What is Training?

The Singapore Ministry of Law in February 2009 announced changes to the process of law graduates being called to the Singapore bar. Instead of serving a 6 months Pupillage with a Singapore law firm, law graduates must now undergo 6 or 12 months of Training with a Singapore law firm.

When does Training take place?

For law graduates of Singapore universities, they must attend the equivalent of the Practical Law Course for 5 months from July to November, and pass Part B of the Bar Examination to be held in December. They will then Train with a Singapore law firm for 6 months from January to June under a Practice Training Contract, and be called to the Singapore bar in July or August. 

For law graduates of recognised foreign universities without prior legal experience, they can attend a 3 months course at the National University of Singapore from August to October, and must pass Part A of the Bar Examination to be held in November. They will then undego Supervised Training for 6 months with a Singapore law firm from January to June. Next, they will attend the equivalent of the Practical Law Course for 5 months from July to November, and must pass Part B of the Bar Examination to be held in December. They will then Train for 6 months from January to June under a Practice Training Contract, and be called to the Singapore bar in July or August. 

Please refer to the Ministry of Law's website and the Board of Legal Education's website for further details.

What can I expect as a Trainee at Lee & Lee?

We recruit our Trainees with the aim of retaining them as Associates, and we do retain the vast majority of our Trainees.

Lee & Lee is known to have a friendly working environment, and our Trainees are treated and trained well.

Trainees will be assigned to the department that they are recruited for. Nevertheless, the training program is flexible in that a Trainee can switch departments, or work in 2 departments at the same time to find out which department he or she is suited for.

Trainees will be exposed to 2 of the 4 practice areas that they are supposed to be exposed to, namely, civil litigation, criminal litigation, conveyancing and corporate.

Trainees will be supervised by a Supervising Solicitor from the department thay they are recruited for. All our lawyers listed as Partners qualify as Supervising Solicitors except for Mr Christopher De Souza. 

Our Trainees and Associates are trained and guided by our Partners including a Senior Counsel and about 10 Partners each with more than 20 years of experience. Our Associates are also given responsibilities early on in their careers like dealing with a corporate client, or arguing a trial in Court on behalf of a litigation client.

Our Trainees and Associates are also exposed to a diverse range of clients with differing needs. We have many established and prominent clients. Given our firm’s reputation, we also attract many walk-in clients who are men in the street with legal problems or issues that they need help with.

What is the pay?

Currently, our Trainees are paid an honorarium of $1,500 per month during their Training, and $300 per month during the Practical Law Course.

Our Trainess who are retained as Associates will be paid the market rate. They will also be reimbursed the fees for the Practical Law Course as well as the fees for their call papers which will be about $5,000 in total. 

How many positions are available?

We are currently looking to recruit about 12 Trainees a year. 

Which universities are our Trainees from?

We have recruited Trainees from a diverse range of universities including the 2 Singapore Universities that offer law degrees, recognised English universities and recognised Australian universities.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in Training with us, please send your covering letter and CV to our Recruitment Partners, Mr Matthew Saw and Mr Julian Tay, at matthewsaw@leenlee.com.sg and juliantay@leenlee.com.sg respectively. Please state in your covering letter which department(s) you are interested in.

When can I apply?

Students who will graduate from Singapore universities in 2012 or who will graduate from recognised foreign universities in 2011 can apply to us from September 2010 onwards.