Lawyer Salary

Is training at a Formal Law Alliance good?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I'm not a senior. But here are the laws of the post-pandemic world, well, what I make of it:

1. If you're in corporate, go to litigation

2. If you're in litigation, go to litigation

3. If you're from a SME, apply to a smaller SME.

4. If you're from an international SME, but on the Singapore side / do SG work, you're still the same as (3). Working on a few matters here and there or assisting - same as (3).

5. If you're from an international SME, but do international work, apply to MBFC T1.

While the world is indeed your oyster and you are advised against a weak mindset, excuses about the economy aside, they'll still prefer that you were retained and finding a new job than otherwise. I'm sorry guys, just being practical.

This Covid sucks for everyone, and prejudices a lot of good and talented trainees. But this is my two cents. You're not screwed if you're not in a SME or international office of an international SME, slightly screwed if you're in a Singapore SME and very screwed if you're from a small SME.

The truth of the matter is that there are more candidates than there are jobs out there. Much, much more, given that retention rates amongst the mid sized have fallen, and some firms not retaining at all
Add that to the glut.

Now's the time to tap on who you know rather than what you know. Hope everyone gets out fine.

If you still have Part B though, don't worry market will get better. If you need a job this year, this is a bad time. Be realistic about your options. The firms who have retained have limited spaces. And the firms who have retained 0 have absolutely no space and may cut costs/people. It is all a numbers game, dollars and cents.

What do you mean by SME? I know it to be small medium enterprise >.<

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is training at a Formal Law Alliance good?

Imho, it is the same training as any mid sized firm unless you're talking Baker CC etc.

If a shoe is made from a Nike factory without the branding, you get the same quality as a Nike. If it is made from a Converse factory in alliance with Nike, you get Converse quality (assuming, for the sake of argument, Converse is not on par, which I don't necessarily agree with). Those are things to look out for if I'm shopping for shoes.

I can sell the shoe as a Nike, but it will always be Converse that made it.

Most FLAs' SG side do not give you improved training standards by virtue of a brand. Hours are Way Way shorter

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Imho, it is the same training as any mid sized firm unless you're talking Baker CC etc.

If a shoe is made from a Nike factory without the branding, you get the same quality as a Nike. If it is made from a Converse factory in alliance with Nike, you get Converse quality (assuming, for the sake of argument, Converse is not on par, which I don't necessarily agree with). Those are things to look out for if I'm shopping for shoes.

I can sell the shoe as a Nike, but it will always be Converse that made it.

Most FLAs' SG side do not give you improved training standards by virtue of a brand. Hours are Way Way shorter

Is it harder to secure TCs at FLAs?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

So can any seniors outline next steps for trainees who have not ben retained?

apply to MAS

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is it harder to secure TCs at FLAs?

They are less selective. It's the trickle down effect.

Some firms also retain/select by connections

What's the difficulty in securing TCs like for different classes of firms?

CC/Baker
Big 4 Law Firm
Other FLAs / JVs
Mid-sized SLPs
Small SLPs

Originally Posted by Unregistered

apply to MAS

MAS is looking for econs/finance/tech graduates; less interested in legally-trained people. For legal counsel work, MAS doesn't hire fresh lawyers.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

They are less selective. It's the trickle down effect.

Some firms also retain/select by connections

My experience is that FLAs are generally more selective (close to Big 4); they also hire far less trainees

The hiring by connections point is very true, but I think it applies to all firms

Baker
CC
Big 4 Law Firm
Rodyk, Withers
Other FLAs / JVs. No, getting a TC at a FLA / JV is not going to put you into Baker/CC territory so stop acting
Mid-sized SLPs
Small SLPs