Working in the UK w/ JD Forum

[alirod12]

What's the deal with getting a JD and then trying to work in the U.K.? Is that an option, and if so, is it a realistic one? What are the necessary hoops to jump through?

[ashleigh]

this is of interest to me too...

[Springsteen]

On their websites, I've seen a few associates/partners who have graduated from U.S. law schools working for the London office of some of the BigLaw firms. However, I don't know how common this is, but it definitely can be done. It might be worth reading their firm bios to see how they did it.

[alirod12]

Bump

[dextermorgan]

On their websites, I've seen a few associates/partners who have graduated from U.S. law schools working for the London office of some of the BigLaw firms. However, I don't know how common this is, but it definitely can be done. It might be worth reading their firm bios to see how they did it.

+1. It is possible, but uncommon.

[dueprocess14]

A number of magic circle and larger UK firms have US transaction teams to assist on large multi-national M&A, IPO and capital market deals, among others. Usually they function as sub-units within practice areas, with US associates reporting to US partners. In my experience, the cultural differences between the US and the UK were preserved: the US lawyers worked harder and were less social with their colleagues. That said, they made much, much more. There are also a few elite US firms that have offices in the UK to handle the UK side of their work, but again, US lawyers are only necessary insofar as there's a US (usually New York) component to the deal. For the most part, the associates usually had 2-3 years of experience before moving from the US to the UK.

[Bobby Dazzler]

The alumnae from Vandy who interviewed me was currently working at a firm in London. IIRC she got the gig after doing a clerkship with a judge over there, so it's definitely doable but seems to require a lot of extra work and/or luck.

Also my friend's dad is the general counsel for an American company but goes to London on business for at least a week out of every month, so there's that route as well.

Really though if you're dead set on working in the U.K. you might be better off just getting your law degree there...

[Core]

I am also interested in this. Does anyone have anymore insight or information - specific programs, any U.S. gov jobs that are based in the U.K., etc.? I will attend a T-10 but am very interested in living/working in the U.K. after graduation.

[Renzo]

In the boom days before our current depression, it wasn't that hard. There was a lot of trans-atlantic financial/ M&A work, and a lot of big firms work on both sides of the ocean. Now, there's pretty much no such work, so it's hard to say. If you really want to work in the UK, the best route would be through the transactional division of an NY Biglaw firm that has a London office.