Working in the legal profession abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working in the legal profession abroad like?

• Working as a lawyer/in the legal profession abroad rarely means immediately presenting oral arguments in a black robe against a backdrop of marble columns, as in American TV series. In practice, it may be less exuberant, but certainly no less important.
• You often work as a paralegal, legal officer, policy advisor, or compliance specialist at international law firms, NGOs, international organizations, multinationals, or government agencies.
• The work is often highly varied in an international and multilingual context.
• Responsibilities: You may be involved in, among other things,
  • analyzing national and international laws and regulations;
  • legal research and writing memos and advisory opinions;
  • supporting legal cases, arbitration, or mediation;
  • contract analysis and compliance issues;
  • working on policy, reports, or legislative processes;
  • liaising with clients, government agencies, and international partners.
• Many positions are more office-based, less court-based, but with complex cases and significant consequences.
• Working conditions: Contracts are often temporary or project-based, especially at international organizations. Working weeks can be long, especially when facing deadlines or political pressure.
• Salaries also vary widely: commercial (offices, multinationals) usually pay well, while non-profit or public international law makes you rich in content and is somewhat more financially austere.

What are the reasons for working in the legal profession abroad?

• To learn to analyse: you learn to view legal issues from the perspective of multiple legal systems, cultures, and interests simultaneously.
• To act with integrity: working with international cases increases your awareness of ethics, responsibility, and due care.
• To experience results-oriented work: you quickly realize how legal advice has a direct impact on policy, people, or organizations.
• To develop self-confidence: operating in a different language and legal context forces you to be more confident in your expertise.
• To develop a bird's-eye view: international cases show you the connections between law, politics, economics, and culture.

What skills and motivations do you need to work in the legal profession abroad?

• Communication: you must be able to convey legal information clearly to people from different backgrounds.
• Working independently: many roles require you to conduct your own research and draw conclusions without intensive supervision.
• Resilience under pressure: deadlines, complex cases, and high expectations are often part of the job.
• Working diligently: errors in legal documents can have major consequences, including internationally.
• Networking: contacts are crucial for collaboration, information exchange, and career advancement.

What are the best countries and locations to work in the legal profession abroad?

• International legal hubs: Switzerland, Belgium, France, the United States, the Netherlands.
• Countries with many international projects or NGOs: Kenya, India, South Africa, Nepal, the Philippines.
• Commercial and corporate contexts: Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Germany.

What are the risks of working in the legal profession abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working in the legal profession abroad?
  • It is not uncommon for you to be held liable for mistakes or advice.
  • It is not uncommon for the working environment to be unsafe: infrastructure, health risks, political instability, social norms.
  • It is not uncommon for unexpected returns to be necessary due to illness or safety concerns.
• Are you insured while working in the legal profession abroad?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you are doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.