For young lawyers looking to differentiate themselves in a competitive legal market, working overseas may offer more than just a change of scenery – it could provide a career-defining advantage.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, Lucy Southwick, a recent manager within Ashurst Advance’s client solutions practice, highlighted how impactful working abroad can be for young lawyers seeking to broaden their professional horizons and gain highly transferable skills.
Drawing on her experience in London, Southwick emphasised that practising in a different legal environment equips young lawyers with highly transferable skills that can fast-track their careers back in Australia.
“The skills that you get moving to a new market are so transferable to your practice in Australia, and it allows you to really broaden your horizons and take key learnings,” she said.
Southwick also highlighted that while Australian law firms are increasingly innovative, exposure to international legal markets can provide unique insights that are not as prevalent locally.
“Coming from Australia, we were really advanced in the innovation and new law market, but actually, the market of the tech tools and products themselves is really significant here in London and also in the US in New York,” she said.
Reflecting on her own journey, Southwick described the experience as “eye-opening”, giving her direct access to new perspectives and insights that can help lawyers stand out upon returning to the Australian market.
“It has been really eye-opening to be able to really have direct kind of access to that information and to think about how you could bring back those learnings to the Australian market, potentially if you decide to go back one day, because it is a very good lifestyle over here as well,” she said.
“I would recommend any junior lawyer who’s looking to really expand their skill set to think about practising in a different market because it really just sets you apart.”
For young lawyers hesitant to take the plunge, Southwick emphasised that the most important step is simply to go for it and embrace the thrilling, and sometimes intimidating, opportunity.
“My advice would be to just do it. I think as lawyers we could get, well, maybe I’m just speaking for myself, but we could get a little bit perfectionistic around what that move actually looks like, whether it’s a strategic move, a client, you know, a career move.
“But from my experience and the experience that I’ve had with the peers around me, actually just making the move, getting yourself here on the ground for when, even if you know you haven’t come with a job, is the best way to do it,” she said.
Southwick also emphasised that one of the most important things for young lawyers during this transition is to fully embrace the opportunities that come their way and say yes to new experiences once they arrive.
“My second piece of advice would be to start out by saying yes to everything. I think that’s the way that I approached it when I landed on the ground; it took me trips both professionally and personally, meeting so many people. I’ve met my partner here,” she said.
“Take the first few months to just say yes to everything because it is such an incredible opportunity both professionally and personally.”
