Singapore Lawyer Salary [Big 4 Law Firms] - updated September 2023

In a profession that is as rewarding as it is challenging, it can be particularly useful for aspiring lawyers to have an idea of what they might earn as they progress in their career. In this blog post, we take a closer look at the salary scales of lawyers in Singapore's "Big 4" law firms. Please note that the figures quoted in this article are largely based on information gathered from public forums and cross-checked across anonymous sources, thus may not be entirely accurate at times.

Allen and Gledhill LLP

• Traineeship: Public forums suggest that trainees at Allen and Gledhill LLP receive a monthly salary of $2,000 during their six-month traineeship period. With the traineeship duration expected to extend to one year, a proposed salary hike to $2,500 per month is anticipated. It's worth noting that the trainee pay has reportedly been stagnant at $2,000 since around 2006 across the Big 4 Law Firms.
• Legal Executive: In the period before lawyers are called to the Bar, typically lasting 1 month, the salary is said to be $3,000 per month.
• NQ (Newly Qualified): The monthly salary is said to be $7,000 ($5,600 base + $1,400 frontloaded bonus) from the start of August (a few weeks before being called to the Bar).
• 1PQE: In the subsequent year, compensation is said to rise to around $7,800 per month.
• Subsequent years: Specific salary progression details are not publicly available. However, it may be expected that the salary continues to experience an incremental increase of approximately $1,000 per month each year, in line with industry standards.

WongPartnership LLP

• Traineeship: Public forums suggest a similar pay scale for trainees at WongPartnership LLP, with a current monthly salary of $2,000. The proposed extension of the traineeship period to one year is expected to bring a corresponding pay rise to $2,500 per month.
• Legal Executive: For the brief 1-2 month period before being called to the Bar, the remuneration is said to be around $3,500 per month.
• NQ (Newly Qualified): Upon Bar admittance until the start of the following year, the monthly salary is said to be $6,800.
• 1PQE: In the subsequent year, compensation is reported to increase to $7,500 per month.
• Subsequent years: Similar to Allen and Gledhill, a consistent yearly increase of approximately $1,000 per month in line with industry standards.

Rajah and Tann LLP

• Traineeship: Based on online discussions, Rajah and Tann LLP seem to offer a slightly higher trainee pay, with current figures standing at $2,500 per month. It is unclear what they will raise their trainee pay to in light of upcoming changes to the traineeship structure.
• NQ (Newly Qualified): Unlike other firms, there is no interim period as a Legal Executive at Rajah and Tann. Trainees are said to move directly to an NQ position upon passing the Bar, with a supposed monthly salary of $7,000.
• 1PQE: The salary in the following year is said to increase modestly to $7,800 per month.
• Subsequent years: Like other law firms, a yearly increase of around $1,000 per month in salary is expected.

Drew and Napier LLC

• Traineeship: Drew and Napier LLC reportedly offers trainees a salary of $2,000 per month for the six months following the Part B Examinations.
• Legal Executive: For the short period of 1-2 months before lawyers are called to the Bar, the salary is said to stand at $7,000 per month, the same as Newly Qualified lawyers subsequently.
• NQ (Newly Qualified): After being called to the Bar, the salary is said to be $7,000 per month.
• 1PQE: The salary in the subsequent year is reported to increase to $7,500 per month.
• Subsequent years: Like the other Big 4 firms, Drew and Napier LLC's salaries are also believed to increase by about $1,000 per month each year.

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