Working abroad Forum

[ALCA1920]

Do graduates of American law schools stand a chance of finding employment outside the US (preferably Europe), either as a lawyer advising on American law or in a JD advantage role?

[xoxoBlairWaldorf]

Need more context like what is your practice group and where do you want to practice?

If corporate, London is doable. If antitrust, Brussels is doable. Other jurisdictions will require bar admission, which is doable if you are fluent in that language. France is France though so you need to pretty much much be French educated.

[Anonymous User]

Need more context like what is your practice group and where do you want to practice?

If corporate, London is doable. If antitrust, Brussels is doable. Other jurisdictions will require bar admission, which is doable if you are fluent in that language. France is France though so you need to pretty much much be French educated.

Could you elaborate a little bit on the antitrust part? Are there any particular firms that are amenable to American laterals? Going lit, but have yet to choose a practice area, and will have some time to choose. Working abroad has always been a pet interest of mine, though I've always assumed there is literally nothing for American litigators.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a mid-level litigator with good, not fluent, French skills, and who wants to move back to France after studying abroad. It’s been about impossible. There are some English speaking arbitration gigs at US-based firms with offices in Paris, but the firms I’ve dealt with know that they have the leverage (since you’re asking about moving there). One offered me an interview, but only if I’d agree to (1) a demotion to a first-year and (2) a six month trial period.

I think my eventual route is doing an LLM in France and enjoying a few years off before those grueling 35-hour work weeks kick in…

[Anonymous User]

Anon to avoid outing. My firm is pretty lax with allowing associates to work in whatever office they want, with the caveat that we are barred in the jurisdiction. Brussels only requires barring in one jurisdiction. I know European lawyers in Brussels who are actually only barred in NY and not their home country. In terms of laterals, it gets harder the more senior you get, especially if you don't have experience with EU regulators. It can be done if you get lucky. If you really want to move to the EMEA, go the corporate route.