A top ten regional law firm has noticed a sharp increase in the number of students from Singapore looking to complete internships and traineeships with Singapore firms after studying abroad, often with the intention of working for a domestic firm once qualified.
Colin Ng & Partners has revealed that it took on nearly double the number of interns it had in 2009 during 2010. “We take on an average of 20 to 30 interns per year. This includes practice trainees who are on a six month contract with us. However, in 2010 alone, we had a total of 50 interns and eight practice trainees,” said Brandon Wong, HR director, Colin Ng & Partners. Drew & Napier has also experienced increased interest in internshipe and trainees, especially internships, according to directors of the firm.
Associate Fong Zhiguang, who completed his traineeship with Colin Ng & Partners, said the majority of both interns and trainees at the firm were Singapore citizens who had gone abroad to study their law degree. “The practice trainees in my batch were mostly Singaporeans who were studying abroad in the UK or Australia. During my year, there were more law students from overseas than from the local universities. There were six from overseas universities and two from the local universities,” Zhiguang said.
One reason for the increase could be the fact that firms in Singapore are now offering a much more structured internship program to both Singaporean and Non-Singaporean students and graduates. "We have seen a number of the International Firms that we work with offering some kind of programme to both Singaporean and Non-Singaporean students - and a lot of thought (and associate/partner time) appears to have gone into these," said Ash Raivadera, founding consultant of ATR & Associates. Another possibility is the government's support for returning students and emphasis on 'soft benefits' such as friends and family being located in Singapore. "The government has been very active in trying to encourage people to come back to Singapore to commence work, using all the soft factors such as the fact that ultimately friends and family and roots are here," said Kelvin Tan, director, Drew & Napier.
Another large domestic firm said it had received a number of applications already for its internship scheme, which closes on March 15.
The following is a list of Singapore and overseas law firms which offer internships to students from Singapore and approved foreign universities:
LOCAL LAW FIRMS
- Allen & Gledhill LLP
- Ang & Partners
- ATMD Bird & Bird LLP
- Braddell Brothers LLP
- Colin Ng & Partners LLP
- David Lim & Partners
- Donaldson & Burkinshaw
- Drew & Napier LLC
- Eldan Law LLP
- Gurbani & Co
- Harry Elias Partnership
- Keystone Law Corporation
- KhattarWong
- Lee & Lee
- Michael Khoo & Partners
- Rajah & Tann LLP
- Ramdas & Wong Singapore
- Robert Wang & Woo LLC
- Rodyk & Davidson LLP
- Samuel Seow Law Corporation
- Shook Lin & Bok LLP
- Stamford Law Corporation
- Tan Kok Quan Partnership
- Tan Rajah & Cheah (TRC)
- TSMP Law Corporation
- Wee Swee Teow & Co
- WongPartnership LLP
- Wong Tan & Molly Lim LLC
- Yeo-Leong & Peh LLC
JOINT-LAW VENTURE FIRMS
- Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow
- Linklaters Allen & Gledhill Pte Ltd
OFF-SHORE LAW FIRMS (BASED IN SINGAPORE)
- Allen & Overy LLP
- AV & P Legal, Solicitors
- Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Bryan Cave LLP
- Conyers Dill & Pearman
- Cotty Vivant Marchisio & Lauzeral
- Deacons Singapore Ltd
- DLA Piper Singapore Pte Ltd
- Duane Morris LLP
- Holman Fenwick Willan
- Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
- Morrison & Foerster LLP
- Norton Rose (Asia) LLP
- O'Melveny & Myers LLP
- Watson Farley & Williams LLP
- White & Case LLP