By Daniela Aroche

If career progression is on the cards, courses which expand and fine-tune certain skillsets can be a valuable advantage in a competitive job market. While there are a variety of courses available to lawyers, there is no 'one size fits all' study guide.

Liam Richardson of legal recruitment consultancy Taylor Root in Hong Kong says that the choice of course is essential the competitive edge it can provide.

"Beyond professionally-required qualifications, further education will be viewed subjectively by different clients," he said.

"For example, for Asian candidates who have completed their LLB and PCLL in a non-English speaking country, an LLM or JD from the UK or the US could increase their chances ahead of other purely domestically qualified candidates. This may infer stronger English language skills and more international exposure and this experience is also particularly advantageous when applying for positions with international organisations."

"Similarly, for those candidates looking to move into quasi legal/business in-house roles or ultimately to the business side, an MBA could be an advantage. The candidate may be deemed as having a higher level of commercial acumen given the content of the course."

Lachlan Jackson, counsel in the Beijing office of Clifford Chance - who himself completed a dual-executive MBA from INSEAD and Tsinghua Universities - agrees that undertaking further education can assist a lawyer's career advancement. Jackson adds that it is important to think ahead as to how the course fits in with future career goals.

"You have to have a clear idea of how you want to use such further education. It is unlikely that it [a course] is going to automatically improve your career prospects. The pay-off will be a continual return over the long term," he said.

"Moreover, new skills and knowledge can give you an edge in servicing clients and internal management and it broadens your opportunity set if you are thinking of a career outside the firm. Most valuably, it gives you a cohort of lifelong friends and professional contacts."

Taylor Root's Richardson adds that above all having top grades, the quality of the institution and timing are essential. "What is key are the results obtained at A-level and the degree, as well as the quality of training received on the training contract. These are the factors which will really influence career advancement. Those candidates with strong academic results and training from a top-tier law firm will invariably attract the most attention from prospective employers."

"Having continuous work experience is always looked upon favourably, so it may be advisable to complete all further study prior to starting your career. Others might suggest that a down market might be a better time to pursue further education as you have the time. However, if you do stop work to pursue further education you must also remember that you will have ultimately been out of practice for a year or two and may not be as desirable a candidate as someone who has no break in their employment record," he said.