Working/travelling as an Irish solicitor

Coffeelover13

Hi guys,

I’m wondering if anybody has advice regarding getting work abroad as an Irish solicitor. I have a TC secured for next year & FE1s near finished, but I really want to work abroad, ultimately (and travel to a few places along the way if possible). Would it be difficult to dual qualify into the UK or perhaps Australia (and difficult to actually get a job once qualified for that matter)? I know the US is a minefield for working without a JD, but I have heard of people getting Legal Executive jobs which pay well enough (compared to Ireland anyway) which work well if you want to stay in a spot for a year or so and move on.

My TC is in a Top 5 firm and I’ve a 1:1 from UCD (if that matters at all - probably not after I start working!)

I’d appreciate any pointers in the right direction, TIA!

IgoPAP

Coffeelover13 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I’m wondering if anybody has advice regarding getting work abroad as an Irish solicitor. I have a TC secured for next year & FE1s near finished, but I really want to work abroad, ultimately (and travel to a few places along the way if possible). Would it be difficult to dual qualify into the UK or perhaps Australia (and difficult to actually get a job once qualified for that matter)? I know the US is a minefield for working without a JD, but I have heard of people getting Legal Executive jobs which pay well enough (compared to Ireland anyway) which work well if you want to stay in a spot for a year or so and move on.

My TC is in a Top 5 firm and I’ve a 1:1 from UCD (if that matters at all - probably not after I start working!)

I’d appreciate any pointers in the right direction, TIA!

Easiest to qualify into the UK. Irish qualified solicitors have to apply and I don't think there's any testing involved. It's quite common for newly qualified solicitors at the big firms in Dublin to move to London to work at the US/Silver circle/magic circle firms there.

Edgware

IgoPAP wrote: »

Easiest to qualify into the UK. Irish qualified solicitors have to apply and I don't think there's any testing involved. It's quite common for newly qualified solicitors at the big firms in Dublin to move to London to work at the US/Silver circle/magic circle firms there.

The U.K. may be the best option. If you can get into the Top 5 you would do very well. Some have done the N Y Bar exam which isnt overly difficult but getting sponsored so you have a visa is the problem

Coffeelover13

Brilliant, thanks for your help - it seems like the UK would be the most straightforward option in terms of visas/dual qualification. As long as there is a possibility of going further than Dublin, I'm happy!

Mr. Incognito

It doesnt travel well unless you want to permanently relocate

If you want to travel and you are a qualified solicitor you will pick up work as a paralegal in any jurisdiction.

The pay wont be great but you wont be expected to work crazy hours and its good for travelling anyway when you want to be out the door at 5

DavidX90

Coffeelover13 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I’m wondering if anybody has advice regarding getting work abroad as an Irish solicitor. I have a TC secured for next year & FE1s near finished, but I really want to work abroad, ultimately (and travel to a few places along the way if possible). Would it be difficult to dual qualify into the UK or perhaps Australia (and difficult to actually get a job once qualified for that matter)? I know the US is a minefield for working without a JD, but I have heard of people getting Legal Executive jobs which pay well enough (compared to Ireland anyway) which work well if you want to stay in a spot for a year or so and move on.

My TC is in a Top 5 firm and I’ve a 1:1 from UCD (if that matters at all - probably not after I start working!)

I’d appreciate any pointers in the right direction, TIA!

A lot of the advice above is antiquated or completely incorrect.

Absolutely possible to work in another jurisdiction as an Irish qualified solicitor. I work on an in-house legal team of approx. 20 solicitors. 2 of the 20 are based in their original country of qualification.

It is even possible to work in private practice as a foreign qualified lawyer. You will normally just need to add wording to your email signature such as: "Qualified as a solicitor in the Republic of Ireland only." Very common in firms such as Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, DLA Piper etc.

Reference: first hand experience.

Claw Hammer

Coffeelover13 wrote: »

Brilliant, thanks for your help - it seems like the UK would be the most straightforward option in terms of visas/dual qualification. As long as there is a possibility of going further than Dublin, I'm happy!

Brexit means that the European Directives regarding free movement and mutual recognition of qualifications no longer apply. Any recognition of qualifications in the UK will now have to be negotiated between the professional bodies.

DavidX90

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Any recognition of qualifications in the UK will now have to be negotiated between the professional bodies.

It seems there is a specific agreement between solicitors qualified in NI and ROI that remains, however.

Claw Hammer

DavidX90 wrote: »

It seems there is a specific agreement between solicitors qualified in NI and ROI that remains, however.

Maybe so, but the previous regime no longer applies.