Move your legal career around the globe with Taylor Root – Information for New Zealand Lawyers

We recently held our „Move your legal career around the globe with Taylor Root – Information for New Zealand Lawyers“ webinar, hosted by Hayden Gordine and Sean Murphy, from our Australian office. The session discussed the current legal job markets in Australia, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai, career development opportunities whilst working overseas, and details on the logistics around making an international career move.

Many of our clients are actively looking to hire lawyers coming from New Zealand, and our session looked to highlight the positives of making an international career move and showcase the advantages of working overseas.

Many kiwi lawyers that we speak to want to move to London first, to work 3 or 4 years, then move back south to Australia to Sydney or Melbourne for 2 or 3 years, before returning home to New Zealand. Recently however, mostly due to covid, more and more New Zealanders are coming to Australia first, rather than London, not just as an alternative but to gain valuable experience before moving to London.

Why the Australian legal market offer?

New Zealand lawyers like Australia because the salaries are higher and the work is more aligned with London so is a good transitional period. It is especially good if you are trying to enhance your resume. Not only has Australia more international firms and more internationally recognised firms but the transactions are bigger, more complex and therefore will help you secure a role internationally in years to come.

What does the London legal market offer?

Travelling and working in the UK has been a right of passage for many kiwi generations, the big OE, as we like to call it with historical ties, no language barrier, a similar legal system, and the opportunity to explore Europe, the UK has been a natural fit for Kiwi lawyers wishing to work abroad and accelerate their career and travel the world.

The UK market is made up of a broad spectrum of firms ranging from independent and boutique practices to global firms which are either headquartered in the UK or satellite offices of US firms. Typical law firm categories which you’ll hear discussed constantly are US Elite, the magic circle, the silver circle, international, west end boutique and regional.

See our Living and working guide to the UK for Australian and New Zealand lawyers

How can working with a legal recruiter help?

There are several benefits for job seekers to work with a specialist legal recruiter such as Taylor Root.

Access to hidden job opportunities: legal recruiters often have access to job opportunities that are not advertised publicly, giving job seekers a greater chance of finding their ideal role.

Career guidance: providing job seekers with guidance on their career path, including advice on job opportunities, salary expectations, and market trends.

Negotiation support: legal recruiters can provide job seekers with support during the negotiation process, including advice on salary and benefits.

Time-saving: by working with a legal recruiter who can help them find suitable job opportunities and prepare for interviews.

Overall, working with a legal recruiter can be a valuable way for job seekers to save time, access a wider pool of job opportunities and benefit from specialised knowledge and expertise in the legal industry across the globe.

For information on advancing your legal career internationally, please contact Hayden Gordine or Sean Murphy for more details.