<<< Back to Becoming a Lawyer in the UK
There is no doubt that studying law in the UK offers international students an excellent opportunity to practice commercial law and with the world's largest firm, Clifford Chance, based in the UK it is easy to see why training and experience here is attractive.
Some UK based firms have offices in major financial and commercial centres throughout the world, which advise local clients about English law. Others have formed associations with overseas firms. English commercial law is also often the governing law in international contracts, even when the case has no connection with England and Wales. Solicitors also benefit from historical ties between the UK country and other English speaking countries. |
"Business in the 21st century is multi-jurisdictional and our clients require access to the best legal advice around the world in an integrated manner"
Slaughter and May |
Every day in the legal press you will read about UK firms opening offices in new countries and merging with overseas firms to further increase their international dominance. Many analysts state that the legal market could soon resemble the accountants, with a huge gulf between a handful of enormous international firms and the rest of the profession, a prospect which makes an international workforce even more attractive to firms. In addition many international firms are also opening offices in the UK as it offers a bridge from the US to mainland Europe and beyond. 
A few headlines from The Lawyer in January 2007 showing how the UK is an ever expanding centre of international commercial law:
The UK legal market has been and will continue to expand both rapidly and globally and UK firms need the experience and language skills non-UK nationals can offer.
"Globally the firm wants to be one of the elite international law firms. Our analysis tells us that for that to take place we have to be significantly bigger in London"
Sean Connolly, Senior Partner, Mayer Brown, The Lawyer 2007
|
The Benefits of International Trainees and Lawyers
Language Skills
Being a native speaker of another language is of benefit to large commercial firms with offices and partner firms around the world. Firms may also need non UK nationals to deal with overseas private clients or non-UK clients (immigration specialists for example) not only for your language skills but also your cultural perspective and awareness. The single market is of great significance to solicitors and many firms have established offices in Brussels and other European centres and therefore it is becoming increasingly useful for a solicitor to have language skills.
"we pride ourselves on providing a full range of legal services for clients, irrespective of whether they're regional, national or international"
DLA Piper
It always amazes us here at LawBritannia that international student do not emphasise or even worse fail to mention their language skills when applying for training contracts. Language skills are of great importance not only to converse with clients and colleagues but also as a demonstration that you have developed communication skills. The study of languages is not compulsory in England and Wales and this has caused a drop in the number of students who study languages to degree level. Recently David Hart, the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The collapse in modern foreign languages is a catastrophe"; a catastrophe for UK nationals perhaps but for international trainees it presents a huge advantage in the recruitment process.
|
"Language skills are vital for many international offices. There are often opportunities to travel during the training contract and secondment opportunities also arise for our qualified lawyers"
Freshfields
"International work is central to our practice and all our lawyers, from trainees to partners, have direct experience of high-calibre international work, often involving travel overseas. Our lawyers between them will typically work in more than 40 countries in any one year"
Slaughter and May
|
" London has long been a popular destination for the world's wealthy and key international financial services organisations"
Justine Markovitz, Withers, The Lawyer 2007
Local Knowledge
Every law firm is first and foremost a business. Every firm needs to compete for clients and prestige in an extremely competitive market. When working with clients you need not only to be able to explain complex legal issues but you also need to do this in the context of their business. A good lawyer understands both the law and their client's business and the need for that to succeed.
As a national from outside the UK you are better able to offer clients and colleagues not only language skills but also all important cultural awareness. If you have had experience or are qualified in a foreign jurisdiction you are able to offer advice to your clients about not only local law but also English law.
From LawBritannia's experience lawyers or students with particular knowledge of the US, European and Asian markets or languages are highly prized. Over recent years there has been a steady stream of US firms such as Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and Shearman & Sterling building up a UK practice in London. As many of the elite group of New York firms have yet to set up in the UK, US firms look certain to increase their domination in the next few years. Britain has also become the single biggest European investor in China and anyone with experience of this radically different legal system, language, culture and political background will be at an advantage when applying for training contracts. With more countries entering the EU new opportunities for businesses seeking to enter the market have greatly increased and subsequently European languages and experience (particularly those of Eastern Europe) are highly regarded.
|
"We have built a multicultural and multilingual team that is experienced in local and international legal matters. Our team members communicate proficiently in French, English, German, Italian, Dutch and Luxembourgish"
Clifford Chance
"Our strength lies in our combined resources and experience, enabling us to advise on cross-border transactions and address multi-jurisdictional issues wherever in the world our clients' business may take them"
CMS Cameron McKenna |
International Secondments
When apply to a UK based law firm it is essential that you have well thought out reasons for wanting to train and practice in the UK. The chance for international travel may be paramount but you need to convince a firm that it is in the UK you wish to make your career. Firms do not want to spend considerable time and money training you in English law only for you to leave once qualified. You will need to demonstrate commitment to the UK, both personally and professionally, and that any associated travel opportunities are a bonus; that your language skills and international experience will first and foremost benefit the UK office of the firm and its clients.
It is normal, especially in the larger firms, as part of your training contract for you to spend blocks of six months in different departments (eg, six months in four departments, or twelve months in one department and six months in another two) these are usually called 'seats'. One of these seats can be overseas in either one of the firms branch offices or with a “best friend” firm or a firm they have close working relationship with. All trainees are asked to state their preference for where they would like to go and having experience or language skills related to your intended destination will help you to gain the seat over other applicants. Once you have qualified there are also opportunities for secondment to overseas offices and even clients. These client secondments are an excellent opportunity to view things from the client perspective and gain a better understanding of their business. Lawyers with language skills and experience of a number of legal jurisdictions are much more likely to be seconded than those without. |
"We'll also encourage and enable you to take an international seat, working for four months in one of our international offices. Throughout your training contract, you'll work on international deals across different time zones, right from the start"
Norton Rose
"We regularly second trainees and qualified lawyers to our offices in Paris, Brussels and Hong Kong. We also second lawyers to the offices of the leading independent law firms around the world"
Slaughter & May |
International Law
In many areas of law, international experience and languages are necessary. For example French is sometimes used as the language of international arbitrations where you will be liaising with colleagues and clients in many jurisdictions. Also if you have other European languages, or have experience working in Europe, consider targeting firms with strong competition law departments where you will be advising on European law.
Generally, non-UK nationals find training contracts in the largest City firms or firms with specialist shipping practices. Shipping law concerns the carriage of people or goods by sea and lawyers in this field find themselves interacting with people from a wide range of cultures and in a range of languages: language skills or international experience is of a great advantage here.
In addition, practice areas such as asset finance and banking practice operate globally on complex domestic and cross-border transactions. These and other practice areas covered by large commercial firms work across offices, giving lawyers the opportunity to share knowledge and resources on a worldwide scale. Most US firms based in the UK have a focus on international finance work. Others, such as White & Case and Morgan Lewis, are also strong in areas such as international litigation. |
"Our international team advises on all types of domestic and cross-border financings. Our experience covers all levels of the global loans industry including sovereign loans, public to private financings, telecoms financings, commercial mortgage backed securitisations, Islamic finance transactions and trade finance transactions"
Allen & Overy |
| |
For other ideas of how to target firms visit Researching Firms and What Firms Want
Which firms accept application from students requiring a work permit?
Top
|
co