Lawyer Salary

That’s why we alr said if you compare big 4 and BMWL - which to go is a no brainer.

One pays you a base of 7.5

One pays you a base of 4.5 frontload ~1.5

The small firms pay you a base of 4.5 but if the firm does well financially you get 4-5 months. So same as b4, but for better hours

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That’s why we alr said if you compare big 4 and BMWL - which to go is a no brainer.

One pays you a base of 7.5

One pays you a base of 4.5 frontload ~1.5

The small firms pay you a base of 4.5 but if the firm does well financially you get 4-5 months. So same as b4, but for better hours

You're forgetting exit options. It's easier to jump to international firms and inhouse counsel roles with B4 on ur CV, which still carries some brand name and is widely regarded as a good training ground, at least for corp.

A small firm doesn't open that many doors and you would be seriously disadvantaged compared to the legion of B4 associates also looking to move around the same time.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You're forgetting exit options. It's easier to jump to international firms and inhouse counsel roles with B4 on ur CV, which still carries some brand name and is widely regarded as a good training ground, at least for corp.

A small firm doesn't open that many doors and you would be seriously disadvantaged compared to the legion of B4 associates also looking to move around the same time.

some hiring managers in MNCs won't shortlist you if you don't have B4/intl firm experience

Originally Posted by Unregistered

why? Isnt front load a constant pay?

It's constant insofar as you stay in the firm (i.e. they aren't going to claw it back at the end of the year for "poor performance" or if they give you a "low bonus").

The way the bonus works is that you are "guaranteed" (unless you quit) x mths of bonus a year, that is frontloaded into your salary. And at the end of the year you get a discretionary y mths of bonus. Ignore the x mths of bonus (that's just your salary calculated another way for their benefit).

Essentially, it just allows the firm to get away with paying a "lower" bonus since a 6-7 mth bonus is actually 2-3 mths, as about 4 mths have been "frontloaded" into your salary throughout the year. Additionally, your 2-3 mths bonus is not even as high as you expect, since the bonus is based on "un-frontloaded" salary. It also allows firm to clawback your frontloaded "bonus" component of your salary if you choose to quit (since the bonus is contingent on you staying for the full quarter/mid-year/year).

Seems like the only conclusion from the above posts are there its not worth joining a sg firm

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Seems like the only conclusion from the above posts are there its not worth joining a sg firm

agree. London better.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Seems like the only conclusion from the above posts are there its not worth joining a sg firm

i mean if u can join an int'l firm then of cos better la. the majority of people can't so suck thumb lor

Aiya anw you chose this path. lawyering is far from the best job in terms of effort-to-reward ratio, everybody knows that. u can hv a much better or more lucrative life doing other things

some jobs dont need to put in that many hours but you need to compete in other ways, like sucking up to the right ppl, wayanging playing office politics and tai-ching away work

other jobs like sales, you can get by if you're a smooth talker and know how to schoomze with various ppl. best industries r those u can do jack all and full of not so bright chiobus in the same industry u can trick into getting urself laid

at the junior level, law demands a certain kind of personality that requires u to suck it up or quit, and hang around highly strung plain-Jane nerdy girls to boot

Originally Posted by Unregistered

some hiring managers in MNCs won't shortlist you if you don't have B4/intl firm experience

Interned as a recruiter before. Can confirm this.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Seems like the only conclusion from the above posts are there its not worth joining a sg firm

It’s fine if you’re willing to suck up the shittier pay, same long working hours, for the prospect of making the leap to an international firm a couple of years post-qualification, get a decent in-house job, or the slim chance of making partner.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i mean if u can join an int'l firm then of cos better la. the majority of people can't so suck thumb lor

Aiya anw you chose this path. lawyering is far from the best job in terms of effort-to-reward ratio, everybody knows that. u can hv a much better or more lucrative life doing other things

some jobs dont need to put in that many hours but you need to compete in other ways, like sucking up to the right ppl, wayanging playing office politics and tai-ching away work

other jobs like sales, you can get by if you're a smooth talker and know how to schoomze with various ppl. best industries r those u can do jack all and full of not so bright chiobus in the same industry u can trick into getting urself laid

at the junior level, law demands a certain kind of personality that requires u to suck it up or quit, and hang around highly strung plain-Jane nerdy girls to boot

It should be noted that at the junior level for corp, A&G and WongP corp provide good training which is superior to BMWL. They have an established system for training fresh graduates, although for corp one should always take an opportunity from CC if it arises. For litigation, for training purposes it would highly depend on the team you are assigned to. Davinder Singh chambers under DS himself > random litigator under Big 4/intl firm.