Lawyer Salary

Has anyone ever done the following:

1. Do your RLT in a practice that's not your top choice, and do your TC at a different firm for the practice that you want; or

2. Do your TC in a practice that's not your top choice, and qualify/get employed at a different firm for the practice that you want?

Let's assume that RLT/TC/Qualifying practice are all transactional (Corp, B&F, etc.) and that the firms in which you practise are of equal standing.


Any advice on this?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can I ask which SG local firm is the best feeder firm into intl firms?

Big 4/BM/DR ok?

also, my friend was saying nowadays its possible to jump from SG local firm into US firms straight, without doing a stint with the UK firms. is this true? or a stint with the UK firms before the US firms is always necessary?

Thanks a lot!

Best feeder firm = A&G
Then WongP
Then R&T, SLB, D&N
DR is quite a way down. Haven't really heard of ppl from firms outside of this list (nor from DR) getting into good international firms directly.

Some ppl consider BM an international firm... but if you are considering BM a local firm, I would say it is probably around the same as A&G.

100% true that you don't need UK stint before US firms - I don't know if this was ever true... I know many ppl from A&G/WP who have made the jump to US firms directly.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Best feeder firm = A&G
Then WongP
Then R&T, SLB, D&N
DR is quite a way down. Haven't really heard of ppl from firms outside of this list (nor from DR) getting into good international firms directly.

Some ppl consider BM an international firm... but if you are considering BM a local firm, I would say it is probably around the same as A&G.

100% true that you don't need UK stint before US firms - I don't know if this was ever true... I know many ppl from A&G/WP who have made the jump to US firms directly.

Am the OP. Thanks so much for the answer!

Could I ask whether it’s more worthwhile to get called in Singapore first, do a stint with the SG Big 4 and then jump to an international firm? Or getting into one of those 2-year rotation programmes and do stints in various practice areas?

I’m asking because clocking in the 2 PQE seems better than 4 x half year PQE in 4 areas…

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Best feeder firm = A&G
Then WongP
Then R&T, SLB, D&N
DR is quite a way down. Haven't really heard of ppl from firms outside of this list (nor from DR) getting into good international firms directly.

Some ppl consider BM an international firm... but if you are considering BM a local firm, I would say it is probably around the same as A&G.

100% true that you don't need UK stint before US firms - I don't know if this was ever true... I know many ppl from A&G/WP who have made the jump to US firms directly.

Always wondered, nowadays, does BM pay significantly than the local big 4?

Seems NQ big 4 is at the 7.5K mark… anyone knows the NQ monthly for BM?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Always wondered, nowadays, does BM pay significantly than the local big 4?

Seems NQ big 4 is at the 7.5K mark… anyone knows the NQ monthly for BM?

TSMP paying 9k NQ. New market high

Anyone in big 4 litigation been working like 5 days a week (and weekends) till late night? How do you adjust to the hours and the stress?
Should I transfer to corp? Are the hours better?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Always wondered, nowadays, does BM pay significantly than the local big 4?

Seems NQ big 4 is at the 7.5K mark… anyone knows the NQ monthly for BM?

Yes, BM NQ is 9.5k (from call, not from January like the B4)

2019 call is around 15.5-16k. B4 is around 10.5-11k.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes, BM NQ is 9.5k (from call, not from January like the B4)

2019 call is around 15.5-16k. B4 is around 10.5-11k.

wait so when you get called in Aug in a B4, how much do you get? since you only get the 7.5k the following january

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Am the OP. Thanks so much for the answer!

Could I ask whether it’s more worthwhile to get called in Singapore first, do a stint with the SG Big 4 and then jump to an international firm? Or getting into one of those 2-year rotation programmes and do stints in various practice areas?

I’m asking because clocking in the 2 PQE seems better than 4 x half year PQE in 4 areas…

You're welcome.

By 2 year rotation programmes, I assume you mean the international firms' 2 year training programmes where you spend 2 years as a trainee and rotate across 4 practice areas, and then qualify as an NQ afterwards (even though you are already SG qualified after the first 6 months)? I know CC and Links offer this, and with Links you become SG and UK qualified.

If so, I would say it's quite a bit better to do your TC with an international firm, simply because you're essentially guaranteed a job with an international firm (assuming you are retained). Your career shouldn't be slowed down due to the rotation across practice areas, and in most cases this wider exposure is actually a benefit to you. The training at MC firms is also on the whole, much better than your average B4. TCs from MC firms are also MUCH harder to get than B4.

In terms of timing, bear in mind that as a general rule, laterals from B4 to MC firms get a 1-2 year PQE discount. This means there shouldn't be much of a difference in PQE between candidates who graduate at the same time, where one did the 2 year trainee programme with an international firm, and the other lateraled after training at a B4. But of course, your mileage may vary.

All in all, I would almost definitely always choose the international (MC) firm TC over a B4 TC.

Any thoughts on R&T TMT for TC applications?

Also, exit opportunities?