Introduction

The Straits Times reported that in 2021, the legal profession saw a record 538 lawyers leave the profession, amongst which, 310 were junior lawyers (less than 5 years of practice). This article generated a myriad of comments and speculation about the state and future of the industry. While we are not suggesting that we are in a position to solve this problem (if it were a problem at all), we proffer our two cents worth given that our firm managed to help two juniors get called to the Bar last year (Link to our 5-min Read).  

We preface our thoughts by highlighting that the statistics cited do not fully represent the state of more general economic affairs. The figures provided by The Law Society of Singapore (i.e. the 538 who left) are, strictly speaking, the number of lawyers who gave up maintaining their practicing certificate/practicing licence. To illustrate the point, if a lawyer chooses to leave a Singapore Law Practice and take up employment “in-house” in a business company, this lawyer will contribute to the statistical number of 538 but may not have left the law behind. The seemingly alarming statistics therefore do not necessarily represent a hollowing out of the profession. It is possible that the change represents a natural evolution of the industry.

We took this opportunity to have a chat with Zachary, Lucas, Tianjun, and Gillian, our young lawyers, to find out why they think many of their peers have left this perhaps once “coveted” profession and why, despite the mass exodus, they have chosen to stay.

Why are Young Lawyers Leaving Practice?

The perceived and perpetuated expectation that any semblance of a work-life balance must be sacrificed as a lawyer, and the realisation that “you can earn as much doing something else less taxing and more enjoyable”, are the main reasons why Zachery believes many of his peers have left practice.

Lucas was of the view that there is a general shift in priorities amongst young people. “In our generation, we want to work hard on something meaningful”. Tianjun shared the view, “We are benefactors of the success of our parents’ generation. We have the privilege of wanting more than mere survival”, said Tianjun.

Of course, all this is but mere speculation and anecdotes taken in isolation. An industry-wide survey is perhaps the only way to truly get to the bottom of the matter. The actual reasons for the exodus are likely to be multi-faceted and highly dependent on varied personal circumstances.

Our Executive Director, Mark, noticed a trend of more young lawyers “going in-house” at an earlier stage. Ten years ago, it was almost unheard of for companies to hire in-house legal counsel without at least three years of post-qualification experience. These days, in-house teams are more sophisticated and have the capabilities to train their own juniors even straight out of university. It may also be that in-house salaries are getting more competitive, as more multi-national companies set up their Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.

Why are we still here?

Our young lawyers had their own reasons for staying with That.Legal, many of which are incredibly personal. We thank them for so candidly sharing their views with us and hope that their input may provide clarity and perspective to those who are tussling with this issue.

Our Counsel, Tianjun, who specialises in intangible asset dispute resolution shared, “I am drawn to the intellectual rigor of law, especially the strategic nature of litigation – it’s like a game of chess. I am glad the firm is expanding. The team can now take turns to be present at life’s most precious moments”.

Zachery attributes a big part of his decision to stay to his colleagues who understand the importance of maintaining a life outside the law. “While practice inevitably entails uncertain working hours and the pressures of being efficient yet meticulous in a high-pace environment, I have had the privilege of still being able to pursue my personal hobbies and maintaining a social life outside work”, he says.

Lucas appreciates the autonomy given to him. In particular, he cherishes the opportunity for his “ideas to be heard and implemented”. When he contrasts his experiences with that of his peers, some of whom are having a difficult time, he casually shrugged his shoulders and said, “That.Legal is not a miserable place to work”.

Of Counsel, Gillian, who is, no longer strictly speaking, a junior category lawyer, remarked that working at That.Legal, in its hybrid work-from-home culture, has allowed her the flexibility she needs to advance her legal career and be present for her baby, “I appreciate not having to ask for time off to be a parent. We are judged based on the output of our work, not the number of hours spent in the office”.

Closing Thoughts

Our directors Jonathan and Mark shared the view that there are “exponential rewards that await those who are able to stay the course”, referring to lawyers who choose to remain in practice for over 10 to 20 years.

To junior lawyers who may be reacting to harsh environments, Mark expressed his concern, “They may not be giving themselves enough of an opportunity to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Law is a technical profession which requires over 10,000 hours of practice to achieve a basic level of skills mastery. This roughly corresponds to 6 years in practice.”

Jonathan, who has over 20 years of experience as a practicing lawyer chimed in, “Lawyers will inevitably spend a substantial proportion of their adult lives practicing law. Before committing to the long haul, we should ask ourselves why we are doing this. Different people have different priorities. Law is not for everybody.”

Ultimately, the message from our directors is clear. Whether to stay, or go, are both respectable choices. While achieving professional competency is important, our generation will not wait till we retire to be happy – work-life balance is equally vital. At That.Legal, our mission is to help our juniors make informed choices and to create a conducive environment that facilitates the acquisition of valuable skills.

If you need assistance with any technology or Intellectual Property protection, commercialisation or dispute resolution, feel free to reach out to us to arrange a free 45-minute consultation. We’re always happy to help #THATistheway #LetsTalkAboutYourChallenge

Featured at:

• Today Online, The Big Read: Burnt out and disillusioned, young lawyers head for the exit — and the industry is worried by Low Youjin (Link to TODAY Article)