Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

anyone know if it's possible to do part-time work during part b? is sile known to allow this? thanks

usu only if legal exec or para at law firm. many of my friends do (not b4) cos need money

Originally Posted by Unregistered

usu only if legal exec or para at law firm. many of my friends do (not b4) cos need money

Heck care SILE la. Nb they charge us $7k for a course that costs almost nothing to them. Still need pay for some e-learning nonsense.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

yes the parents' savings is definitely the most important factor here

I second this. If OP comes from an average, humble family, then it clearly isn't worth it to read law overseas - no doubt about that. Why not spend the time gunning for bond-free overseas scholarships instead, rather than waste time thinking about whether his parents have the means to splurge on him and his grand plan?

I thought it should be a no-brainer considering that OP knows and/or has the impression that: (1) his parents have to pay for his overseas education "with some sacrifices"; and (2) the possibility that his parents "won't have any savings left".

What else is there to talk about?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I second this. If OP comes from an average, humble family, then it clearly isn't worth it to read law overseas - no doubt about that. Why not spend the time gunning for bond-free overseas scholarships instead, rather than waste time thinking about whether his parents have the means to splurge on him and his grand plan?

I thought it should be a no-brainer considering that OP knows and/or has the impression that: (1) his parents have to pay for his overseas education "with some sacrifices"; and (2) the possibility that his parents "won't have any savings left".

What else is there to talk about?

exactly. if OP's parents are multi-millionaires by all means go for a London law course. if not, the cost is just not worth it

Originally Posted by Unregistered

exactly. if OP's parents are multi-millionaires by all means go for a London law course. if not, the cost is just not worth it

Or get a scholarship.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Or get a scholarship.

Would advise against it unless you have one since you're concerned about costs.

You just need to research properly. From what I understand, you have a year? So make the best of it. If you're serious, apply for a scholarship. Costs are (sadly, but should not be, in an ideal world) prohibitive in making choices about education.

If you got into LSE by merit, there are plenty of scholarships that you should look into. Just research. Plenty of the LSE student body are scholars.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Agree with the above poster that it's worth it if you really hate what you do.

But honestly, now's not really a good time to make the move into corp... and it's also quite difficult finding partners willing to hire corp lawyers with 0 corp exp at 3 pqe (even if you are willing to take a damn big pay cut).

I'd say try anyway, but make sure it's what you really want to do. Seniors can usually understand making a change once, but rarely ever look kindly on assocs who make such a change twice or make a u-turn a couple of years down the road (whatever they may say).

Have you thought about switching specializations within liti?

I am the OP wanting to make the switch. Thanks for the response. Never thought of doing anything disputes related anymore because I dislike going to court.

I am thinking of going in-house (at or around the same pay) or do corp at another big 4 (likely with pay cut based on speaking to other laterals).

No guarantee I won’t hate corp, but my mindset is that if it allows me to stay in private practice and potentially enjoy it, maybe it’s worth a shot? Can always go in-house later.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am the OP wanting to make the switch. Thanks for the response. Never thought of doing anything disputes related anymore because I dislike going to court.

I am thinking of going in-house (at or around the same pay) or do corp at another big 4 (likely with pay cut based on speaking to other laterals).

No guarantee I won’t hate corp, but my mindset is that if it allows me to stay in private practice and potentially enjoy it, maybe it’s worth a shot? Can always go in-house later.

As long as you know what you are getting into. Otherwise might not look good to leave within 6 months. Arbi or investigations maybe?

[Rorty]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ah they aren't lawyers! Uhmm. My parents can pay for it, but it would probably mean that they would be left without savings... that's the problem and the reason why I am so reluctant.

On reapplying, I'm plan to do it! I was planning on doing NUS law this year and then seeing how the cards fall again for oxbridge come Jan 21. But my parents still want me to go to LSE instead of NUS law. Their reasoning is that if I don't get into Oxbridge in 21, I wont be able to go to LSE bc they would probably blacklist me for being a no show this sept...

So my idea is to take NUS law, use the online semester as a kind of pre-u training for the oxbridge interviews, and see how the cards fall. But ofc, the opp cost of this choice is what happens if I cmi oxbridge again... So I guess what I'm really asking is are the prospects for LSE that good that it would trump a NUS education and justify the exorbitant international fees? Bc from what I understand, if I decide to come back (or cmi overseas in the worst case scenario) the LSE degree is kinda trash compared to NUS...

I would go for NUS. LSE is generally seen as less selective and not as prestigious compared to NUS in the local market. And if you are intending to practice in SG, NUS gives you the local connections that you don't get if you study overseas.

The relative costs of an education in LSE vs NUS, plus the risks of studying in London with its higher incidence of COVID, tilts the decision even more strongly in favour of NUS.

Originally Posted by Rorty

I would go for NUS. LSE is generally seen as less selective and not as prestigious compared to NUS in the local market. And if you are intending to practice in SG, NUS gives you the local connections that you don't get if you study overseas.

The relative costs of an education in LSE vs NUS, plus the risks of studying in London with its higher incidence of COVID, tilts the decision even more strongly in favour of NUS.

Actually the statistics show otherwise - LSE has a 6% admission rate and a cap of less than 20 Singaporean students versus a school that takes 200+ a year. Which is more selective? Look at the numbers.

So selective, I'm not so sure. Prestige arguments, I'm also not so sure if you look at the pedigree of who graduated from LSE vs who graduated from NUS, in Singapore and internationally. NUS makes good Singapore lawyers at the top 5-10% (and not the average and bottom). LSE makes Singapore and international lawyers and a lot more than just legal drones.

The reason why there is a lack of representation in Singapore is that LSE takes in 10% of NUS cohort per year or less. A good proportion stay in the UK, the rest come back. They also go on to do things other than law (the benefit of an LSE degree).

But the practice of Singapore law, NUS. This is a fact of utility rather than prestige, because it is 4 years SG law vs 3 years UK law. Should the argument be reversed, LSE would be more prestigious to an international law firm doing UK law by virtue of having 3 years LLB in UK law, which is a stupid comparison.

Sure arguments can be made either way. But the fact is you're 100% not prejudiced locally by choosing LSE. Two people have already given you the statistics, so you are able to make an informed choice. However, no one also has refuted the fact that you need to be top 10-20% of NUS to work at an international firm at the outset.

Second, half (?) of the NUS batch gets a 2.2 (correct me if I'm wrong). Take that into account. At LSE, Oxford and Cambridge you won't have to cannibalise your own classmates.

Local connections, yes. This is important.

Covid - yes, stay in Singapore.