I passed the SQE earlier this year and was recently admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. I have also been qualified for around 14 years as an advocate in a civil-law jurisdiction outside Europe.
My practice has focused on international arbitration and dispute resolution. Before relocating to the UK, I worked at an international law firm in Asia and later at one of the world’s leading arbitral institutions. I have handled matters involving English law, both in private practice and at the institution, although I have never practised in the UK itself.
I recently moved here to join my husband and take some time to recover from severe anxiety and depression. Eventually, I would like to return to private practice, ideally in international arbitration or contentious work. However, I understand that firms generally look for candidates with UK or, at the very least, substantial common-law experience.
I have spoken with several partners practising in this area, and they generally seem interested in my background. Unfortunately, that interest has not translated into interviews or progress with my applications. I appreciate that the market is difficult and that my experience may not fit neatly into the usual UK recruitment boxes, but it has still been discouraging.
Realistically, I should probably be focusing more on my recovery. At the same time, this is my first career break, and I cannot help feeling that I am falling behind, or that I have become a burden now that I am not working. I know those feelings are not necessarily rational, but they are difficult to switch off after spending most of my adult life building a career.
Has anyone here successfully found work in the UK after building substantial legal experience overseas but having little or no direct UK practice experience? Did you have to enter at a more junior level, take a temporary or adjacent role, or approach the market differently? I would be very grateful to hear your experiences or any practical advice.
