The attrition of junior lawyers from the industry is not just something raised by the Chief Justice at this year’s Mass Call, or tracked by the Law Ministry. Our own Joint Managing Partner, Thio Shen Yi, S.C., has a front-row seat to this — and he recently shared his perspective with CNA in a feature examining why young associates are leaving the profession.

Speaking to CNA, Shen Yi highlighted a consequence that extends well beyond law firms and the legal profession. Having noticed higher attrition among younger lawyers at the coalface, he warned that a shrinking pool of lawyers could eventually affect the public’s ability to access legal help.

“This may price lawyers beyond the man on the street and it becomes an access to justice issue,” he said. “So building a pro bono culture into our collective DNA is critical.”

His point cuts to the heart of the issue. The loss of junior lawyers is not simply a manpower problem for firms. It risks narrowing the pipeline of trained advocates and advisers who will one day serve individuals, businesses and the wider community.

At the same time, Shen Yi offered a measured perspective on the phenomenon. He pointed out that some young lawyers leave local practice because they have strong options in international law firms, in-house roles or adjacent industries. In that sense, attrition is not always a negative sign. It can also reflect the breadth and transferability of legal training.

“It’s not necessarily bad for the legal industry because fewer domestic lawyers and more work means the ability to gravitate towards higher margin work,” he observed. He described attrition as “self-selection”, noting that some junior lawyers had always intended to use law as a springboard to roles more aligned with their interests.

For those who stay the course, Shen Yi emphasised that practice can become more rewarding with seniority, when the work goes “beyond the less interesting (but no less important) task of precision drafting”. “A senior disputes lawyer gets more advocacy air time, and gets to develop case strategy directly. A senior corporate lawyer gets more embedded in their clients’ business structure and (to) negotiate deals,” he said.

His message to young lawyers is clear: “It gets better, not because things are easier, but because the work becomes more satisfying.”