Hi,
Do you know if it is reasonably possible for a foreign (swiss) lawyer (admitted to the bar) to find an internship or job (also for a limited period) in the UK (e.g. in a sollicitor's firm) without having a LLM?
Well maybe I should'nt ask the question on this website, but could'nt find any better...
Thanks

Have you tried looking at the Law Society's website? The Law Society is the body responsible for solicitors in England and Wales and does have a page on recognition on non-UK qualifications. I'm not sure how helpful they could be about placements or internships - you might find a website like the Legal 500 or Chambers helpful. I don't have the URLs to hand, but I@m sure google or somesuch would turn up the addresses. I doubt whether an LLM would be a requirement - you do not require one to enter the legal profession in the UK.

My initial advice would be to look at the main legal recruitment firms details of which can be found at
www.thelawyer.com As you are already qualfied there is no reason why you should not use the legal recruitment firms.

Two important questions for you however is first what field of law do you want to practice? Second, is this a field of interest to UK based law firms. There are many foreign lawyers working in UK based firms but you have to be specialised in a field they are interested in.

For example, my two specialist fields are competition and energy law. If you had specialist knowledge, skills and experience in these areas I am sure that you could obtain interviews with major UK based firms without being qualifed in the UK.

An LLM would come in only as indicating knowledge, ideally complemented with practical experience gained in private practice and/or with a regulatory agency.

I hope this advice is of assistance.
with best regards
ALAN RILEY

Dr. Alan Riley
Director LLM Programme
City Law School
City University, London
Electronic Mail: alan.riley.1@city.ac.uk