US Attorney moving to UK

Hi everyone: it's not a new story--fell in love with a UK citizen and am thinking about moving over on a spousal visa. I know that not being a qualified attorney is going to make finding a job a pain, but has anyone sat through the QLTS? I am currently licensed in New York, which helps in some countries but not sure about the UK.

How difficult would it be to find a non-legal job/business side if I'm not qualified? (my background is M&A and commercial transactions) so I was thinking maybe something on the strategy side or consulting.

Alternatively, are there any other US non-UK qualified attorneys on this forum?

Hi jinjin,

I can't help at all with your work dilemma but I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the forum! 

Member Texas2UK is a lawyer I believe. Hopefully he'll be along soon. 

Thanks! I'll see if he is online. Thanks for the welcome message

Anyone else move to be with a S.O.? It's exciting but also nerve-racking!

Thanks! I'll see if he is online. Thanks for the welcome message

Anyone else move to be with a S.O.? It's exciting but also nerve-racking!

The large majority on this board are on spouse visas.   

The large majority on this board are on spouse visas.   

That's good to know! The scary thing is that sometimes it doesn't work out and I'm wrestling with the fact that if I don't find decent employment as an attorney (and I'm not qualified in UK), I'm out of the game entirely if I ever want to move back to the US and work as an attorney. Competition is fierce, even for those who are gainfully and continuously employed because there are just too many lawyers!

Does anyone know of anyone or have friends who might be US lawyers working in the UK? I know large law firms will hire US qualified lawyers but I've left BigLaw years ago and have worked in-house the majority of my career that I don't know if that door is still open.

Sorry of the stream of consciousness post! Hoping someone out there might have experienced the same thing. I did some google searches and reached out to some recruiters but you always need to know someone who can walk your resume to the hiring counsel!

Hi JinJin,

I used to work in my IT career for 3 US companies with offices here in London. One of them was a large player and purchased a Law Practice Management company based out of Tallahassee called CMS Open and I often spoke with lawyers, solicitors, legal specialists etc. Some of my friends are lawyers here, some relatives as well. In the US, amongst my extended family, there's a number of lawyers too.

There'll always be a demand for legal specialists, however, here in the UK, there's now a level of over saturation and for a good many lawyers, the long term outlook is more bleak. On top of that, the pay levels aren't as good as they once were. If you are lucky and do get into a well established practice then don't get me wrong, you'll get a good salary and benefits package etc.

Due to the above, I'd say by moving here you'll need to keep your options open and realize that you may not get a job in your specific legal sector. London has the most concentrated law firms, so your best chance would be moving to someplace close to the Square Mile (name given to the part of the city with many law firms etc). There are of course other cities with law firms too but not as many as London.

Other jobs are available out of your sector, just be prepared to 'dumb down' your C.V/Resume in order to perhaps get them to talk with you and again, depending on what it is.

Look into if you can move here and get the required permissions that allow you to work. One of the more knowledgeable members on the forum can confirm maybe if then you are allowed to open up your own company and provide legal advice given your expetise. It might well mean that even though you are here, you could still 'operate' in NYC via your website etc. I'm not 100% sure on the above, just an idea really.

Else, discuss with your other half and I'd tentatively suggest that you move him/her over to the USA instead?

Cheers, DtM ! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks for the info!

I think the US suffers from the same issue that the UK does--just too many lawyers! I will be looking in London but it's probably one of those things where I need to be there and have a connection. Sigh... it's all overwhelming. Yes, we are discussing the possibility of him moving to the US instead but he landed a pretty good job randomly so that's why we are looking to move to the UK. Another thought was to enroll in an LL.M. program, which would explain the gap in my resume but it would only buy me 10-12 months...

There's a guy who posts here and is doing something similar to you. He may be along shortly.

I'm second year here at Cambridge, but am doing Law just because it's something I find interesting. More into historic forms of action.....nothing like an old book on assize of novel disseisin or assumpsit and a nice cup of tea!

I've been to a career night thing or two....they usually have a buffet...and I don't think it is as dire as some make out.

The big barrier for aspiring lawyers here (well solicitors) is the training contract. After completing the three year course, you have another year of practical study and then two years working for a (usually) large firm on a training contract. They are very competitive and hard to come by. You will not have to do that crap. So you are well ahead of the game when you pass the QLTS. And of course you have experience.

I'm second year here at Cambridge, but am doing Law just because it's something I find interesting. More into historic forms of action.....nothing like an old book on assize of novel disseisin or assumpsit and a nice cup of tea!

You're a dark horse sonofasailor ....! 

I am a England and Wales qualified lawyer (NB the law is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland) working in what I guess you would categorise as 'Big Law' in London, and we actually have a trainee in our department who is an NY qualified lawyer. Either she is taking a different route, or the firm I am at requires NY lawyers not only to do the QLTS, but also complete the training contract...I'm not sure, so it might be something to check. I know that a training contract has not been required for the antipodean qualified lawyers (and for some of them the QLTS has not been needed either - they just specify in their letters and emails that they are NZ/AUS state qualified).

I would concur with PPs that the legal market is extremely competitive, so finding a job is challenging even with UK qualifications. You also mention that your background is M&A - typically only the bigger law firms deal with M&A type transactions, and the smaller ones will only have the smaller and less complex corporate sales.

Again, as PPs have said, the greatest concentration of law firms doing M&A kind of work is in London; though some of the mid size UK firms also have offices in other major English cities (i.e. Manchester, Leeds etc). Obviously there are some US firms in London as well - would it be worth looking into something at one of those? They are 'big law' again of course...

Sorry, that was a bit rambling, but a few thoughts that may help? Good luck!

Thanks for the information. It sounds like even if I took the QLTS route, I face a lot of competition. I was in BigLaw in NYC but am now in house and would be looking for an in house position. Do you know anyone who took the QLTS that is working in-house? I have about 12 years experience but none in English law that I'm not sure the QLTS is worth the time or investment because I still wouldn't have the English law experience.


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