Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not sure if this is the correct forum to ask. I was offered a training contract with a mid sized law firm at $1500 per month with no allowance while doing the bar exam. Some of my friends are still looking for a training contract while others who obtained training contracts are generally offered $2000 per month with $500 allowance while doing the bar exam. My question is whether $1500 per month with no allowance for bar exam is normal for a mid sized law firm.

"others who obtained training contracts are generally offered $2000 with $500 allowance".

Which firms are you referring to? Apart from the Big 4 and some of the larger firms, $1500 seems to be the market rate for mid-sized firms. Even L&L is offering trainees only $1500 / $300.

I think the big 4 are offering 1.5k...I've actually heard of firms not offering anything, and some that don't even offer to pay the bar fees

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Which firms are you referring to?

Yes, these are the big four and the larger firms. In any case, very thankful that I was offered a training contract and I have accepted the offer. Now just need to make sure I get at least a second lower and pass the bar exam. I also hear that because of the poor market, trainees who got retained are now paid around $2500-$3000. No more the $3500-$4500 like before. But it's ok, market has its ups and downs.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes, these are the big four and the larger firms. In any case, very thankful that I was offered a training contract and I have accepted the offer. Now just need to make sure I get at least a second lower and pass the bar exam. I also hear that because of the poor market, trainees who got retained are now paid around $2500-$3000. No more the $3500-$4500 like before. But it's ok, market has its ups and downs.

Wow. Which firms actually pay $2.5-$3k?

Are you a Y3/4? Any idea what's the general situation for TC apps? How many % of the cohort has gotten a TC?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Wow. Which firms actually pay $2.5-$3k?

Are you a Y3/4? Any idea what's the general situation for TC apps? How many % of the cohort has gotten a TC?

The $2.5k is what I heard, not sure how true is it. Was even told that there are cases of trainees who were not retained offered to continue to work for the same allowance or no pay.

Don't know about the % of cohort that has gotten a TC. But I know it is extremely hard. I wrote in to so many firms and many of them didn't even reply, it was not funny. I also got no offers from the firms that I interned with. Maybe it is because my results are not that great.

Maybe there are others who can share their experience.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes, these are the big four and the larger firms. In any case, very thankful that I was offered a training contract and I have accepted the offer. Now just need to make sure I get at least a second lower and pass the bar exam. I also hear that because of the poor market, trainees who got retained are now paid around $2500-$3000. No more the $3500-$4500 like before. But it's ok, market has its ups and downs.

2500-3000 are you serious or are your friends joking?

even my juniors who are interns are expected to work till 8 past and at the amount, we're better off driving uber!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

A lot of people still find a law degree a good investment due to the graduate employment survey and parents' influence. I don't think the glut will go away anytime soon

Yes, the glut will not go away anytime soon simply because law is still very attractive to parents and the annual salary reports, not to mention how the media portrays the legal industry. Don't forget SIM graduating class in a few years too.

it is disappointing that the industry is not making use of this glut to train more lawyers but doing their best to push people away by suppressing pay.

sometimes i talk to my interns during lunch and very few of them actually intend to stay in the industry

Originally Posted by Unregistered

2500-3000 are you serious or are your friends joking?

even my juniors who are interns are expected to work till 8 past and at the amount, we're better off driving uber!

You need to check out the LawSoc's training contract directory page (://.lawsociety.org.sg/Becoming-a-Lawyer/Training-Contracts/Training-Contracts-Listings)

One firms is offering $300 to RLTs? A couple of others are offering $800 for trainees? And $1k seems to pretty common.

Any comments, seniors?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You need to check out the LawSoc's training contract directory page (://.lawsociety.org.sg/Becoming-a-Lawyer/Training-Contracts/Training-Contracts-Listings)

One firms is offering $300 to RLTs? A couple of others are offering $800 for trainees? And $1k seems to pretty common.

Any comments, seniors?

sick just sick. $300 for RLT is not enough to cover transport. must be one of those crappy 1 to 2 man chinatown firms who must actually advertise on the Law Soc website for people to actually apply there.

don't go there unless you are desperate. its beneath the dignity of an LLB holder, regardless of whether you studied in Singapore or overseas. You can get more value with your law degree by applying to other industries / civil service. Unless of course, you're a 50 Shades of Grey fan (read: sucker for punishment).

Does anyone do banking & finance here? I'm considering a TC offer with a B&F practice group, even though I was more inclined to do M&A (cos I interned before and sort of know what they do at a junior level).

Any seniors can enlighten me on what junior associates do in B&F? Would really appreciate it!!