Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I was referring to NQs on the UK scale (i.e. 3rd year SG associates). I haven't heard of MC/SC firms hiring 1st/2nd year SG associates (at least not into NQ positions).

How can I make a move to international firms ?

In Singapore.
Are hours better than Big 4?

Hey guys, am hoping you all can offer some insight
Has anyone here done the Smu JD or the NUS glb?

What were some of the considerations you all had prior to embarking on either program?
Currently have worked for 3 years plus and have served NS, nearing to 30s

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hey guys, am hoping you all can offer some insight
Has anyone here done the Smu JD or the NUS glb?

What were some of the considerations you all had prior to embarking on either program?
Currently have worked for 3 years plus and have served NS, nearing to 30s

don't bother
you'll be better off learning how to code

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hey guys, am hoping you all can offer some insight
Has anyone here done the Smu JD or the NUS glb?

What were some of the considerations you all had prior to embarking on either program?
Currently have worked for 3 years plus and have served NS, nearing to 30s

If you are expecting law to be a lucrative career where you can afford a Bentley and a good class bungalow, think again

Originally Posted by Unregistered

don't bother
you'll be better off learning how to code

Agree.
It's a really shitty industry. Nice seniors and mentors are few and far between. Low pay, long hours and lots of abuse. Not to mention, there remains prejudice against mid-career professionals. I had an ex-boss who did not look at CVs of mid-career professional at all (automatic disqualification from consideration). I asked him why and he said it indicates indecision and an inability to follow through. I don't know if this is widespread, but i know it's a mindset that exists.

It's not all bad, i guess.

If you're one of those people who want to give back to society and do community law (and are able to look past the low pay, long hours and abuse) i think you could carve out a fulfilling existence within the industry. I would say that there is more room now than there was before - there's recently been a push to raise the "status" of community law lawyers. They used to be seen as the scum of the profession and would get constant abuse from their "learned friends". It's not the case anymore.

Alternatively, if you survive the first 3-7 years and move in-house, life isn't bad at all. Sure, you don't earn millions of dollars like certain SCs (and you also don't get hauled up by law soc for overcharging), but its enough to live a pretty comfortable life.

Truth is most people leave practice at pqe 3, 5 and 7 or thereabouts. Most of these people aren't "weaklings" who "can't cut it".... they simply realize that there are perhaps other things in life that are more deserving of their time (family, kids, own business, etc).

The decision you make should really depend on what you're looking to get out of this career... and more importantly what you (and your family assuming you have a partner and children) are willing to sacrifice to see you through it.

[LegalBeagle]

Originally Posted by ivy lawyer

Why will u jump from Allen & Overy HK to Allen and Overy SG? You will probably get a pay cut of around 50%. From a salary perspective, most will not do that, unless you are returning to SG for your family.

What gives you the impression that A&O HK pays more than A&O SG? Magic circle Asia salaries tend to be even across the various jurisdictions. When I was in CC SG, my salary was only marginally lower than those of my peers in CC HK, and that discrepancy was attributable to the Employer CPF contribution, which they don’t have in HK. If you factor that amount in, there is complete parity of pay across MCs in SG and HK.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

don't bother
you'll be better off learning how to code

ian tan, coding is so overrated. with your salary in SG, i can hire a team of abnn in abnn-land to do all the dirty work

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

What gives you the impression that A&O HK pays more than A&O SG? Magic circle Asia salaries tend to be even across the various jurisdictions. When I was in CC SG, my salary was only marginally lower than those of my peers in CC HK, and that discrepancy was attributable to the Employer CPF contribution, which they don’t have in HK. If you factor that amount in, there is complete parity of pay across MCs in SG and HK.

because i am now practicing in hk

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

W:hat gives you the impression that A&O HK pays more than A&O SG? Magic circle Asia salaries tend to be even across the various jurisdictions. When I was in CC SG, my salary was only marginally lower than those of my peers in CC HK, and that discrepancy was attributable to the Employer CPF contribution, which they don’t have in HK. If you factor that amount in, there is complete parity of pay across MCs in SG and HK.

hk has mpf contribution, something like cpf.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Agree.
It's a really shitty industry. Nice seniors and mentors are few and far between. Low pay, long hours and lots of abuse. Not to mention, there remains prejudice against mid-career professionals. I had an ex-boss who did not look at CVs of mid-career professional at all (automatic disqualification from consideration). I asked him why and he said it indicates indecision and an inability to follow through. I don't know if this is widespread, but i know it's a mindset that exists.

It's not all bad, i guess.

If you're one of those people who want to give back to society and do community law (and are able to look past the low pay, long hours and abuse) i think you could carve out a fulfilling existence within the industry. I would say that there is more room now than there was before - there's recently been a push to raise the "status" of community law lawyers. They used to be seen as the scum of the profession and would get constant abuse from their "learned friends". It's not the case anymore.

Alternatively, if you survive the first 3-7 years and move in-house, life isn't bad at all. Sure, you don't earn millions of dollars like certain SCs (and you also don't get hauled up by law soc for overcharging), but its enough to live a pretty comfortable life.

Truth is most people leave practice at pqe 3, 5 and 7 or thereabouts. Most of these people aren't "weaklings" who "can't cut it".... they simply realize that there are perhaps other things in life that are more deserving of their time (family, kids, own business, etc).

The decision you make should really depend on what you're looking to get out of this career... and more importantly what you (and your family assuming you have a partner and children) are willing to sacrifice to see you through it.

Hey guys, thanks for the answers

Am the original poster who asked the question

Am an accountant by training with exposure to finance
Studied arts during jc days and parents thought a local accountancy degree would help build a solid career and grades weren’t good enough for local law

Now a few years down the road, with decent savings and no relationship commitments
Thought it would be great to pursue a dream of my mouth to be a lawyer