Lawyer Salary

Any firms with horrible retention rates to take note of...? And how to boost chances of retention...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Any firms with horrible retention rates to take note of...? And how to boost chances of retention...

1. Be handsome or chio.
2. Be smart award winner.
3. Be top 10%.

Hi everyone, I'm a third year student at one of the local universities and I've accepted a TC with the SG office of a MC firm. I'm interested in corporate m&a practice, and I'm thinking of reneging on my TC offer to pursue a JD at Harvard/Columbia/Stanford. The long term goal is to practice in New York or San Francisco, and eventually transition back to SG as a partner in a US firm or as in house legal counsel to a MNC.

I'm only aware of one senior who is pursuing a JD at Harvard after completing his NUS LLB, but he's heading for litigation and/or arbitration practice in the US.

Would a JD be worth it for corporate m&a practice?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi everyone, I'm a third year student at one of the local universities and I've accepted a TC with the SG office of a MC firm. I'm interested in corporate m&a practice, and I'm thinking of reneging on my TC offer to pursue a JD at Harvard/Columbia/Stanford. The long term goal is to practice in New York or San Francisco, and eventually transition back to SG as a partner in a US firm or as in house legal counsel to a MNC.

I'm only aware of one senior who is pursuing a JD at Harvard after completing his NUS LLB, but he's heading for litigation and/or arbitration practice in the US.

Would a JD be worth it for corporate m&a practice?

Sure if you can afford to go YHS go for it and end up in WLRK, CSM, Skadden and the likes. If you can’t or don’t have pedigree to graduate top 20% there, then might as well save the money finish your TC and negotiate a good lateral to the US.

I am a very junior Assoc. Would appreciate seniors thoughts.

Would it be frowned upon if I leave out a very short stint on a CV?

Very junior PQE Assoc here. I have a 3-4 mth CV gap after getting called, as I took time out after getting called.

Started out in a small size firm (Law Firm A), but left after 1 month. Unfortunately, it just didnt suit me.

Spent 1 year in practice somewhere else in a mid size (Law Firm B) doing liti, and currently around 5-6 months into my present place (Law Firm C), also mid, doing liti, with corp, but smaller firm than my previous employer.

Thinking of applying out, to other Law Firms, In-House and Gov as a Civil Servant as Law

Firm C is quite toxic and its a daily minefield, dont think I can last much longer. Rampant infighting, angkat bola. Still have to serve 2 months notice.

Should I leave out my time in Law Firm A? Seniors any thoughts?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am a very junior Assoc. Would appreciate seniors thoughts.

Would it be frowned upon if I leave out a very short stint on a CV?

Very junior PQE Assoc here. I have a 3-4 mth CV gap after getting called, as I took time out after getting called.

Started out in a small size firm (Law Firm A), but left after 1 month. Unfortunately, it just didnt suit me.

Spent 1 year in practice somewhere else in a mid size (Law Firm B) doing liti, and currently around 5-6 months into my present place (Law Firm C), also mid, doing liti, with corp, but smaller firm than my previous employer.

Thinking of applying out, to other Law Firms, In-House and Gov as a Civil Servant as Law

Firm C is quite toxic and its a daily minefield, dont think I can last much longer. Rampant infighting, angkat bola. Still have to serve 2 months notice.

Should I leave out my time in Law Firm A? Seniors any thoughts?

Yes just leave it. No one cares.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi everyone, I'm a third year student at one of the local universities and I've accepted a TC with the SG office of a MC firm. I'm interested in corporate m&a practice, and I'm thinking of reneging on my TC offer to pursue a JD at Harvard/Columbia/Stanford. The long term goal is to practice in New York or San Francisco, and eventually transition back to SG as a partner in a US firm or as in house legal counsel to a MNC.

I'm only aware of one senior who is pursuing a JD at Harvard after completing his NUS LLB, but he's heading for litigation and/or arbitration practice in the US.

Would a JD be worth it for corporate m&a practice?

Makes no sense. With MC training, you can get into a top tier US firm with no reason to go out and get another degree. Do your TC at the MC, get SG and NY-called during the training, then lateral out after a year. Far better route.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Makes no sense. With MC training, you can get into a top tier US firm with no reason to go out and get another degree. Do your TC at the MC, get SG and NY-called during the training, then lateral out after a year. Far better route.

Silly advice. If you can get into Harvard JD, you should do it.
Harvard you know

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Sure if you can afford to go YHS go for it and end up in WLRK, CSM, Skadden and the likes. If you can’t or don’t have pedigree to graduate top 20% there, then might as well save the money finish your TC and negotiate a good lateral to the US.

If the goal is to work in a US firm eventually, you can just complete your two year training contract (and ideally get both SG and UK qualified while you are at it) and lateral thereafter. No need to sacrifice another three years studying for a JD when the end result is the same.

Like the poster said, if money is no object then you certainly go for it.

The JD may be helpful if you want to work for the more prestigious shops.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If the goal is to work in a US firm eventually, you can just complete your two year training contract (and ideally get both SG and UK qualified while you are at it) and lateral thereafter. No need to sacrifice another three years studying for a JD when the end result is the same.

Like the poster said, if money is no object then you certainly go for it.

The JD may be helpful if you want to work for the more prestigious shops.

Don't believe this horse-crap. The only prestigious US firms which truly require a Harvard or Columbia JD are those which are not "international" i.e. those which have one office in the US and so are very selective but also have an extremely small intake - Cravath or Wachtell, for example.

Most other large US firms (especially those at the very top) have moved with the times and are open to hiring from a wide range of universities (including from those many would widely consider less prestigious), even non-JDs.

I'm not trying to say that there is no value in a Harvard JD, but there is the opportunity cost to consider. You can weigh for that yourself.