Prospects of MC (London) to US (non NY)? Forum

(Deciding to leave, same firm different office, Reference requests)
MCtoUS

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Prospects of MC (London) to US (non NY)?

Post by MCtoUS » Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:27 am

I am a law student in the UK. I hold a training contract from a Magic Circle firm and I'm considering whether I should still apply to more US firms' London offices.

I hope to be able to move to California, or the US generally, in the future. What are the prospects of lateralling upon qualification: (1) from my MC firm's London office to US office, (2) to a different firm in the US? And does the situation change if I begin my career at a US firm's London office instead of the Magic Circle firm?

Would greatly appreciate if anyone has experience UK–US lateralling!

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Re: Prospects of MC (London) to US (non NY)?

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:50 pm

MCtoUS wrote:
Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:27 am
I am a law student in the UK. I hold a training contract from a Magic Circle firm and I'm considering whether I should still apply to more US firms' London offices.

I hope to be able to move to California, or the US generally, in the future. What are the prospects of lateralling upon qualification: (1) from my MC firm's London office to US office, (2) to a different firm in the US? And does the situation change if I begin my career at a US firm's London office instead of the Magic Circle firm?

Would greatly appreciate if anyone has experience UK–US lateralling!
As a practical matter, your visa status is the most meaningful barrier. Without a US work right, it's unlikely that you will have an easy time moving either internally or as a lateral. MC firms have very few (any?) lawyers/offices in CA, so a lateral move would be necessary. Finally, such a move would be difficult outside of a corporate practice (M&A and CM being the least difficult moves).

All that to say, as a trainee in the London, I'd be very wary of relying on this plan in the future, any especially if you're not a US passport holder or have some other avenue to a work authorization.

MCtoUS

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Re: Prospects of MC (London) to US (non NY)?

Post by MCtoUS » Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:47 pm

Thanks for the reply Anon! I should have mentioned that I'm Canadian, so work authorization wouldn't be a major hurdle (TN visa). With that in mind, would you say it's difficult to transfer internally within a MC firm to a NY office? I am assuming it will nonetheless be incredibly competitive given the difference in salary

Thanks again

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