For information on international and domestic internships with the U.S. government, seek help from Career Services, the Office of the Public Service, and visit our U.S. Government International Careers and Foreign Policy Internships page. The Ilsa International Law Students` Association administers an internship program for law students. The website contains many useful links. Leading UK law firms “Magic Circle” and a number of US-based law firms hire US law students to start directly in one of their overseas offices, where they have a significant `US practice`. The most common places to start are in London and Hong Kong, although sometimes students started in Tokyo, Paris and other places. Students typically get these positions as full-time positions at any other large law firm: by working their 2L summer for the firm, and then getting a full-time job offer. Are you a lawyer considering applying for legal jobs abroad? If so, you`re not alone. Our Audience Insight Report 2021 found that 48% of the 800 respondents were willing to move for the right career opportunity. Although the number of respondents willing to move abroad has decreased in recent years – 22% would like to make a European move, while 16% would consider moving to Asia – this is almost certainly the result of the ongoing pandemic. Working as a lawyer abroad can be challenging.
For example, due to the nature of the legal system abroad, lawyers are likely to encounter various legal issues and unique business practices. Other elements related to the practice of law abroad, such as time zone differences and corporate culture norms, may put greater pressure on the role. Some non-practice-related factors that also make things difficult are homesickness, language barriers, and cultural differences. As the securities market is volatile, many London companies have supplemented their securities work by having US lawyers work on international financial transactions. Much of this work has shielded London businesses from the slowdown in financial markets, which is generally quite cyclical. Allen & Overy, for example, has been very strong in cross-border financial work with a U.S. element and has managed to convert U.S. lawyers to this type of work during the downturn in securities work. If you fall into this category of more adventurous professionals, there are many legal options abroad.
Evaluating and applying for international legal jobs can seem daunting, but there are several approaches you can take to secure positions in coveted locations. For many newcomers to the legal field, law graduate jobs abroad are a hot topic. This is an area that is absolutely worth exploring. Lawyers who start their careers abroad usually work for a private law firm or a public service-focused organization such as an NGO or international tribunal. The University of Michigan School of Law offers semester-long study abroad programs at several law schools around the world. In November 2000, the U.S. attorney reported that “at least 20 U.S. law firms have more than 10 percent of their lawyers stationed in foreign offices.” Lawyers with experience in international transactions are often in high demand and highly marketable for law firms in London and Hong Kong.
While there are thousands of competent transactional lawyers, there are only a handful of lawyers with international experience. Experience with another culture can also be very useful for those who want to market themselves abroad. I studied at a law school and worked in the United States for about three years, I love to travel and I thought it would be a good opportunity to discover new things by doing Israel Tours, I met a few people there who helped me find a job in Israel. I have to travel a lot and I love it, now I`m writing from Nepal and next week I have to be in China. Don`t be afraid to pursue an international career, if you like to travel, you`ll love it. She was very communicative and the main thing is that she got the job, so whatever she did, it worked! You had resources that I didn`t have. Read More > With that in mind, you should always take the precaution of maintaining your customer contact network at home. While the transition from offshore to onshore tends to go smoothly, it obviously makes sense to be well prepared for opportunities in the UK if you decide to return. During my first semester at law school three years ago, I wondered if I was making the biggest mistake of my life. Not because I studied law or took on so much debt, but because I had a career in the United States.