I have recently sent an e-mail asking for advice to Dr. Riley, who probably most of you already know as he is regularly answering students' queries.
He kindly answered and gave me permission to post his answer so other people can profit form it.

Here is my question:

I recently got a Law degree in a Spanish university.
My problem is that I would like to work as a lawyer, but not in Spain. So
> far I have been considering the possibility of working as a lawyer here in
> London, but it seems to be quite complicated. That would mean two years
> studying GDL part time and then the LPC, in case of course that I secure a
> training contract. So, a long time and a big investment.
>
> In the other hand, I would consider working in continental Europe, but I am
> not really sure of how the situation in the different countries is. I was
> thinking in doing a LLM in Brussels and then look for a job there, as
> competition is my main area of interest.
>
> So I would like to ask you about the ease and the ways to entry in the legal
> markets of England, France and Belgium for someone with my background
> (Spanish graduate, speak 4 languages) and interest in competition. Which of
> these two ways would you recommend me to try?

And the answer from Dr. Riley:

Trying to answer your question is difficult without knowing more of your background.

Are you in fact qualified as a Spanish lawyer and a member of the Spanish bar? -and want to work in Europe? I am going to answer that question first. If you are and you are interested in working in Europe I would recommend Brussels. The point is that most law firms in Brussels are far less concerned with where you are qualifed as long as you are qualified. They will be more interested in whether you have done a LLM with a substantial content in competition law and then taken a traineeship in DG Competition or the competition equipe of the Legal Service (or in one of the bigger National Competition Authorities). So my advice is that if you are interested in working in Europe and are qualified then a LLM focussing in competition law is one way into the commercial legal scene in Brussels-a similar approach would work for world trade law-but there you would be looking at a very small market the two big players are Sidleys and Wilmer Cutler (by similar approach I mean world trade LLM followed by experience in the WTO or in the relevant DG Trade departments dealing with the WTO).

If you are not qualified-and you want to work in Europe-Can you get qualified fast in Spain? If so I would do that and then get yourself a specialist LLM and then an internship.

If you are a qualified Spanish lawyer and you want to work in London? This is more difficult to answer. Certainly doing the transfer test will help. My impression is that you have to have more than the transfer test-think in terms of what you can offer do you have specialist skills-if not that again points in the direction of a LLM and a couple of internships?

If you are not qualified and you want to work in London? I think here you have to think long and hard about the time factor-would it be quicker for you to qualify in Spain? On the other hand if you can get a full scholarship from one of the major City firms which will pay for your GDL and LPC you would get an excellent training and experience which would stand in good stead in the future wherever you go.

If you are really interested in competition law then do as much competition law as possible-by that I mean take an LLM on competition law where you can spend all your time doing competition law. Clearly City offers that option-we have 4 competition courses this year and we should have 6 next year but there are a number of other places which offer more than one course-and then organise an internship with the Commission or one of the major NCAs-that would really help.

Hi there!!
Thank you for your post, it was really helpfull. As you, I am a Spanish Lawyer working for an international law firm in Spain. However I want to move abroad. I would like to specialise in international trade law or in arbitration. I have been thinking about Switzerland, but I have no information about schools recognition or career opportunities there for foreign graduateds.
Would you have some information that could help me??
DId you already make a decission about going to London/Brussels?

Thank you !!