How can I work internationally with a law degree?
Asked by: Mike Graham | Last update: November 27, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (59 votes)
American lawyers can be assigned to an overseas office of a particular firm or corporation, a foreign office of an international organization or a US consulate or embassy in a foreign country. There are many different opportunities to live overseas as a US lawyer, depending upon the practice focus.
Can I work overseas with a law degree?
You can work as a legal professional in global law corporations, where you will control times related to exclusive international locations' laws and serve global customers. If you revel in training, you could turn out to be a professor or lecturer in regulation at foreign universities.
Can lawyers work from anywhere in the world?
Can you work remotely as a lawyer? It's become clear in recent years that a lot of work—including legal work—can be conducted remotely. You just need to right tools and systems in place. Depending on your role or practice area and what a typical day looks like for you, it may not be realistic to go 100% remote.
Can a US lawyer practice in other countries?
Practicing law in a host country depends on local regulations; many countries will not recognize U.S. bar admission. U.S. attorneys may only be able to practice U.S. law or work as an associate with a local attorney. In some countries, there may be no restrictions while in others you may not be able to practice at all.
Can a lawyer work in international relations?
A lot of very senior people in international affairs are lawyers, but in general law school is probably not the most efficient way to start a career in international affairs. Law school is three years of a curriculum which is mostly irrelevant to international relations.
How to become an Attorney in the US (w/ a foreign law degree)
Does international law pay well?
International Lawyer Salary. $79,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $131,000 is the 90th percentile.
Who hires international lawyers?
The available career paths for an international lawyer can be broken down into law firms, federal government, corporate counsel, international organizations and nonprofit groups.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
Does US law apply internationally?
Despite the presumption against extraterritoriality, many federal criminal statutes expressly apply outside U.S. borders. Some of the main categories include: Crime in U.S. territorial waters or vessels. Implementing treaties and international agreements.
How do I become an international lawyer in the US?
Becoming an international lawyer requires formal education and licensure. Specifically, you need to earn a Juris Doctor degree, and it's recommended to earn a Master of Laws degree for specializing in international business. You're required to pass your state's bar exam to practice law legally.
Which country is best to work as a lawyer?
The top countries which offer the highest average Lawyer's salary are the USA, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. The legal field presents numerous opportunities for skilled professionals to create significant impacts locally and globally.
Can you work remotely with a law degree?
Can a lawyer work remotely? While the answer depends on your practice area and what a typical day looks like for you, the short answer is “yes.” It should be possible to complete some or all of your legal work remotely, and even provide an excellent client experience while not in the office.
Do international lawyers travel often?
Even in a "mundane" international lawyer job, working on cases frequently involves being wherever in the world the contract or dispute is taking place. So expect to be clocking up flyer miles.
Do lawyers work in embassies?
UNITED STATES EMBASSIES OVERSEAS
Embassies and consulates located in six different regions of the world carry out this work in more than 251 countries. Although the role of a lawyer may vary from one embassy to another, the general mission remains the same.
Which US states accept foreign law degrees?
Most states do require a J.D. degree for a US law school in order to sit for the bar exam. There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia.
Can I travel with a law degree?
So if you go to law school in California you can only be a lawyer in California. There are some exceptions that relate to federal law or if you are invited to consult on a case in a different state by a lawyer who is certified in that state. Generally however, lawyers do not travel much.
Can I use my US law degree in another country?
For the most part, yes – although you may well be required to take an exam to prove your comprehension of the new legal system you're moving to practise in. If you wish to move somewhere in the EU, you must join a bar or law society in the country you're moving to.
What type of law is international?
International law is a set of rules and principles governing the relations and conduct of sovereign states with each other, as well as with international organizations and individuals. Issues that fall under international law include trade, human rights , diplomacy , environmental preservation, and war crimes .
Does the US have a foreign agent law?
FARA does not prohibit any specific activities; rather it seeks to require registration and disclosure of them. According to the most recently available data (December 2021), more than 450 active registrants represent about 750 foreign principals.
Can lawyers make 300k a year?
Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.
What field of law is most in demand?
- Intellectual property law. ...
- Family law. ...
- Immigration & naturalization law. ...
- Real estate law. ...
- Contract management. ...
- Compliance. ...
- Labor and employment. ...
- Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.
What is the highest paying job in the world?
Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.
Can I be a lawyer internationally?
American lawyers can be assigned to an overseas office of a particular firm or corporation, a foreign office of an international organization or a US consulate or embassy in a foreign country. There are many different opportunities to live overseas as a US lawyer, depending upon the practice focus.
Where do international lawyers make the most money?
Switzerland is at the top of our list of countries that reward their lawyers the best. With an average annual salary of $260,739. The lowest salary for a Swiss lawyer is $120,279, and the highest salary is $414,058 per year.
Can you work for the UN as a lawyer?
Jobs for lawyers in the UN tend to be fairly competitive. If you want to work as a lawyer in the UN – and especially if you are interested in human rights – it is very helpful to gain some experience doing field work.