What can you do with a law degree abroad?
Asked by: Jody Gerhold | Last update: December 29, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (75 votes)
There are many ways to find legal work abroad. Some American attorneys join the overseas branch of a large international law firm. Some find work abroad with a multinational corporation that needs an American attorney.
Can a lawyer work 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.
Is an international law degree useful?
Excellent Salary Opportunities
As the public and private sectors become ever closer across borders, firms smaller than you might think often need legal counsel that is proficient in international law. As such, work is available and salaries are good.
Is it wise to study law abroad?
You'll gain country-specific expertise.
While pursuing law studies abroad gives you a more comprehensive understanding of the law, it also offers the opportunity to hone your knowledge of a specific domestic legal system.
Which 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.
Why Everyone Should Go To Law School | Jana Al-Akhras | TEDxNewAlbany
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.
Can I work in the US with a foreign law degree?
A foreign lawyer cannot provide legal services in the United States without being admitted to at least one state's bar.
Which country is best for a law career?
- United States. The United States is recognized for its law degree, and most of the best universities for law come in the US, according to the QS World University ranking. ...
- United Kingdom. Why is the UK the best country to study law? ...
- Australia. ...
- Canada. ...
- Germany. ...
- Japan. ...
- Netherlands.
Do you go to law school for international law?
How Do I Start a Career in International Law? You will have to obtain an undergrad, create a stellar law school application, attend law school, and pass your bar exam to begin a career in international law.
What jobs are available for international law?
The available career paths for an international lawyer can be broken down into law firms, federal government, corporate counsel, international organizations and nonprofit groups. Private Law Firms handle most international business transactions, although the degree varies on the specialty of the firm.
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.
Do international lawyers go to court?
By providing their representing party with information in regards to their legal rights, they will recommend the best outcome for their case. During this time, they may also have to represent their clients in court with plausible evidence pertaining to their specific case.
What can you do with an American law degree in Europe?
Some American attorneys join the overseas branch of a large international law firm. Some find work abroad with a multinational corporation that needs an American attorney. Others find work with the U.S. government in a foreign country; many work for the Department of Defense as either a uniformed or civilian attorney.
How to move abroad as a lawyer?
Alternative routes into overseas legal work include applying directly to a foreign law firm or seeking a position as an in-house counsel for a business that is based overseas. As with any overseas move, you will need to comply with the immigration laws [5] of the country that you wish to move to.
Can you practice law anywhere with a law degree?
So, for example, if you are a graduate of Empire College School of Law in Santa Rosa, CA, when you receive your J.D., you can generally only seek a license in California.
What is the most prestigious law school in the world?
Harvard University continues to be the best university in the world for studying law, achieving a perfect score in three of the four indicators used to compile the ranking.
Which is the cheapest country to study law in?
Where is the cheapest place to study law? A. A study has found that The US is the most expensive place to study law, while Germany, China and Sweden are among the cheapest. The tuition might differ because of location, university and more.
Which country pays most to lawyers?
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.
Which field of law pays the most?
- Patent attorney: $180,000.
- Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
- Trial lawyer: $134,000.
- Tax attorney: $122,000.
- Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
- Medical lawyer: $113,000.
- Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
- Family lawyer: $93,000.
Which field of law is most in demand?
Corporate law, criminal law, human rights law, and tax law are some of the most popular specialities in law that students can select from their law school among the legal courses given in various specialisations. It takes a lot of patience to practise law as a profession. Law is one of our most prosperous professions.
How hard is the bar exam?
The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.
What is the average salary for a lawyer in the US?
How much does a Lawyer make in USA? The average lawyer salary in the USA is $110,224 per year or $52.99 per hour. Entry level positions start at $88,290 per year while most experienced workers make up to $170,294 per year.
Which states accept foreign lawyers?
New York, California, Texas, Alabama, and Virginia are some of the states that let foreign law graduates sit for the bar exam. In this instance, foreign-educated attorneys must begin the process by having the American Bar Association (ABA) evaluate their law degrees.