and-rajah-join-forces-as-essex-court-expands-in-singapore

I read in the papers that the other 3 joining the Chambers all hold first-class law degrees. Why is 'smartness' so valued in the legal industry?

I believe that work experience matters more than 'smartness'.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I read in the papers that the other 3 joining the Chambers all hold first-class law degrees. Why is 'smartness' so valued in the legal industry?

I believe that work experience matters more than 'smartness'.

True, smartness doesn't guarantee success. However. in the eyes of the highly desirable employing firms, this innate quality does lay the foundation for these lawyers to continue learning and acquiring new experiences for which they are expected to contribute significantly to their employers in the foreseeable future.

To give you an analogy, do you think the Olympic selection committee would select experience sprinters from the existing highly experience national runners to compete in the world premier sporting event or a newly discovered 20-year old prodigy who regularly clocks 10.3 sec in the 100m dash?


The answer is pretty obvious!

s://.mlaw.gov.sg/content/minlaw/en/news/press-releases/statement-minlaw-essex-court-chambers-duxton-singapore-group-practice.html


Statement by Ministry of Law on Essex Court Chambers Duxton (Singapore Group Practice)

16 Nov 2017 Posted in Press releases
In response to media queries, the Ministry of Law has issued the following statement:

1. Essex Court Chambers Duxton (Singapore Group Practice) is an association of Singapore-qualified lawyers. The applicant lawyers had expressly confirmed to the Ministry of Law that Essex Court Chambers Duxton (Singapore Group Practice) was separate and distinct from, and independent of, the English barristers’ chambers, Essex Court Chambers in London. This confirmation was given in their application submitted to the Ministry.

2. The Ministry of Law is therefore both surprised and concerned by various media reports which suggest that Essex Court Chambers Duxton (Singapore Group Practice) has been “set up”, “opened” or “launched” by Essex Court Chambers, and that the Singapore group practice is an “annexe”, “new practice group” or the “local brand” of the English chambers. The Ministry has not approved any of this.

3. Contrary to some suggestions which have been made, the position is also that barristers from Essex Court Chambers in England cannot practise Singapore law and cannot appear in Singapore’s courts unless they have been given leave by the Singapore courts to do so or have been admitted to the Singapore Bar.

4. The Ministry has asked Essex Court Chambers Duxton (Singapore Group Practice) to clarify the position and avoid any misimpression. A copy of the Ministry’s letter to the Singapore group practice is enclosed.

Letter to member Singapore law practices of Essex Court Chambers Duxton (Singapore Group Practice)
Last updated on 16 Nov 2017

what is salary for TSMP corporate dep
and denton
and shook lin
And baker
any ideas on retention rates?

I want to know the salary progression

A lot of law students I know are very hung up over the firm they can secure a TC with, retention prospects, etc. I think the anxiety over this is very misguided.

Firstly, it doesn’t matter which firm you come from eventually. Some firms pay more, some pay less. The reason you turn up at work every morning (9am) is because you need a job to keep yourself going (paying mortgage, bills, etc). The fact that most of you will start off on a minimum salary of $4k means you are better off than most graduates in other fields. Please disregard the investment bankers (they are a special breed simply because of the hours they are willing to work / have no choice but to work). Furthermore IBs are only open to the top graduates in business school so again it’s not a fair comparison.

A lot of law graduates seem very fixated on Bakers, CC and big four. There is absolutely no reason why people should analyze this in terms of a strict binary, i.e. you are successful as a lawyer if you come from these firms. People in law should instead analyze it in terms of where the broad majority of the practicing lawyers are at and there are successful lawyers even in the smaller firms, earning a decent salary and retaining the prestige/status of a lawyer.

Frankly, whether you make the extra $500 to $1k being in a big four or a medium to large firm has no bearing to your future in the long run. The simple economic reason is that when you earn more you tend to splurge more and this is proven. At the end of the day, you are in a legal job firstly because you need money to survive, secondly, you need a job to avoid mental and physical stagnation, thirdly, you have to do something so why not put your law degree to good use and be a lawyer. Everyone aspires to be a Razer boss, or perhaps professor in law, or maybe even the Chief Justice. These are lofty goals and ambitions and it is good to have them but bear in mind that over 95% of people who hold a law degree and are Singapore qualified lawyers do not reach such a pinnacle.

Finally, stop being so hung up over salary, retention prospects, and things like working hours or conditions. Eventually if you do something to a point you’re exhausted, naturally your body will tell you when you should quit.

Everyone holds a law job as an in-house counsel or a lawyer because they need money. That’s a fact. As long as you earn a decent amount, whether 4K or 7k, spend within your means and try to find contentment, you will do well in life. Comparing yourself to JLCs, Oxbridge or your peers who got the first class but you didn’t, will not change anything. Just live your life happily and know that when you qualify as a lawyer (whether you practice for 20 years or quit on day 1), it doesn’t matter at all in the long run. You will eventually get married, have other challenges of raising your children, and other issues to worry about. Retention prospects, training contracts will seem all so small and insignificant. But at the very least you can be proud that you are a qualified lawyer and it is a prestigious profession (whether you choose to practice or not).

Originally Posted by Unregistered

A lot of law students I know are very hung up over the firm they can secure a TC with, retention prospects, etc. I think the anxiety over this is very misguided.

Firstly, it doesn’t matter which firm you come from eventually. Some firms pay more, some pay less. The reason you turn up at work every morning (9am) is because you need a job to keep yourself going (paying mortgage, bills, etc). The fact that most of you will start off on a minimum salary of $4k means you are better off than most graduates in other fields. Please disregard the investment bankers (they are a special breed simply because of the hours they are willing to work / have no choice but to work). Furthermore IBs are only open to the top graduates in business school so again it’s not a fair comparison.

A lot of law graduates seem very fixated on Bakers, CC and big four. There is absolutely no reason why people should analyze this in terms of a strict binary, i.e. you are successful as a lawyer if you come from these firms. People in law should instead analyze it in terms of where the broad majority of the practicing lawyers are at and there are successful lawyers even in the smaller firms, earning a decent salary and retaining the prestige/status of a lawyer.

Frankly, whether you make the extra $500 to $1k being in a big four or a medium to large firm has no bearing to your future in the long run. The simple economic reason is that when you earn more you tend to splurge more and this is proven. At the end of the day, you are in a legal job firstly because you need money to survive, secondly, you need a job to avoid mental and physical stagnation, thirdly, you have to do something so why not put your law degree to good use and be a lawyer. Everyone aspires to be a Razer boss, or perhaps professor in law, or maybe even the Chief Justice. These are lofty goals and ambitions and it is good to have them but bear in mind that over 95% of people who hold a law degree and are Singapore qualified lawyers do not reach such a pinnacle.

Finally, stop being so hung up over salary, retention prospects, and things like working hours or conditions. Eventually if you do something to a point you’re exhausted, naturally your body will tell you when you should quit.

Everyone holds a law job as an in-house counsel or a lawyer because they need money. That’s a fact. As long as you earn a decent amount, whether 4K or 7k, spend within your means and try to find contentment, you will do well in life. Comparing yourself to JLCs, Oxbridge or your peers who got the first class but you didn’t, will not change anything. Just live your life happily and know that when you qualify as a lawyer (whether you practice for 20 years or quit on day 1), it doesn’t matter at all in the long run. You will eventually get married, have other challenges of raising your children, and other issues to worry about. Retention prospects, training contracts will seem all so small and insignificant. But at the very least you can be proud that you are a qualified lawyer and it is a prestigious profession (whether you choose to practice or not).

Thanks for your thought on this. It's certainly encouraging and practical, especially when I'm preparing for part b exams now and have not found a job yet (tc is done though).