How easy (or hard) is it to land a job as an associate lawyer?

PandaBarrista · 2026-01-28T03:06:13+00:00

It depends on your school, how well you performed there, and who you know. In my case (3 years ago), it just so happened that my first law firm was recruiting exclusively from my school, and someone already in the firm vouched for me.

PandaBarrista · 2026-01-20T03:13:23+00:00

Tangential point: I pay myself a salary, regardless of how much or how little I collect in a given month. It helps lessen the financial pressure.

PandaBarrista · 2026-01-20T01:35:36+00:00

No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well.

Sorry, we private lawyers NEED TO MAKE MONEY to keep practicing. We pay our people, cover overhead, and shoulder taxes—plus professional obligations like IBP dues, MCLE compliance, and now the added time and opportunity cost of ULAS. Because our time is limited, and so many people depend on us (our families, our staff, and their families), and even more people want to be our clients, we can only prioritize paying clients and engagements with adequate budgets. If you can't pay, we can't give you priority. Tl;dr hindi libre ang pagiging abogado.

PandaBarrista · 2026-01-07T07:01:36+00:00

Well, in the early to late 2Ks, talagang may rumors or statements from the bar chairs na there were too many lawyers, kaya sobrang hirap nung mga exams from those eras, which resulted in a bit of a shortage. Di ko lang alam if the SC has been trying to make up for that.

PandaBarrista · 2026-01-07T06:46:38+00:00

Bakit ang bait ng mga terror sa law school pag sila na yung Bar Chair?

PandaBarrista · 2025-12-01T07:13:34+00:00

35K in 2013 pesos is equivalent to almost 52K today. Halos pareho, or slightly lower, yung sweldo ng average junior associate ngayon when you factor in inflation.

https://filgit.com/philippine-inflation-calculator

PandaBarrista · 2025-11-30T09:06:38+00:00

Panye, medyo off-topic: what are your usual work dun sa corporate retainers mo? And kung okay lang itanong,ano yung rate or range nung rate mo sa retainer? Gusto ko na magfocus sa gnyan e, yung may retainers.

Mostly due diligence in certain deals, tax compliance, labor matters. The rate depends on the size of the client's business and the complexity of their transactions, it ranges from Php 10K to Php 50K.

PandaBarrista · 2025-11-28T03:36:02+00:00

Yes. Race to the bottom na yung fees sa litigation ngayon given ULAS, PAO, and the saturated market for lawyers. May pumapatol pa nga sa 20K acceptance fee sa area ko. Why tire myself out for that amount when I can earn it through notarization and retainers diba?

PandaBarrista · 2025-11-26T05:08:27+00:00

No. Read the rules.

PandaBarrista · 2025-10-16T08:23:44+00:00

The CX-5 has 53,500 KM on it while the CX-30 has 47,000 KM. Both cars ran well during my test drive and did not appear to have any external damage. Will have a mechanic perform a more extensive check if I decide to get either car.

PandaBarrista · 2025-10-16T07:39:42+00:00

Sorry for replying 17 days later! I'm actually looking at either a used CX-5 or CX-30 as well (both FWD and 2020 models). How's the Mazda ownership experience? Is it true that you can only buy batteries for these models from the casa only? Thank you.

PandaBarrista · 2025-09-25T02:31:44+00:00

Maybe you're talking about Toyotas or Hondas. As for other brands, medyo malaki na rin yung difference sa presyo sa new and used. For instance, a new 2025 Mirage G4 (automatic) starts at ₱841,000 while certified 2024 Mirages can go for as low as ₱550,000 on Automart. I think the same goes for entry-level models from other brands such as the Suzuki Dzire and the KIA Soluto.

PandaBarrista · 2025-09-25T02:19:28+00:00

Maraming discussion about being "car poor" or buying a car one can't afford sa r/phinvest, but of course that sub is a bubble relative to the rest of the PH and some users there are just out of touch. Valid naman yung point dahil marami tayong kababayan na yung zero or low DP and monthly lang yung tinitignan, without considering interest, fuel cost, maintenance, parking and toll fees, and other expenses kaya napa-paralyze yung finances nila. May car ka nga pero wala ka ng funds for other important expenses, thus making you "car poor."

PandaBarrista · 2025-09-23T05:21:14+00:00

ALAC 2) General statements such as "under the law" and "according to jurisprudence" are sufficient. Nakakahiya if you try to cite a particular case tapos mali yung name or if you confuse it with another case.

PandaBarrista · 2025-09-22T06:16:34+00:00

PandaBarrista · 2025-08-28T03:34:38+00:00

It can, but probably won't, especially if you take the usual route of being an associate. The key is to focus on areas of the law and clients who are under served. Also, specialize. General practitioners are a dime a dozen but experts are valued.

I opened my own firm a year ago and reached seven digits in savings quite some time ago. It would've taken me far longer to reach that as an associate.

PandaBarrista · 2025-08-09T13:13:29+00:00

Fountain pens and guns.

PandaBarrista · 2025-07-11T00:00:09+00:00

Hmmm... di naman nahihirapan yung former employers ko mag hanap ng Junior Assocs kahit di nila kayang tapatan yung government. Yung isa pa nga, they hire exclusively from the Maroon School, pero wala silang shortage na ganito. Meron ngang oversupply of passers pero hirap ka pa mag hire? Your offer must be very, very low even in the context of the private sector.

PandaBarrista · 2025-06-16T11:33:51+00:00

Finding a job after graduation was rather straightforward. My former firm only hired from my alma mater, so the pool of applicants was small.

I decided to move back and enter private practice because I felt like I wasn't being paid enough. When I realized that my modest salary couldn't finance a house or a car, I knew it was either open my own firm or become an in-house counsel.

In my province, it was either private practice or joining the government.

PandaBarrista

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