Legal Sector

[Ironstarz]

Hmmm just wondering what is a job of a para legal ? Been planning to take up some part time studies to beef up myself while i'm still young, dunno is there a good career prospect for this? Can anyone advise? Thanks

[Snowbell]

part-time studies on wat course u plannin to take?

paralegal mostly employed in the litigation sector,so you'll be assisting the lawyers to draft legal documents & prepare simple legal letters & familiarise yourself with court documents, timeline to file court documents,& procedures.

for paralegal,career prospect wise not really there,you work 10yrs you still a paralegal.i could oni say paralegal is one rank above legal secretary.

[Ironstarz]

I'm planning to take a diploma in Para-Legal Studies, just to share i'm a civil servant and i'm not really afraid of losing my job as i'm placed under a bond and i won't have much problems to transits to the next phase of my contract, this diploma is just to serve as a stepping stone and maybe " beautify" my credentials and after this maybe i would like to seek a degree related to this subject. As learning is a life long continuous journey so why not make myself useful while i'm young

[Snowbell]

hi,all the best for your studies if you do intend to take on.no harm trying to learn more in life.if u do intend to seek a degree related to this field,i assume this would mean degree in law??

[Ronnchee]

Paralegal, not here nor there.

 

Salary wise, not necessary more than legal sec.

 

 

[Hub_n_mona]

agreed, senior secretary can earn more..this one is based not on qualifications, but on experience

although I gotta say, I havent encountered a senior paralegal yet..

 

to TS, is the dipl useful in civil service? it isn't exactly "legal sector"..

you might want to explore some other options for beautifying

[Yuan]

I'm planning to take a diploma in Para-Legal Studies, just to share i'm a civil servant and i'm not really afraid of losing my job as i'm placed under a bond and i won't have much problems to transits to the next phase of my contract, this diploma is just to serve as a stepping stone and maybe " beautify" my credentials and after this maybe i would like to seek a degree related to this subject. As learning is a life long continuous journey so why not make myself useful while i'm young

 

You need to decide what you want with your life. You were asking "seek a degree related to this subject." If you are planning to be a full fledged lawyer, the usual route is by way of A levels and then NUS or the approved universities OR a diploma in legal studies through TP and then get into an approved universities. Once you get into an approved university, try to get at least a 2nd upper honours LLB. Come back and do your Dip Sing or PLC...The rest is history..This last portion I am not too sure as by the time u get your tertiary education, the recent changes or developments by the law minister would have come into place or maybe more changes.

 

But ask yourself....what u like to do.....with a legal qualification. A diploma in legal studies honestly won't get you anywhere. You definitely need to upgrade yourself with either a law degree or a degree of something else. If you want to have a good learning curve in the legal sector, it would be getting out of the civil service. Good career prospects? This is very subjective and very individual to a person. Ultimately, what u want to do with it.

 

If you want to stay in the civil service, you have to see whether your employers recognise your diploma and degree and in the legal sector, whether your law degree gives you the edge to become a qualified person in the future. If you have only a law degree in the civil service, you probably end up an APP in AGC or in house counsel in the statutory boards. Your career path is pretty limited. If you have a law degree that makes you eventually a lawyer or qualified person as they define it, you will be on a different path or track. You will be known as a "legal officer" in the civil service and your career path is going to be good and progressive depending on your performance. Of course, your salary will be different as you will then be part of the Legal Commission.

[Snowbell]

now dun haf to get 2nd upper class from approved foreign Uni already,2nd lower class can qualify already,& they are scrapping the Dip Sing & pupillage,replaced by an optional 3 months course & training contract.

[Yuan]

now dun haf to get 2nd upper class from approved foreign Uni already,2nd lower class can qualify already,& they are scrapping the Dip Sing & pupillage,replaced by an optional 3 months course & training contract.

 

This is very "fortunate" compared to my time. They are following the UK solicitors course.

Edited March 6, 2009 by Yuan

[Rickster]

Hmmm just wondering what is a job of a para legal ? Been planning to take up some part time studies to beef up myself while i'm still young, dunno is there a good career prospect for this? Can anyone advise? Thanks

 

Para legal is a term used for general admin staff working in the legal sector.

 

It can pays u slightly better than a general admin of other industries, but in the long run, no good coz very limited growth potential.

 

Unless u r contented with a 2-3K monthly salary, I'd advice you to invest ur time in other areas of ur interest.

 

[Mustank]

i agree with Yuan.

 

It all depends what you want to do in the area of law

 

Do you want a pte sector job or a public sector job?

 

For public sector, Even if you get a a recognised law degree but done get 2nd upper and above, if you employed by AGC, you are likely to be a APP and not DPP.

 

pte sector: you seriously need to get a law degree. Need to do the pupilage. Once you survive the the tough life, you will ulitmately need to find your own clients.

 

i know of lawyers who seriously think that bring in the business is so much more rewarding and fun than doing the law work itself.

 

 

 

lawyers in compliance business:

 

there are some role for lawyers in enforcement agencies in civil service and compliance division in financial instuitions

 

for example: cpib, cad, casino regulatory authority, MAS

 

FI: all banks, SGX

 

[Hub_n_mona]

also, you must see whether you like doing the job itself..

I know of people who have law degrees and left practice after a couple of years..the lifestyle, stress etc isn't for everyone

[Puteh83]

yup. my frd went back to practice becos of heavier fmaily burden...now lots of grey hair and looks tired all the time...

[Snowbell]

dat's y now the legal sector left with either the very old birds or very young eagles.those having about 7yrs experience r quite sought after for.

[Mikeyeo]

You have to decide as to what specialised legal field you want to pursue. It's an interest and a passion similar to that of doctors. They obtained their medical general degree first and later decides on whether to practice as a general practisioners or diversify into specialised medical field.

 

Again, it's all depend on yourself. Doing conveyencies is a very routine work while litigation and criminal are very specialised, indepth and challenging. The latter 2 see different cases daily, lots of research work and time and that's why all our top lawyers are in these categories.

 

Those who choose to be in the litigation and criminal eventually gave up practising as a lawyer simply because they can't take the pressure and having to put in a lot of their time.

 

When I was in my primary school age, I told my dad and mum that I wanted to be an architect because I simply loved to form buildings using different size timber blocks. During my time, lego was not even developed.

 

My dad would buy me many of such blocks so that I was able to expand my imaginations and creativities. Well, I studied very hard and focussing more on technical subjects as I already had my ambition set.

 

After obtaining a degree in architecture, I practiced for more than 10 years and in a way, I was fortunate that my 1st employer put me more on field work, designs, building contract laws rather than sitting in the office doing design works.

 

Thereafter, to further enriched and developed further knowledge, I joined various big developers. I was involved in, overseeing designs, handled building contracts, legal aspects, oversee local projects under development and jetting around to oversee overseas projects.

 

Having gaining all the experiences, I decided to diversify into building consultancy services specialising on ascertaining building defects and other building problems on existing developments and suggest appropriate rectification solutions.

 

I spent my day time surveying developments be it sun or rain. In addition, I have to establish whether the defects and/or problems were due to either the respective consultants or contractors faults.

 

In order to substantiate my findings, I have to do lots of research works even to the extent of corresponding with overseas professional bodies to obtain appropriate documents to support my reports and produced my survey reports from home at night.

 

If required, I have to attend court hearings and be an independent witness. My job took up lots of my time and energy but ultimately, it's my passion in such field and money will just come in.

 

My eldest son has completed his oversea university study and is now working in the building field while my 2nd (daughter) is still pursuing her university study. I can afford to sit back, enjoy life, take one day at a time and enjoy my other passion which are cars.

 

So, if you want to specialise in a certain legal field, you need to have lots of perserverences, love your job, work hard, do not give up because you are being over-stressed and I am sure that you will succeed in your career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ironstarz]

Thanks for all the feedback i do appreciate it, i'm plannint to get a diploma in legal studies in TP and as time pass i would want to further my education to degree related to what i have studied. I'll be honest , i'm in the military side, we need to constantly upgrade ourself hence i have no interest in doing those engineering stuff or science stuff, and i figure i have some interest in legal side, so why not :)