Singapore Minister Says Lawyer Attrition Needs Attention

Singapore's Minister K Shanmugam says issues with lawyers leaving their jobs and workplace culture need to be taken seriously.

He also says that people who want to be lawyers should know that the job can be very stressful.

Mr Shanmugam was speaking at the National University of Singapore Law freshmen inauguration ceremony.

A recent study found problems like long work hours, bad workplace culture, and pressure on lawyers.

Official numbers show that the rate of lawyers leaving their jobs has stayed about the same over the past decade.

About 60% of lawyers are still working after five years, and about 40% are still working after ten years.

The number of lawyers in Singapore has grown by 26% in the past few years.

The rate of lawyers leaving their jobs is stable, and the number of lawyers is growing.

But Mr Shanmugam says that doesn't mean there aren't any problems.

He says the profession and courts need to look at the issues and collect more data to understand the problems.

Mr Shanmugam says you need to understand the size of the problem before you can fix it.

He told new law students that if they want to be top lawyers, they should expect to work very hard.

A first-year lawyer at a top firm can earn over $100,000 per year.

After a few years, the best lawyers can earn around $200,000 to $300,000 per year.

The government and legal service also offer competitive salaries to attract good lawyers.

Mr Shanmugam says that when you get paid a lot, you can expect to work very hard and have high expectations.

He says it's a choice to work in a high-pressure job or to choose a different pace of life.

Some law firms care about their employees' quality of life, so you can choose to work with them.

But Mr Shanmugam says that doesn't excuse bad treatment of lawyers, like bullying or harassment.

These issues need to be taken seriously.

Mr Shanmugam also talked about what makes Singapore's legal industry successful.

He says it's because of the country's economic growth and adherence to the rule of law.

Without economic growth, the legal profession wouldn't be as successful.

Mr Shanmugam compared Singapore to South Korea, which has many more lawyers.

Singapore has around 6,400 lawyers, while South Korea has about 34,000 lawyers.

Singapore also has a higher ratio of lawyers to citizens than South Korea.

Mr Shanmugam says Singapore focuses on its people and service industries, including law.

Singapore is the second most preferred place for international arbitration after London.

But Mr Shanmugam warns that Singapore's position can't be taken for granted.

Investors trust Singapore because the rule of law is followed.

Mr Shanmugam says the legal framework provides certainty and stability for investors.

Contracts are enforced, and the courts are well-functioning and credible.

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