Demand for foreign legal professionals is strong across markets in Asia and the UK, following steady recruitment activity seen in the first half of 2010. “There has been a renewed interest in foreign lawyers with three or more years’ experience working in a top-tier firm, throughout Asia, the Middle East and the UK,” said Karlie Connellan, Taylor Root’s Sydney-based associate director for international recruitment.
Hong Kong and Singapore remains a ‘honey pot’ for Australian lawyers. “These markets are looking for lawyers in the energy/ oil & gas, TMT, corporate, banking & finance, capital markets and litigation/arbitration space. Typically, they are looking for lawyers with no less that 3-4 years’ PQE gained with a top-tier firm,” she said.
Lawyers at the mid-level range remain in high demand in these markets; however job activity is higher amongst junior lawyers who are looking to gain international work experience. “At least 50% [of junior lawyers] remain interested in the UK whilst others are open to looking at all – or several –locations and are seeking an overseas experience, rather than having a specific destination in mind,” said Connellan.
In terms of salary, Connellan noted that lawyers moving to a tax-free location may enjoy a substantial bonus to their salary. However, those who are looking to move to London, for example, will not necessarily notice any increase. This is due to the current strength of the Australian dollar and the fact that the international firms have not increased their salary bands substantially, throughout the credit crunch.
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