Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Then how u explain why some JLCs/DPP is in the 2016 list for instance and why the top student for NUS is also the top in the 2015 list? Other than consistency and truly the most outstanding (being able to juggle agc commitments), there are no other credible reasons for this

Uh. As you said, only some get the list. The exceptions prove the rule lul. Most of the consistent FCH don't care enough. Otherwise you should see the list full of FCH. It isn't.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

New poster here, just find this debate about part b funny. If you are looking at private practice, part b is just another distinguishing factor to the firms when hiring but is in no way a good indicator as to whether or not one will do well in private practice. I have seen fchs/good 2.1s with part b list who are totally not cut out for private practice (low EQ, no commercial awareness or common sense, only booksmart, poor client servicing skills). Granted, there are 1-2 who are brilliant but you get the idea, the rest are not any different from those who did not get on the part b list. I am not in the civil service and I don't teach so I can't comment on how good an indicator the part b list will be for those areas.

Those who got on the list, good for you but you will still have to be humble and work hard.

To a certain extent, FCH may not be a good indicator as well. Part B and/or FCH, it may get you an interview or a TC but whether or not you are retained or hireable as a lawyer requires a different set of skills which is hard to measure with exams.

To add on to this, by the time one does part B, one will already have TC. There is really no incentive to use Part B list for TC purposes. Retention also unlikely, since firm will already see you work half a year as well. Part B list should be a minor factor in retention as such.

Aiyo. This forum discussion on part b like small kids fighting for toys.
If u get Commendation list good la. Give you, you take lor.
With you for life.
If u don’t get, then get on with life

Just explain to you about relevance of part b. Since a lot of people talking about this.
I believe interested people will be the part b students.

1. Is a distinction in part b prestigious?
Ans: Yes it is. As said by course facilitators, pass is good enough. A person who can distinguish himself/herself with distinction means the body of work is outstanding as compared to his/her equally competent peers.
2. What is the purpose of part b?
Ans: It is a gatekeeper exam. Meaning it is the stage where you are judged by practitioners and not academics (unlike uni) whether you are fit to practice law in Sg.
If such practitioners who have 20 years exp adjudged you as not competent meaning fail, it means you have failed to meet the standard required to practice law.
Conversely, a part b distinction given by these practitioners means you have truly distinguished yourself.
3. If everyone is copying other ppl’s notes etc as claimed by one poster, then how valuable is a distinction?
Ans: like you said, if everyone has the same notes, then of course everyone will pass since everyone is producing the same answers. Then the people who can get distinctions are truly smart and good because they would have to go above and beyond in order to get the coveted distinction. Meaning they are smart. Whether you like it or not.
4. We have different unis with diff standards. How do you determine which grads are better?
Ans: Part B. Part B is the control mechanism to facilitate this process.
5. Someone said the fact that not many JLCs get dist means it is an irrelevant exam. How true is this?
Ans: Not true. There are JLCs/DPPs with distinction in the part b exams. Given that they have the same amount of caseload as the other JLCs and DPPs, and they can still get dist as compared to their agc peers, it means they are truly good and above and beyond their peers in agc.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Just explain to you about relevance of part b. Since a lot of people talking about this.
I believe interested people will be the part b students.

1. Is a distinction in part b prestigious?
Ans: Yes it is. As said by course facilitators, pass is good enough. A person who can distinguish himself/herself with distinction means the body of work is outstanding as compared to his/her equally competent peers.
2. What is the purpose of part b?
Ans: It is a gatekeeper exam. Meaning it is the stage where you are judged by practitioners and not academics (unlike uni) whether you are fit to practice law in Sg.
If such practitioners who have 20 years exp adjudged you as not competent meaning fail, it means you have failed to meet the standard required to practice law.
Conversely, a part b distinction given by these practitioners means you have truly distinguished yourself.
3. If everyone is copying other ppl’s notes etc as claimed by one poster, then how valuable is a distinction?
Ans: like you said, if everyone has the same notes, then of course everyone will pass since everyone is producing the same answers. Then the people who can get distinctions are truly smart and good because they would have to go above and beyond in order to get the coveted distinction. Meaning they are smart. Whether you like it or not.
4. We have different unis with diff standards. How do you determine which grads are better?
Ans: Part B. Part B is the control mechanism to facilitate this process.
5. Someone said the fact that not many JLCs get dist means it is an irrelevant exam. How true is this?
Ans: Not true. There are JLCs/DPPs with distinction in the part b exams. Given that they have the same amount of caseload as the other JLCs and DPPs, and they can still get dist as compared to their agc peers, it means they are truly good and above and beyond their peers in agc.

What about the earlier poster's view on the commendation list being only a number of distinctions rather than aggregate performance? He/She/Apache helicopter does make a good point that the commendation list is not the same as a FCH etc, because it is only based on number of dists

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What about the earlier poster's view on the commendation list being only a number of distinctions rather than aggregate performance? He/She/Apache helicopter does make a good point that the commendation list is not the same as a FCH etc, because it is only based on number of dists

Actly are you even a part b student who has completed the exams?
If you do attend the classes and the revision lectures, it will be clear to you that part b is an exam marked by senior practitioners for the sole purpose of judging whether you are fit for legal practice. Not whether you are good academically.
The LLB degree judges whether you are good at grasping legal concepts in an academic setting.
The Part B exams determine whether you are fit for legal practice, i.e. understand the concepts required of legal practice.

A first class in LLB + Commendation list on part b means you are ready for practice (and can perform above most individuals) and on top of that you have a solid grounding in law.

A Commendation list on its own with a 2:2 LLB means your legal foundation is not strong but you are able to quickly pick up legal concepts for the purpose of practice. In other words, you have better practical knowledge for practice of law. Not the study of law.

LLB and Part B test different skills. One is more academic, the other is more practice focus.
It should be obvious if you have attended the part b intro lectures.

Stop bickering kids. Let a helpful senior sum it up for you.

Good degree from a good uni + part b commendation : you're all set for legal practice
Good degree from crap uni + no part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice
Crap degree from good uni + part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice
Crap degree from crap uni + no part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice

Notice the difference? Good. Now stop being little b itches and let's get back to salaries.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Stop bickering kids. Let a helpful senior sum it up for you.

Good degree from a good uni + part b commendation : you're all set for legal practice
Good degree from crap uni + no part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice
Crap degree from good uni + part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice
Crap degree from crap uni + no part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice

Notice the difference? Good. Now stop being little b itches and let's get back to salaries.

Love this!!!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Stop bickering kids. Let a helpful senior sum it up for you.

Good degree from a good uni + part b commendation : you're all set for legal practice
Good degree from crap uni + no part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice
Crap degree from good uni + part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice
Crap degree from crap uni + no part b commendation: you're all set for legal practice

Notice the difference? Good. Now stop being little b itches and let's get back to salaries.

Lmao thanks for this. The age of the forum users really shows

Associate looking to jump to another assignment.
Any good legal recruiters to recommend?
Been talking to a few previously but no news from them.
Heard everyone have collected their bonuses and a mass exodus is eminent.