How can foreign-educated attorneys find a job in the US?

1.800. 973. 1177

WEEKLY RECRUITER SPEAK

How can foreign-educated attorneys find a job in the US? [ Eamonn Markham] Finding an attorney job in the United States can be difďŹ cult even without the problem of having attended law school in another country. Find out what can work for you and against you as a foreign-educated attorney.

Question

though they did not have working permission

sion. Although it may seem at first glance

Every recruiter tells me that they can’t help

- please contact me and tell me how you did

that it should be as easy for these candidates

me get a job in the United States even though

it, so that I can let other people know how to

to get jobs as graduates from United States

I have a highly respected degree in law from

engage in a successful search.)

law schools, that is generally the exception rather than the rule. First, let me discuss

a foreign university and great experience in my native country. What can I do to increase

The largest category of candidates that I talk

why I think it is hard for foreign-educated

my chances in my job search?

to are foreign nationals with temporary per-

lawyers to enter into practice in medium

mission or working permission for a limited

or large sized firms. (I focus on these firms

Answer

time period. Many of these candidates have

because most of the foreign attorneys that I

I am frequently approached by foreign-edu-

studied an advanced degree in the United

have spoken with see the opportunity to work

cated candidates who are highly qualified

States, usually earning LL.M. degrees. In

for a United States firm as a feather in their

attorneys seeking employment in the United

these instances, the successful conclusion

cap, and they want to continue their legal

States. These candidates are frequently con-

of an LL.M. degree generally means that a

pedigree. In addition they frequently are

founded by how difficult it can be for them to

foreign national can work for a period of up

very well qualified in their native jurisdiction

get a job as an attorney in the United States,

to a year in the United States. Frequently,

and expect to work in a highly sophisticated

even though their resume or curriculum vitae

students anticipating pursuing an LL.M. do

practice.)

demonstrates that they are highly qualified

not understand how hard it will be for them

for available positions.

to get a job once they graduate, as their

American law school graduates.

prospects in the job market are generally not There are a number of different factors that

known until after they have commenced their

A short discussion of how students from

will affect the ability of a foreign-educated

studies.

American law schools find jobs is in order.

American students spend three years attend-

lawyer to successfully land a job with a U.S.

ing law school. After their first year, many

law firm, and some of the biggest issues are

The primary difficulty for candidates with

discussed here.

limited working permission is that it can be

students who have the prerequisite train-

hard to convince law firms that the firm will

ing and attend the better schools engage in

recover the investment of time and finan-

on-campus interviews with the larger firms.

Working permission.

cial resources into a candidate who will

These firms select candidates and make of-

The primary factor that determines whether

be available for only a limited time before

fers to those candidates who spend the sum-

a person can get a job at a law firm in the

the candidate’s working permission period

mer at the end of their second year with the

United States is whether that person can

expires. In addition, many recruiters do not

firm. After the candidate has worked at the

work legally there. Permission can be broken

work with LL.M. candidates, as many law

firm during the summer after their second

into three classes: no working permission,

firms do not accept resumes from recruit-

year, the candidate often receives a full-time

working permission for a limited period of

ers when the attorney is a recent graduate

offer of employment to start work in the fall

time, and full working permission. Absent

from a law school, even when that candidate

after the student graduates. Consequently,

some special skill which a law firm needs,

has many years of experience in their home

and especially for the more prestigious large

persons without working permission will

jurisdiction.

and mid-sized firms, most law students find

a United States law firm. (I would like to

Finally, there are candidates who were edu-

cruiting process at most law firms for junior

meet someone who has obtained a job even

cated abroad and have full working permis-

attorneys is satisfied nearly entirely from law

jobs before they leave law school, and the re-

find it nearly impossible to obtain a job with

PAGE 1

continued on back

1. 800. 973.1177

WEEKLY RECRUITER SPEAK

schools before students even graduate. So al-

States law firm can understand that experi-

As you prepare an application, remember that

though it appears to an outside observer that

ence. These attorneys should network their

firms are businesses. Consider how you can

law firms are hiring large numbers of junior

contacts in their local jurisdictions as well as

bring something unique to a firm’s practice

associates every fall, many of these positions

in the United States to meet contacts at United

group. For example, does the firm you’re ap-

have been filled for more than a year. Invari-

States firms.

plying to have a practice that requires knowl-

Techniques for a successful search.

have clients from your country? If possible,

ably, some associates decide not to return to a firm, but firms generally will attempt to

edge of your native language? Does the firm

fill their needs through on-campus inter-

identify every specialty that you think that you

views. Hence the only jobs available to foreign

Although this may seem like a dim picture,

candidates looking for work are those few

most foreign students should recognize that

can bring to the firm you are applying to.

openings that a firm has been unable to fill

they are in a similar position to many Ameri-

Finally, prepare a resume and a crisp cover

from on-campus interviews. This is often only

can law students, with some handicaps that

letter. Resumes in the United States tend to

a handful of jobs, with fierce competition for

can be surmounted with a little hard work.

be a page for most junior attorneys. Clearly

them as many United States-trained attorneys

Some extra research may be required.

indicate your experience and education, highlighting your class ranking if you did well

are also vying for these positions.

What research should a person do? First, look

in university. Remember that most hiring

Those American law students who do not

for every person who is a graduate from your

coordinators will not understand your grading

find jobs through on-campus interviews are

school and who practices either in your city or

system, so a brief note on a separate sheet

required to find a job using more traditional

in your region. Martindale Hubbell (http://

that explains your school’s grading system

methods such as the resources in the law

www.martindale.com) is one well-respected,

may be in order.

school recruiting office or drafting letters and

although incomplete, resources. If you find

submitting resumes to firms that practice the

that there are no attorneys from your school,

The cover letter should be brief and should

kind of law in the student’s desired specialty.

that may be an indication of the effort required

indicate what position you are seeking. A large

(This is the manner in which most foreign-

to land a job. Look also for lawyers who have

part of writing an effective letter involves

educated attorneys can get jobs too.)

your specialty. Join the local bar association

considering your audience. Law firms expect

and network there. Consider sending potential

short letters of three or four paragraphs

contacts a brief e-mail explaining who you are

(longer letters are generally glossed over). In

and that you’re looking for work, but make

addition, a letter seeking a specific job is gen-

Foreign law school graduates.

Foreign-educated students therefore have

sure that you avoid spamming all the lawyers

erally much more effective than a letter where

significant disadvantages compared to United

in a firm. A well-drafted e-mail directed to a

the attorney is seeking a position as a “real

States-trained attorneys. First, they are not

number of people with mutual interests may

estate or corporate or securities or litigation”

able to participate in on-campus interviews.

generate some interest and a lead or two,

associate.

Second, they generally do not have access to

whereas a mass-marketed e-mail sent to

the same resources that a recruiting office

many attorneys will generally make a candi-

Finally, many applicants state that their “LL.

of a law school can provide. Third, foreign-

date persona non grata.

B.” degree is equivalent to the Juris Doc-

educated students haven’t passed through

tor degree granted by American law schools

the American legal education system and they

Research the web and local newspapers for

- it is not. It is sufficient to note, next to your

don’t know what resources are available to

job opportunities and realistically assess

education qualifications, that your education

them. Fourth, these candidates do not have a

your chances of getting an advertised job.

satisfies the educational requirements of the

pre-existing network of alumni from their law

Moreover, be honest with yourself: evaluate

bar in the United States jurisdiction in which

school to use as a resource.

your experience and the level of experience

you want to practice.

that a firm is seeking. In general, if firms are Attorneys with a lot of experience in a foreign

advertising for a certain kind of candidate with

jurisdiction have these and other issues.

specific experience, do not apply for that posi-

Best wishes for a successful search.

Lawyers from foreign jurisdictions seeking to

tion unless you have the requisite experience.

join a firm in the United States have the onus

For example, unless a candidate has practiced

torney Search based in New York City, and he

to prove that their experience is compatible

United States securities laws in their local

can be reached by calling (212) 232-0400 or by

to an American practice. The primary issue

jurisdiction, most firms will not consider that

e-mail at eamonn@bcgseach.com.

for these attorneys is how to translate their

candidate to have relevant experience for a

education and experience so that a United

securities law position.

PAGE 2

Eamonn Markham is a recruiter for BCG At-