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Hi, I’m hoping someone can help me . I’m a new lawyer looking at working in Taiwan. I have a undergrad from a top school in California. I also have MBA and a Law degree. I’m fluent in Mandarin and have 7 years experience working in high tech. What kind of pay and or package could expect to receive in Taiwan?
Very hard to say, but as a 15-yr CA lawyer who’s been working in Taiwan for over 6 years, and speaks very basic Mandarin, here’s my rough guess of what you might expect if you’re looking for work in a law firm or as in-house counsel:
Job in the US: US $120,000-140,000/yr
Job in Taiwan: US $40,000-50,000
If you want to work here and make more money, I believe your best strategy would be to shoot for an ex-pat package by applying in the US with all the major US law firms that have offices in Taipei, but don’t get your hopes up too much because that’s only about 5 very small offices (many US law firms in Taipei have closed and to my understanding, except for Jones Day, none of the remaining US firms here – Finnegan, Pillsbury, Orick, Akin Gump – actually practices law in Taiwan; instead they are here solely to recruit as clients big Taiwan tech companies that have gotten sued in the US for patent infringement). I’ve never had an expat package and don’t know if they really are possible for someone in your situation or what they pay, but it sounds nice.
Notwithstanding the low salaries I quoted, your tech background and Mandarin fluency are outstanding qualifications and there’s lots of interesting work here. In Taiwan, I’ve worked with law firms and inhouse with tech companies (one US and one Taiwan company) and I highly recommend the inhouse tech route. Lots of good, interesting experiences here involving technology and international commerce.
Keep in mind also that in Taiwan the taxes and cost of living are lower and you’ll get to practice your Chinese regularly and marry a local girl, but you’ll lose out on clean air, beautiful scenery and good Mexican food.
Feel free to send me a pm if you have any questions.
Salaries here are pathetic. You want to be looking at China.
You want to score an expat package or go in=house counsel with one of the MNCs. And, you’d might be living in Hsinchu due to your hi-tech background (not necessarily a good thing).
Bear in mind, too, that some firms in Taiwan – such as Baker & McKenzie, to name a great example – have the name of an excellent US firm, but that is literally all they have in common with their US namesake. The poor quality of work, lousy working environment, incompetent “confucian-style” management and low pay are all pure Taiwanese. B&M, and perhaps some others to a certain degree, basically buy use of the US firm’s name, but they are local Taiwan companies.
That could be about to change for the very worst if this story from Business Week is to be believed.
[quote]Let’s Offshore The Lawyers
DuPont is farming out legal services to Asia—and saving a bundle
Mention offshore outsourcing, and Americans fume. But who would cry if we outsourced the work of lawyers, with their fat fees and endless strategies for adding years to litigation? Sounds like a great idea, but many might say it can’t be done anyway. Legal work is too sensitive and technical to risk farming out to Asia. [/quote]
HG
Got fired, eh? 
Nice article HG. Of course legal work can be outsourced. If they’re outsourcing financials, I-banking analysis, marketing etc, legal can be outsourced too. In fact, law firms have been operating on an outsourcing model. Partner outsources to the associates with “supervision”. The associates can be any where in the firm’s offices.
The only thing they can’t outsource well is the executive suite. 
hmmmm, the bells of recognition are ringing loud as i read this…
Evidence please. Expat packages are good regardless of location. Local salaries in China are pathetic
B&M pay ok. I had a friend there on around 120k a month local package. 3 yrs experience. Local firms pay horribly unless you make partner but even then it isnt the same as a western style partner arrangement.
You could also approach western firms with in house legal.