These officers generally work for organizations which have their presence in the legal arena as well, for instance inter-governmental organizations or NGOs. Their scope of work is pretty wide and can range from carrying out awareness campaigns and brainstorming in research to even collaborating with beneficiaries directly. On an average, they make $72,500 p.a.
International law is a diverse and unrestricted field. That being said there is no fixed route into it. In fact, even professionals are not from the legal field can work with the employers in supportive roles say finance and HR. If the above interest you, then here’s how you can , pursue a career international law.
- It is prudent to supplement your legal degree with a masters course in international affairs or a related field.
- Knowledge and skills earned through internships are indispensable.
- Besides a keen interest in pursuing law in a global setting, an aspirant should also have command over an international language and robust overseas experience. French, German, Japanese, Russian are the most in demand.
While the formal qualifications are vital too, the interpersonal skills shouldn’t be overlooked either. They include –
- Keen interest in law
- Sold relevant skills right from research and drafting to advocacy.
- Incredible flexibility and adaptability to shine either in challenging environments or firms with a broader base which are indulged in other service areas as well.
- Good grasp on cultural awareness to forge cordial bonds in a multinational setup
- Good eye for judgement and an analytical bend of mind
Adding these feathers to your hat will allow you to sail through this career smoothly.
If you have made up your mind to pursue this field further, you may be perplexed regarding choosing the perfect law school with thousands of such prestigious schools in the world. According to the QS World Universities Ranking 2019, these are the top 10 law schools in the world –
| Rank |
Name of Institute |
Location |
| 1. |
Harvard University |
U.S.A |
| 2. |
University of Oxford |
U.K |
| 3. |
University of Cambridge |
U.K |
| 4. |
Yale University |
U.S.A |
| 5. |
Stanford University |
U.S.A |
| 6. |
University of Melbourne |
Australia |
| 7. |
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) |
U.K |
| 8. |
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
U.S.A |
| 9. |
Columbia University |
U.S.A |
| 10. |
New York University (NYU) |
U.S.A |
The current economic scenario has forced many law firms to cut down on hiring. However, the field is still in demand, and there are a lot of opportunities for talented individuals.
Globalization has, in the recent years, led to close ties between the private and public sector, and this has fuelled a the demand for international lawyers. . Owing to the phenomena, we are also seeing a lot more big corporates opening global headquarters. The top 5 commercial law firms in the U.K namely Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer – are constantly on a lookout for Indian talent which is licensed to work both domestically as well as abroad. This co-operation with the Indian lawyers allows them to function in the country and even advising on Indian law which they are otherwise prohibited from doing.
Developing countries also need lawyers to help them in their legal transformation. The role played by lawyers in the development of countries while assisting with new laws and amending current laws in legislatures and parliaments just can’t be overlooked. Also, international organizations like the United Nations, are in need of lawyers to interpret their charters and international law. True, these are few and far between, but they are something to keep on your radar if you are in this field.
The opportunities exist, and as with most sectors, you have to keep up with the latest trends and keep and eye out for where the opportunities lie.
Now, for the challenges.
Firstly, the international landscape is fairly is fairly dynamic, as new subjects and trends are continually being added. This can be a challenge for professionals to establish their expertise or to become all-inclusive lawyers. The dynamic nature of the field also makes it quite unsystematic. There is no clear ladder to climb or a career growth line to pursue.
Moreover, it requires immense patience to wait for the right opportunity to come your way . As a convention, lawyers first try to establish themselves in the domestic sphere. Gaining a global foothold requires getting an international client who is interested in leveraging their domestic expertise
Experience matters a lot in the legal profession. You can keep a tab on these platforms to land an internship or work experience.
International law can immensely add on to the depth in your career. By becoming well versed in the global best practices in the globalized world, you can land a plethora of opportunities for yourself. Intern, observe and take over the legal world by storm!
With the advent of the world wide web, nothing is out of reach. Reach out to experts and academicians in the field for guidance. Despite several challenges, this field has a host of possibilities, and you will surely gain work satisfaction. What are you waiting for? Pull up your socks and reach out to TC Global on more help regarding making your dream of becoming an international lawyer a reality.
