Career Clinic: Is offshore law a one-way ticket?

It's not that bad

I spent two years offshore in a CI leading firm. I was one year PQE when I started. I managed to return to London two years later and get a job at a top firm. My experience is that, so long as you do not stay for too long (offshore), your return prospects will not be affected. You will of course need to justify in interviews your move to the CI in the first place and then the move back to UK but that should not be difficult. I personally found the whole offshore experience immensely rewarding - I enjoyed the work/life balance, earned better money than in London (with lower tax), made loads of new friends and if it wasn't for my personal circumstances, I would have happily stayed there for longer. So, don't hesitate to make the move but if you plan to return later, my advice is to limit your stay to a reasonable period of time. Good luck!

Anonimous -18 Feb 2010 | 15:33

lawyer

I agree with the above. I have also spent time offshore - the biggest issue to consider especially if you are young is whether or not island life is for you. I would suggest spending at least a week there on holiday first and decide whether at this time of your life living on an island is for you. There is more to life than work obviously but consider the social scene and whether or not you are a city or island person. A few years there will do no harm though to your career and you may find really opens up a world of new opportunities for you. Good luck.

Anonymous -19 Feb 2010 | 11:47

I think the second post is spot on. Guernsey is a really pretty place and the smaller islands are fascinating but the legal and professional community is much smaller than what you may be used to here. Some people relish that, other people find it suffocating.

An offshore move is momentous in so many ways and the second poster is right to emphasise the social dimension. In the same way as you would case out a town or city in the UK before you moved there, do the same with Guernsey. No point having a great job if you find the place a bore...

high street solicitor -19 Feb 2010 | 13:47

yes, it is

If you like to draft board minutes, EGM and legal opinions all day long, jump on this opportunity! Do not expect to structure transactions or draft agreements as it may be the case in London or New York for instance. In sum, that is not a good idea at all unless you want to stay over there all of your life...

tj10 -24 Feb 2010 | 15:16