As previously reported by Lawyers Weekly, many legal candidates in the Sydney and Melbourne markets jumped ship coming out of statewide lockdowns to move either interstate or, when travel restrictions were eventually lifted, overseas.

While this move offers many benefits, overseas markets have recently been reportedly “softer” and more competitive, resulting in fewer Australian lawyers being offered roles in overseas markets.

Last month, Burgess Paluch director Doron Paluch told Lawyers Weekly that firms overseas are being “more cautious and conservative now than they have been”.

“Many law firms in the UK are telling us that they really want to make sure they can’t find somebody with local experience first. They are getting more interest locally than they have been in the past. They have fewer roles than they’ve had in the past. But there are also more lawyers from around the world who are moving to London or trying to move to London,” he said at the time.

“Firstly, the UK-based arm of that law firm may not have a need for a lawyer to come across from Australia. Secondly, when Australian law firm offices hire Australian lawyers in Australia, they are generally hoping to keep them for a substantial period of time.”

Now, Paluch said, there still remains a decline in the demand for Australian lawyers from offshore markets, with a number of factors contributing to this trend.

“Law firms overseas are being much more cautious when hiring and are certainly trying to hire locally qualified lawyers before considering hiring Australians. Firms did perhaps over-hire last year, and the international economy has been shaky,” he said.

“The state of international politics has also given firms cause for caution. But there are definitely still opportunities for Australian lawyers who are persistent and prepared to be patient.”

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In conversation with Lawyers Weekly, the u&u. Recruitment Partners team agreed, adding that economic turbulence could also be to blame for a lower demand for Australian lawyers.

“The economic headwinds over the past six [to] eight months have meant law firms and businesses have tightened their recruitment. As such, the roles that do come online are extremely competitive and lawyers with foreign jurisdictional experience can be overlooked for others with local experience,” the team said.

For lawyers still looking to make the move, Paluch recommended moving to a larger international firm sooner rather than later – and that the decline in demand from offshore markets is having a positive effect within Australian firms.

“Some lawyers who have not succeeded in securing a role overseas have still been looking to transition to other firms locally. Lawyers from mid-tier or boutique firms can enhance their prospects of securing a role overseas in the future by moving to a larger or international firm now,” he said.

“The reduced demand for Australian lawyers from overseas has made it a little easier for domestic firms to retain talent simply because lawyers who were planning to work overseas are often putting their plans on hold temporarily.”

This reduced demand also means that lawyers in Australia need to remain competitive for roles moving forward and upskill where possible, added u&u. Recruitment Partners.

“Tenure in previous roles; technical training from experienced practitioners and technical specialisation can assist legal candidates maximise their opportunities in the current job market. We consider key upcoming skill sets will include data, privacy, technology and cyber security as the presence of AI increases. Broader, softer skills and stakeholder management expertise will also separate lawyers from the pack during interviews,” the team said.

“The flow-on effect of the reduced demand overseas has ensured the local legal market is incredibly competitive. There are less jobs available and an increasing number of candidates looking. As such, the Australian legal landscape is certainly an ‘employer market’, making it easier for them to attract and retain good talent.”

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Lauren Croft

Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.