Career Clinic: Is London the best place for a newly-qualified lawyer?

Is this really a choice?

In the abstract, being overseas is better when you are a few years qualified. However: are you absolutely sure you have been asked what you would like? (Even if that is what has been said, is that what they mean?) The alternative interpretation is that, if you say yes, all well and good but, if you say no, you will find yourself without a position in London as there isn't room for you. I would ask round some of your intake and find out what they have been told about job opportunities. If in doubt agree to the secondment extension, get to 3-4 months past your qualification date then start gently asking if you could come back to London early. In the meantime, look around for jobs elsewhere as a fall-back. A job is a job in the current market.

Senior Associate -25 Jan 2010 | 10:35

Stay put?

You have been asked to stay because there is more of a business need for you abroad than in London. That means increased security at this stage.

Depending on the firm and the location, you may actually get better NQ experience abroad than you will at HQ in London (i.e. more client contact; better deals etc). Particularly in corporate, the key skills you need as an NQ can be learnt outside the UK and you may get more direct experience in a smaller office.

Assuming you don't stay too long (and again, depending on which office you are in...), extending your secondment shouldn't shut you out of the London market for the future. Even if your own firm drags its feet over bringing you back, you should have a decent CV to take back to the UK once workloads in London really pick up.

So, unless you are desperate to get back to the UK ASAP, stay put and make the most of it.

Assistant X -25 Jan 2010 | 11:27

Make the most of it

I agree that you should take the hint and stay there a while, for all the reasons given already. The experience will also make you stand out from the crowd, and may give you the chance to develop an international law specialism (a real asset), or at least add it as another string to your bow. If it isn't suiting you after 6-12 months at least you would be job hunting from a position of strength.

Inhouse -25 Jan 2010 | 15:20

Up to you........

You need to read the signals as to whether you're being invited to stay abroad to protect you from the lack of jobs in London or whether it's genuinely a no-strings-attached opportunity but not something that closes off a return to the UK. If you want to live and work in London and stay with your firm you are more likely to develop a reputation and internal contacts while working in London. If that is not possible then an overseas job is better than no job. Things can change very quickly in law firms so what's not available now could be available in six months' time.

Whatever you do it's probably best if you can work events to suit your personal objectives without being seen as demanding or difficult to manage, if that is possible.

stmonan -25 Jan 2010 | 17:38

This depends on what type of firm you see yourself working in the future. If you want to work in a magic or silver firm you must have a 'big name' on your CV. Magic and silver circle are very dismissive of regional or international experience (particularly in this climate). They see their level of training as being superior and all other as being inferior. It's a very close-knit circle which is almost impossible to crack into without a big name on your CV.

It also depends on what you want from your first year in practice. If you want an exciting hands-on first year you should be looking at City to mid-tier firms. You will have the ability to step up and take responsibility very quickly. This is especially the case outside of London, where people approach legal careers without the baggage of class and prestige.

Risky -27 Jan 2010 | 16:52

Just do it

Conventional wisdom has it that you are better off spending a couple of years in the City before going on an international secondment. Personally, I don't see any particular problems with getting international experience earlier.

The overseas offices of magic circle law firms tend to be top-tier practices. Accordingly, the quality of the work should not be that different to what you would be doing in London. And, as an NQ, you are considerably more likely to get good work and client exposure in a smaller overseas office than in the City.

Yes, perhaps you will miss out on some of the lectures and presentations that will run in London during your secondment, but so what? Unlike your NQ peers, you will hopefully be drafting and negotiating documents. In my opinion, this kind of experience is much better than any seminar.

As regards returning to London in 6 or 12 months' time, the risk is that you will be stuck overseas forever because (1) your firm's London office will not want you and (2) no other decent City firm will want you. But, if you get some good experience (and particularly if you manage to obtain some local market know-how or otherwise manage to develop a USP), this risk seems slim.

You should remember that these days – at a time when magic circle law firms generate an ever-increasing amount of their profits outside the UK – having overseas experience (and a willingness to travel generally) is regarded as an asset.

Just do it.

Hagar -28 Jan 2010 | 12:34

Be flattered

Particularly in these cost concious times, be flattered that the powers-that-be in the overseas office like both you and your work enough to ask you to stay. Enjoy it.

Deidre -01 Feb 2010 | 15:13