What career opportunities related to law could an Americal lawyer pursue in Europe?
2006-12-13 04:43:48 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
I'm sure that you know that this is not an easy road given that it's difficult for lawyers to practice in other states let alone different countries.
You could work as a lawyer for either an American firm with offices in Europe or a European firm with offices in America and try to segue to the European division.
If you can fund it,you could go back to law school in your target European country or a multi-lingual, international country such as either France/Britain/Germany/Belgium. If you practice Common Law here you might consider a Civil Law country so you'd have both which would ACTUALLY give you an advantage over a European lawyer.
Then you'd have time to build connections and improve language proficiency. Chinese students did it in my law school and they could hardly speak the language.
You could work as a lawyer for the government (see the link below). The US government has openings overseas as a civilian attorney helping the Judge Advocate General with matters. You could join JAG as well but that's difficult to get into, you need to be 40 or under, and the physical requirements are difficult for some. For a job in Europe for the government, they would want you to be already established in a career and a specialty. The pay is good but they probably don't want to train anyone from the ground upward.
If you have another skill or career, such as being fluent in another language, that would be a huge boost. You probably can't tell a law firm, "Hey, I want to work in Paris, but I don't speak French so you'll need to speak to me in English". If you have another career you might be able to get a job primarily as that and use the lawyer credential as a bonus, for example, scientist, physician, architect, actuary.
Difficulties:
Civil law is practiced on the continent while Common law is practiced in Ireland and the British Isles. If you don't practice Civil Law you may limit yourself to the UK.
If you are having difficulty getting a job here it will be infinitely more difficult to get one there for the same reasons. Lawyers get jobs in America by knowing people and networking. You're likely to know fewer people and have less opportunity to network if you're not living in Europe.
Another difficulty is that you'll need to qualify in Europe. I've attached two more links below for the law societies of England & Wales and Ireland. Ireland has a link there for qualification for lawyers from some US states, not all. the England & Wales site has links for a testing group that will allow you to get qualified for that jurisdiction.
Third, the American system is extremely open to immigrants including immigrant lawyers compared to Europe. You'll need a work visa for the EU. For that you'll need someone to hire you before you get there. the traditional double-bind.
Fourth, European countries have obligatory apprenticeship programs similar to the medical rotation after Med School. America (foolishly) got rid of long ago and now people graduate law school at 25 with no practical experience. In Ireland, where law is an undergraduate degree, students graduate from law school with extensive experience at 21/22.
Good luck.
2006-12-15 01:24:31 · answer #1 · answered by Breandan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was friends with a lawyer from Spain. He said they highly value the education that American Universities have to offer. They value it so much, he spent two years here teaching Spanish in a college so he could take a few courses. An American Education is a big deal overseas.
2006-12-13 04:56:52 · answer #2 · answered by StormyC 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. He is signing govt orders on a every day foundation proper now so it's in general within the works as we talk- at the side of sealing his dictatorship. If he is going forward with redistribution of wealth, why hassle seeking to battle on your American Dream anymore? As a small industry proprietor I am pissed that I have labored a majority of these years to get to wherein I am simplest to have got to permit all of it cross and be oppressed by means of a dictator/marxist/socialist! I desire an individual pisses in his espresso in these days....
2016-09-03 12:51:49 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could help out the troops who encounter trouble with the military. They need lawyers over seas too.
2006-12-13 04:54:45 · answer #4 · answered by Ms. Q 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋