Hi all,
I'm doing some market research on job prospects of people who have qualified in a civil law jurisdiction, passed the QLTS and subsequently look to work for a big (international) law firm in London.
I am aware that being qualified in another common law jurisdiction such as Australia makes finding work in London much easier and renders the QLTS more of a formality, which is why I am not asking about QLTS per se.
Let's assume the requirements to qualify in said civil law jurisdiction are comparable to those of England (i.e., 1-2 years of training in a law firm and some type of rigorous professional examination before, during or after you complete the training) and that the law of said jurisdiction is somewhat respected and well-known (I'm talking French, German, Austrian, Swiss, Spanish, Italian law etc.).
Let's also assume said person is fluent in three or four major European languages and has generally excelled in his or her studies and previous work experience, and that the person is either an NQ or 1PQ, thus without many professional contacts who are in a position to influence hiring decisions.
What are the odds of this person finding work in a City firm at NQ level?
Have you heard of anyone (regardless of their profile) who did not train in the UK and who found work in legal practice without going through GDL / re-qualification? Have you heard of people trying and failing? Do you know people who re-trained despite being qualified overseas lawyers?
I'd be interested to hear any stories (positive or negative) as I'm trying to get a realistic idea of what things look like.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: Let's also assume this person is not necessarily looking to be an international arbitration lawyer (though this is an option).Tips on practice areas that are easier or more difficult to penetrate than others are also welcome.