Our Training Philosophy

The Board of Legal Education recently introduced changes to the training regime for law graduates training to be called to the Singapore bar, including the introduction of training contracts and new training guidelines.

In line with these changes, we have streamlined our existing training programme for trainees to incorporate necessary enhancements, consistent with the latest requirements and guidelines stipulated by the BLE. Fundamentally, the core tenets underlying our training approach and philosophy remain unchanged.

·          We view training as a foundational cornerstone of the development of any lawyer. It is our philosophy that the Firm bears the responsibility of grooming and developing our lawyers, bringing out the best in them, and providing them with opportunities for professional growth and development. As such, the training and development of our junior lawyers has always been one of the Firm’s key priorities.

·          We aim to equip our trainees with the skills necessary for a fulfilling and successful legal career. We view training as a means of developing and enhancing the natural skills and competencies of our talent to make them the best lawyer that they can be. Training is much more than merely fulfilling the statutory requirements required for call. 

·          We believe that everyone learns best in a friendly and unthreatening environment. This explains for our open policy. Lawyers and partners (including our Managing Partner) address each other on a first name basis.  Trainees are strongly encouraged and we provide ample opportunities for our trainees to interact with our senior lawyers as part of our trainees’ induction into the profession. 

·          We adopt a wholistic approach to selecting trainees. Good lawyers are not always the ones with the best grades. While a good grounding in the law is important, we also want lawyers who share our passion for the practice of law, who are driven, who can think creatively and who care about their clients and their needs.

Legal training is a journey in apprenticeship. Nothing beats hands-on exposure and practical assimilation into practice life. Our trainees will be given the opportunity to assist in the preparation of cases, attend Court with our senior practitioners, participate in negotiations or client meetings, and work with our lawyers at different levels of seniority to experience first hand, what it takes to build a satisfying legal career.

Our Training Programme

Training contract candidates will be asked to indicate their preferred core practice group of choice during the interview process. If a training contract offer is made, the candidate will be given an indication of his or her likely assigned practice group so that an informed decision can be made on whether to accept the offer.

We offer training exposure in the four practice areas of civil litigation, criminal litigation, corporate practice and conveyancing practice prescribed by the Legal Profession (Practice Training Period) Rules 2009. In addition to training exposure in one primary practice area, our trainees will also be exposed to at least one other secondary practice area. In allocating the secondary practice area, we will endeavour to accommodate the trainees’ choice, as far as it is possible.

Your Supervising Solicitor has the primary responsibility for your training. He or she will assign you work, supervise and guide your work, provide feedback on your performance and ensure that you receive training in the requisite areas.  A list of Supervising Solicitors in the firm can be found here.

You can expect to receive work from not only your Supervising Solicitor but also other partners and lawyers in the practice group to which you have been assigned. When you are undergoing training exposure in your secondary practice area(s), you can also expect to receive work from the partners and lawyers of a different practice group. This is so that you would have the benefit of seeing and learning from a diversity of styles and approaches.

The firm runs an in- house training programme “Raising The Bar” or “RTB”. Raising The Bar was launched in January 2009 and is designed as a structured, skill based and practice focused programme aimed at equipping our trainees and associates with the necessary practical skills to effectively carry out their work over not just the first, but into the second and third years of their practice life.

RTB has been specially tailored with each course targeted at building in each of our young lawyers, the core skills and competencies required of them in their entry, first and second years of practice. With this, we hope to better prepare and equip them for professional practice life.

Trainers for Raising The Bar include senior members of the firm as well as external speakers such as accountants (who will run modules on understanding financial statements), visiting QCs (whenever possible) and R&T Alumni members who are now in in-house positions.

Raising The Bar is currently undergoing some refinements in view of the new BLE training requirements.

As we take training seriously, we want to continually excel and raise the standard of our training programme to the next level. In addition to the appointment of Partner in Charge of Training at the management level,  we have also recently brought on board, a Director of Training who has been tasked with looking into the training and professional development of our lawyers.

A Brief Word on Our Practice

We are one of the largest full service law firms in Singapore and the Asia Pacific. The firm has reputable legal practices throughout Asia and is active in the regional markets of Japan, South Asia, Indonesia and Vietnam, with regional teams that include lawyers who have practiced in the respective jurisdictions. We also have a representative office in Shanghai and an associate office in Kuala Lumpur.

Our dispute resolution practice is helmed by an impressive group of senior practitioners, including our five Senior Counsels, Sundaresh Menon, Andre Yeap, Toh Kian Sing, Lee Eng Beng and Francis Xavier. Many of our litigators previously represented Singapore in international law mooting competitions, including the prestigious Jessup Moots.

We are highly regarded for our leading lawyers and practices by prestigious international publications such as the Asia Pacific Legal 500 and Chambers Global and have regularly garnered many international awards and industry accolades. In January 2009, R&T became the only Asian firm to be ranked by the Global Arbitration Review amongst the top 25 international arbitration practices in the world.

It’s NOT All Work and No Play 

We believe in working and playing hard and seek to encourage a balanced lifestyle. That is why we were the first law firm to introduce a 5 day week and 'dress down' Fridays. It is also why we were the first firm to have a dedicated in-house cafe and lounge area, more affectionately known to our lawyers and staff as The Courtyard.

The typical day at Rajah& Tann starts with breakfast served at The Courtyard. Everyone, from the Managing Partner to our newest trainee, can feel at home at The Courtyard, sipping their morning cuppa or tucking in their morning sustenance.

At lunch or in the evenings after work, those of us with energy to spare battle it out on the full sized pool table, foosball tables or the XBox. It's a great way to bond or, simply to blow off some steam after a hard day’s work.

Because we understand the importance of building strong interpersonal relationships, we organise social activities for our trainees and lawyers in informal settings. It is one of our traditions that at such functions, roles are reversed occasionally and trainees become the organisers for some of our annual bashes. Again, we believe that this is a great way for our trainees to feel at home with us and vice versa.

Internship as a Way to Know Us Better

The best way to get a better idea of our working environment is to join us for an intern.  For details on applying under our internship programme, please visit this link.

Practice Training Contract Package

We offer the following to trainees who are selected:

·          Competitive remuneration and allowance – S$2,000 per month for the duration of the practice training contract, and S$500 per month during Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations Course.

·          A sign on bonus for trainees who are retained.   

·          Reimbursement of course fee of Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations Course upon completion of your practice training contract with us.

·          Reimbursement of Board of Legal Education registration, Electronic Filing Service course fees and Legal Workbench, as well as other related expenses.

·          Payment for stamp fees for court papers required for admission to the Singapore Bar.  

·          Medical coverage and hospitalisation benefits.

Further Information

If you would like to send in your application or have any queries, please address your application or query to: 

The Recruitment Committee

Rajah & Tann

Email: recruitment@rajahtann.com