Hi all

I am looking for a job in Germany (have family/friends living in Berlin) but wondering if that is even possible. I think I have good credentials but not sure if enough for a job in Germany:

- Masters degree from a well known public university in Benelux region (would prefer not to be too specific), ranked top 2%
- LLM degree from Harvard/Yale/Stanford type school (again, don't want to be specific)
- 3.5 years of experience in Magic Circle firm and 3 years of experience in bigger non-Magic Circle UK firm in Benelux
- Senior associate corporate/M&A lawyer since Jan 2018, on track for counsel position in 2021
- Consistently getting top notch reviews
- Admitted to two bars in Benelux as well as to New York bar
- German is my native language, speak French and English on bilingual level

Would German firms look at me? Would accept a slight salary and seniority hit.

Thanks. Let me know if there is a better (German) discussion board where I could ask these questions.

Hi,

I'm working in a big german law firm for more than two years now. Despite the Corona Pandemic, the german legal market is currently quite "employee friendly", e.g. it is possible to get a really good job in a good law firm, even if you do not have that good grades or not even an LL.M. or a PhD.

But I think the actual question is, what kind of work you want to do? Working as a lawyer in Germany would not be easy, if you do not know the law system, but as an foreign lawyer from the EU, it is allowed. If I were you, I'd looking for law firms that have locations in your home country. Then you'd be able to work in Berlin, but also in your origin law system.

Another opportunity might be to get a job in an international german law firm and use your connections from your home country to built your own case, because that'd be something that make you unique.

These are just some ideas from people I know from the benelux that have made it that way.

Another opportunity could be to work for an international firm in their legal department as in inhouse lawyer. They are usually not paying the same high salaries as international law firms, but still quite high and grant usually a better work-life balance.

Regarding the salary, I think you should get in a range from EUR 100.000 upwards, depending on the respective law firm.

I'd just wait until the current situation is over due to the fact that many law firms are currently not hiring.

Hope that helps you.

Best!

[Edited by H.P._N'Backer on Apr 09, 2020]

Thanks much for your reply.

Are there well know German recruiting firms servicing the big law firms who I could speak to? Or how would I go about sending in resumes? My current firm has offices in Germany but not in Berlin unfortunately...

Yes, will certainly wait until after the corona crisis...

Thanks much for your reply.

Are there well know German recruiting firms servicing the big law firms who I could speak to? Or how would I go about sending in resumes? My current firm has offices in Germany but not in Berlin unfortunately...

Yes, will certainly wait until after the corona crisis...

Hey, just saw the topic and wanted to ask relevant question. What do you think about finding a job in Berlin NGO's. I am lawyer in Turkey therefore I can't practice my degree in EU countries. But I would like to know about other law-related job opportunities after I will finish my LLM. Little help would be great!