Dubai was hit hard by the global financial crisis, with many investors pulling out of the city - known as "the millionaires' playground" - and leaving a steady stream of debt-laden businesses in their wake. The price of oil dropped, the banks were hit hard and high-earning expats found themselves being sent home.

"Dubai, in terms of [overseas] hot spots, would be my first pick," says Dez Mardigan of J Legal.

"Based on what I've seen, they seem to be welcoming lawyers from England and Australia."

According to Mardigan, lawyers with at least four year's of top-tier experience in the energy & resources or finance sectors have a good chance of securing a position in either private practice or in-house.

Unfortunately, though, mid-tier experience simply won't cut it at the moment.

"We had a mid-tier candidate with phenomenal success in the firm and [the employer] still wanted to stick to the top-tier," says Mardigan.

"They're not being as lenient for that particular industry in that particular market. It's very strict in terms of what they're looking for."

If you do land a position, it's generally seen as a good career move.

"Dubai is a great place for young lawyers with a few years of experience under their belt," says Sarah Standish, a senior associate with Dubai-based international firm Taylor Wessing. "It is a steep learning curve, but a great way to develop your skills in a different way to how they might be developed in Australia."

The good: Where to start? Lawyers in Dubai don't pay income tax, the weather is fantastic for most of the year, there is a vibrant ex-pat community, it's close to Europe and offers those in search of adventure something a little more exotic than London or New York.

The bad: You'll have to adjust to working within the civil law system and endure the summer highs of up to 50 degrees Celsius.

Realistic option? Absolutely, especially if you've got energy & resources or banking & finance experience.

Click on the images below to discover the 2011 legal job hotspots for Australian lawyers: