Lawyer Salary

How is life like at DSC? How's the pay and culture?

Need advice from folks here. No trolls pls.

Got an offer from NUS and SMU JD. But hearing all the negative news, I'm not sure if u shd accept either. Too many haolian fossil lawyers in the industry, they are so ancient that if u put them in the museum, ppl will pay to see them.

But it is such a rewarding career and it is more recession resistant than other career options. And the starting pay is good, mind u typical grad pay for other school is ard 3k.

Pls advise if I shd accept, and if yes, which one.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Need advice from folks here. No trolls pls.

Got an offer from NUS and SMU JD. But hearing all the negative news, I'm not sure if u shd accept either. Too many haolian fossil lawyers in the industry, they are so ancient that if u put them in the museum, ppl will pay to see them.

But it is such a rewarding career and it is more recession resistant than other career options. And the starting pay is good, mind u typical grad pay for other school is ard 3k.

Pls advise if I shd accept, and if yes, which one.

Recommend SUSS JD.
It’s the only JD program that allows you to keep your day job.
I mean we all need a day job to pay bills and all.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Need advice from folks here. No trolls pls.

Got an offer from NUS and SMU JD. But hearing all the negative news, I'm not sure if u shd accept either. Too many haolian fossil lawyers in the industry, they are so ancient that if u put them in the museum, ppl will pay to see them.

But it is such a rewarding career and it is more recession resistant than other career options. And the starting pay is good, mind u typical grad pay for other school is ard 3k.

Pls advise if I shd accept, and if yes, which one.

You think law is such a rewarding career but put off by haolian fossil lawyers? Bo ko leng leh. Your experience in the industry will be shaped by these fossils who are your bosses.

Btw, fossil is one thing. Haolian is universal. The new gen of lawyers are just as haolian, except that they broadcast it on LinkedIn as well which makes it worse imo. Many lawyers are insufferably elitist and it just comes with the territory of being one.

To your question, I don't think there's a discernable difference between NUS or SMU JD but SMU one has a more established branding and their career support is better.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You think law is such a rewarding career but put off by haolian fossil lawyers? Bo ko leng leh. Your experience in the industry will be shaped by these fossils who are your bosses.

Btw, fossil is one thing. Haolian is universal. The new gen of lawyers are just as haolian, except that they broadcast it on LinkedIn as well which makes it worse imo. Many lawyers are insufferably elitist and it just comes with the territory of being one.

To your question, I don't think there's a discernable difference between NUS or SMU JD but SMU one has a more established branding and their career support is better.

please, NUS over SMU always.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Need advice from folks here. No trolls pls.

Got an offer from NUS and SMU JD. But hearing all the negative news, I'm not sure if u shd accept either. Too many haolian fossil lawyers in the industry, they are so ancient that if u put them in the museum, ppl will pay to see them.

But it is such a rewarding career and it is more recession resistant than other career options. And the starting pay is good, mind u typical grad pay for other school is ard 3k.

Pls advise if I shd accept, and if yes, which one.

Read this blog from a ex SMU JD student, who would not recommend a JD:

://treeofprosperity.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-jd-aftermath-1-adult-education-and.html

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Read this blog from a ex SMU JD student, who would not recommend a JD:

://treeofprosperity.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-jd-aftermath-1-adult-education-and.html

His heart is obviously not in legal practice, as someone who's a self-proclaimed investment trainer and admits he took the JD out of "sheer vanity".

If you look at it from a pure ROI point of view, there's never a situation where taking a JD will produce better immediate returns than staying in your current career.

There are some people for whom practising law is an aspiration, regardless of their personal reasons or the opportunity and financial cost to them. His sharing fails to take this into account.

Actually if you're looking for pure ROI with the least investment, don't even bother to do law. Find a tech job or be a coder working for Shopee or whichever online shopping website is the current flavour of the month. You don't even need formal education as it can be self-taught.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

His heart is obviously not in legal practice, as someone who's a self-proclaimed investment trainer and admits he took the JD out of "sheer vanity".

If you look at it from a pure ROI point of view, there's never a situation where taking a JD will produce better immediate returns than staying in your current career.

There are some people for whom practising law is an aspiration, regardless of their personal reasons or the opportunity and financial cost to them. His sharing fails to take this into account.

Actually if you're looking for pure ROI with the least investment, don't even bother to do law. Find a tech job or be a coder working for Shopee or whichever online shopping website is the current flavour of the month. You don't even need formal education as it can be self-taught.

The fundamental issue with doing a JD here is that the local salaries simply don't justify making that mid-career or even post-bachelor's commitment to 4 - 5 years of studying + bar examinations + training. It does in the US where the salaries are on average significantly higher (and where there is no concept of training contracts).

I'm training at a small corporate law firm and wondering if it's possible to lateral into a bigger firm (e.g. big 4 or mid-term) after I get called. Do firms post job ads for legal executives? My grades are decent (strong second upper from NUS). Thanks!

Hi all,

Given the pay raises in Big 4 and several mid-sized firms, does anyone have any info on what the general NQ / 1PQE / 2PQE pay looks like outside of Big 4 now? What's considered competitive?

Thanks!