Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

just another slight deviation -

darinne ko was not being unethical. if you even bothered reading the judgment (in which the accused prof was acquitted in the end), she came off more as an inexperienced, hapless 19/20 year old girl in love.. which was exactly what the court concluded anyway. also, as the other poster mentioned - if she was being unethical to the point of bringing disrepute to the profession, she would have hauled ass to the disciplinary tribunal and gotten disbarred.

tl;dr: OP is clearly not a lawyer nor from the legal industry. your opinions are therefore irrelevant.

You must be truly f_ucking stupid or have no moral compass at all if you think that Darinne Ko isn't unethical.

You do know that what is lawful might not be what is ethical, right? Or are you that daft?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You must be truly f_ucking stupid or have no moral compass at all if you think that Darinne Ko isn't unethical.

You do know that what is lawful might not be what is ethical, right? Or are you that daft?

Uh yeah so? Your point was that girls from rich, prestigious background can be unethical, citing Darinne as an example. Another poster (a real actual lawyer) after you has already pointed out that the legal profession is subject to ethical rules which is reflected in statute.

If Ms Ko is indeed unethical, then she would technically be in breach of aforementioned ethical rules that apply to the legal profession (arguably of a higher standard than whatever ethical code an ordinary layperson would be subject to) and disbarred. Yet today Ms Ko continues to practice law and Prof Tey is acquitted. Also please read the judgment for yourself seriously.

Either way no one really cares about your SJW ravings and how we should all revolt and open start-ups of our own and heck, Darinne Ko's ethics (or lack thereof) for that matter. This thread is for discussing salaries but do feel free to start another one hyping start-ups or how unethical the legal profession is or whatever, *shrug*.

First off, are you seriously licensed to practice law or do is it lawl? Because your logical fails are so pathetic.

I have never for one said start startups, or do a startup. Quote me, and prove me wrong. I dare you.

Second, you really believe that poster blah blah blah is a lawyer? How the hell do you know? I can masquerade as a lawyer too. Does it even matter? I am surprised you are so gullible to believe so and so is a lawyer on AN ANONYMOUS FORUM.

Third, you don't need to read a stupid friggin judgement to know that what the girl did was unethical la. Get it over your daft brain that what she did was morally despicable. But maybe you believe she's "gullible" and all that crap you just typed out earlier.. you're stupid enough to take the face value of what some posters have said about themselves anyways.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

just another slight deviation -


now can we please go back to talking about how much our salaries are going to get cut (again) this year?!

so i hear big 4 cutting NQ to 5.5?

Fm what I heard NQs in big 4 should be about 5-5.5k. And those below it (but in the top 10) should be about 4-4.5k.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Fm what I heard NQs in big 4 should be about 5-5.5k. And those below it (but in the top 10) should be about 4-4.5k.

Its not that bad.

4 to 4.5k are are like the real middle to lower middle tier firms and the usual sunset firms.

Big 4 is 5.5 to 6.2k

Top 10 should be 5k (at the very lowest) to 5.5k. Some actually pay in line with Big 4.

By the way, some Top 10 non-Big 4 firms are pretty good places to be in. Pay is decent and exit opportunities are good. Especially those recent tie-ups with international firms.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Its not that bad.

4 to 4.5k are are like the real middle to lower middle tier firms and the usual sunset firms.

Big 4 is 5.5 to 6.2k

Top 10 should be 5k (at the very lowest) to 5.5k. Some actually pay in line with Big 4.

By the way, some Top 10 non-Big 4 firms are pretty good places to be in. Pay is decent and exit opportunities are good. Especially those recent tie-ups with international firms.

I suppose these figures include front load? Without front load the 4-4.5 is pretty accurate.

And also a big LOL out to the bickering idiots above. Really made my night.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Third, you don't need to read a stupid friggin judgement to know that what the girl did was unethical la. Get it over your daft brain that what she did was morally despicable. But maybe you believe she's "gullible" and all that crap you just typed out earlier.. you're stupid enough to take the face value of what some posters have said about themselves anyways.

I'll bite. How exactly was Darinne Ko acting unethically in your view? The way I read it, she was perhaps naive and foolish, but I don't think she was unethical such that she's unfit to practise law. Morally unacceptable, maybe. But unethical in the vein of being deceitful or committing plagiarism? I don't think so. Bear in mind that stuff like adultery may be morally unacceptable, but that won't in and of itself render someone unfit to be a lawyer.

I would also question how you can be so sure of the exact facts of the case without reading the judgment (seeing that it could be anything from "mercenary student seduced prof with intention to improve her grades" to "despicable prof abused position and manipulated innocent and gullible student into sexual relations"), but that's a discussion for another day.

Whether you believe me or not, I can tell you that all lawyers, regardless of jurisdiction, are obliged to abide by the ethical standards of the profession, as set out by their governing bodies. We take them very, very seriously, because people can and do get hauled before disciplinary tribunals. Disbarrment is a real thing, not to mention a whole host of other sanctions like fines (eg http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...o/1782474.html).

Anyway, back to the topic. Word on the grapevine is that there might be a pay cut this year (including Big 4) because the markets aren't doing well. Any truth in that?

The idea of the big 4 is now outdated, pay-wise at least. They haven't been the top paymasters for a while now, and if the JLVs continue to hold starting salaries firm the disparity will only grow larger.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The idea of the big 4 is now outdated, pay-wise at least. They haven't been the top paymasters for a while now, and if the JLVs continue to hold starting salaries firm the disparity will only grow larger.

Which JLVs with higher salaries are you referring to?

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP? Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee? Watson Farley & Williams Asia Practice LLP? Withers Khattarwong? Morgan Lewis Stamford?

I know that Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee, or simply Lee & Lee, pays a rather low 4ks salary. Any idea about the rest?

But I know that Clifford Chance - Cavenagh Law pays a far superior salary.