Lawyer Salary

Associate position in private practice, specialising in general litigation. Thinking of jumping ship to legal counsel position in government ministry, are my skills transferable? Anyone out there who have been in my shoes can you shed some light on it?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I work for a small firm. Partner promised profit sharing and followed through.
I now profit share, and go home on the dot most days.
There are some good small firms out there - i think sometimes it really just depends on your luck.

But profit share means you need clients

Originally Posted by Unregistered

But profit share means you need clients

introvert here who in law practice. how do you solicit clients? is that a lot of socializing and mingling.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Partners don’t really want to fire people. It’s easy to fire but hard to find a replacement - partner has to justify it to other partners (team has high utilisation, need more people). So in a lot of teams, the team becomes smaller and smaller because people leave and they are not replaced.

In short, juniors are seldom really fired. They are quite valuable - if they are fired, the partner has less people to do work for him/her.

This I agree - I know of totally useless people in the workplace that stayed on for years at the expense of others. those totally useless people know how to act stressed, act busy et cetera. It is just an acting game., act convincing you win already lor. most bosses just open and close one eye as long as you don't screw up tremendously.

Sometimes partner doesn't want to blow the top in the office, you think those partners do not know it is not a pretty sight with everyone gossiping behind their back. They will gossip about the partner but usually not the one being scolded. If you screw up, whose head is on the chopping board? Not the lowly associate or executive but the partner. Your colleagues are the one cleaning your mess.

My advice is if your boss fires you, seems to nitpick on you but not your coworkers, you must reflect. Maybe your work quality is substandard.

I have been a mediocre employee before, at that point of time I thought I work very hard but I did not. I may clock in the full hours and OT but I am unfocused in my work. Stress is not an excuse if your colleague is doing same amt of work. everyone has their problems. from my own experience, mediocre people doesn't know they are mediocre.

That said, I know of people who really quite jialat in one work place but they prosper in a totally new environment. Sometimes the work is just not a good fit.

My advice to those who know they cannot cope in their new environment but choose to stay on, it may be best to seek greener pastures elsewhere. You are not doing yourself, your colleagues and your boss a favor. In fact they may secretly resent you for drawing same salary but doing mediocre work and having to clean up after you.

I believe there is a job for everyone. You don't have to love your job. A job is just a job - you have to not hate it and at least produce acceptable work

Originally Posted by Unregistered

But profit share means you need clients

I count myself quite lucky.

My boss is pretty well known in certain circles so we get a steady stream of clients. He doesn't need to offer profit-sharing...he can simply hire other assocs/SAs/JPs to assist, but i think he'd rather retain and work with someone he gets along with.

I know he's had trainees and assocs in the past who've "stolen" clients from him so he's been burned before. I am pretty content with my small firm life so i present a safe option. I have a thing against establishments and have never applied to a big4/biggish firm. My rents still think i've made some stupid decisions with my career.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I work for a small firm. Partner promised profit sharing and followed through.
I now profit share, and go home on the dot most days.
There are some good small firms out there - i think sometimes it really just depends on your luck.

I agree. sometimes the determining factor is just luck, not just in the practice of law, but in every work organisation.

Admittedly, employers look at qualifications of newly graduates, if everything is on equal playing field. The only (maybe not the best) indicator if you can get the job done. I mean if you see some guy who has FCH in a rigorous university, you know that he is at least not stupid and most likely will not give slipshod work.

However whether you are happy or succeed in the workplace that is a whole different ballgame. That depends on luck. You may have better boss, colleagues - luck plays a factor there. I think the most important thing is this - do your job as long as you can to the best of your ability, everything else will fall into place most of the time.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I count myself quite lucky.

My boss is pretty well known in certain circles so we get a steady stream of clients. He doesn't need to offer profit-sharing...he can simply hire other assocs/SAs/JPs to assist, but i think he'd rather retain and work with someone he gets along with.

I know he's had trainees and assocs in the past who've "stolen" clients from him so he's been burned before. I am pretty content with my small firm life so i present a safe option. I have a thing against establishments and have never applied to a big4/biggish firm. My rents still think i've made some stupid decisions with my career.

Good for you! Nowadays big law firms have lost its allure. Heard of lawyers with a few years of experience content with setting up one man shop doing smaller cases but having more work life balance, more freedom and happiness.

When I start work I realise you cannot equate happiness with money. Although unhappiness can be absolved with money, albeit slightly.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

introvert here who in law practice. how do you solicit clients? is that a lot of socializing and mingling.

You will be surprised. A lot of lawyers are introverts and very quiet. You wouldn't guess law is their discipline.

Maybe being a social butterfly and getting along with everyone will help in some case, but if you are good, the work speaks for itself. You don't have to solicit for clients, clients come to you.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

introvert here who in law practice. how do you solicit clients? is that a lot of socializing and mingling.

dont be hoodwinked by tele-dramatisations of what we lawyers do - its not the glory of representing clients in court and talk-until-cow-home type. our life is almost all about behind-the-scenes prep, work and stuff. in fact, extroverts are the ones who would raise their white flags first.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

dont be hoodwinked by tele-dramatisations of what we lawyers do - its not the glory of representing clients in court and talk-until-cow-home type. our life is almost all about behind-the-scenes prep, work and stuff. in fact, extroverts are the ones who would raise their white flags first.

Second that sometimes empty vessels make the most noises. I rather trust someone who may not be as eloquent but prove himself with his work.