Lawyer attrition concerns need to be taken seriously, more data needed: Shanmugam

A $60B Vote of Confidence

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Law freshmen inauguration ceremony was attended by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues raised by a recent Law Society study on lawyer attrition. The study identified long working hours, toxic workplace culture, pressure, derogatory or unfair treatment in court, concerns over whether legal practice remains a sustainable career, and the impact of artificial intelligence on lawyers as key issues. Mr Shanmugam noted that official figures showed attrition had remained 'broadly stable' over the past decade. He cited data Minister for Law Edwin Tong gave in Parliament in May, which showed that about 60 per cent of lawyers remained in practice after five years between 2015 and 2024, while about 40 per cent remained after 10 years. The number of practising Singapore lawyers grew by 26 per cent over the same period, while the number of in-house counsel increased by about one-third to around 4,800. Mr Shanmugam stressed that the rate of attrition is stable, but the size of the profession has grown steadily. However, he acknowledged that the issues raised by the study must be taken seriously and addressed. He proposed collecting more detailed and objective data, including how many lawyers have such complaints, as well as perspectives from law firms and the courts. This would help to size the problem and verify it, and then deal with it. Mr Shanmugam also addressed the incoming law students, warning them that those who aspire to practise law at the top end of the profession should expect demanding work. He noted that a first-year qualified lawyer at a top local firm can earn more than S$100,000 annually, with pay at the very top firms ranging from S$120,000 to S$140,000. After six to eight years, the best-performing lawyers may make junior partner and earn about S$200,000 to S$300,000 a year. He also mentioned that the government, legal service, and judicial service offer competitive salaries to attract talent, though not at the level of the highest-paying private firms. Mr Shanmugam emphasized that when you get paid like that, then the expectations and pressures are high. He concluded by saying that the legal profession in Singapore needs to make itself sustainable, not easier, and that the government and the courts must work together to address the issues raised by the study.