Why Are Law And Medicine So Popular In Singapore?

Being a doctor or a lawyer is a popular aspiration for many Singaporeans, and earning power is just one of many reasons behind it.

The survival instinct

There is a Chinese saying called jin fan wan, which translates to ‘golden rice bowl’ and refers to a stable, respectable and well-paid job. With The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living Report 2016 naming Singapore as the most expensive city to live in for the third year running, it is no wonder that ‘golden rice bowls’ like law and medicine careers are so attractive.

Published statistics also lend credence to the notion that medicine and law are stable jobs. The Graduate Employment Survey released by the Ministry of Education last year revealed that graduates from National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine had all secured employment and an average monthly salary of SG$4,729 (~US$3,492). Graduates from the Faculty of Law had an overall employment rate of 96.9 percent and an average monthly salary of SG$4,910 (US$3,625).

The stability of a career in medicine doesn’t seem likely to dissipate, either. Singapore Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong revealed in 2012 that by 2050, one in five Singaporeans will be above the age of 65. The Ministry is working on expanding the healthcare industry to meet the needs of an aging population, and a key requirement is manpower training.

The prospects, however, aren’t as glowing on the legal front. Law Minister K. Shanmugam sent law students into a state of concern in 2014 when he announced that Singapore is facing a “glut of lawyers.” The Ministry of Law expects the number of practicing lawyers to soar by about 30 percent from 2014 to 2017; the legal sector, on the other hand, will not proportionately grow to match this supply.

Even then, law graduates can look to enter other sectors, including business or politics, with their law degree. And though 2015 recorded a dip in average salary for entry-level lawyers, the pay remains comparable to those of the better jobs in the market, with entry-level lawyers at medium-sized firms earning SG$4,000-5,000 (US$2,953-3,692) a month, according to a survey by recruitment firm Morgan McKinley.


Savior in a wig and black robes

But money isn’t all there is to these highly sought-after careers. Picture this: a heavily bleeding and unconscious patient is rushed into the emergency room, on the verge of death. Moments later, a doctor in a white coat calmly sweeps into the area, saves his life and receives the eternal gratitude of the patient.

This scene has gone down in almost every medical drama in TV history, and the thrill of solving difficult cases remains a huge draw for many.

“It’s like mystery-solving,” said Visvalimgam, referring to how doctors rack their brains to diagnose complicated patient cases.

In addition, the media perpetuates the image of doctors and lawyers as sophisticated and powerful people.

“Most high school students want to be doctors as it depicts a very noble and prestigious profession,” said Dr. Ng Kim Boon, a general physician who has been practicing medicine in Singapore for over two decades.

And while the status and thrill might be alluring, there remains the emotional appeal of channeling justice or saving lives that could perhaps point to the importance of honor and altruism in an Asian society like Singapore.

“As a kid, I saw people look up to my older sister, who is a doctor,” Visvalimgam recalled. “She taught me that if you become a doctor, you can help a lot of people. It’s a fulfilling career.”



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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Claudia is a Communications major at Nanyang Technological University. When she was 13, she got a scar on her knee from falling down and swore never again to chase after a bus. She now spends her days doing safer things like reading, writing and practising Taekwondo.

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