If you’ve spent the last few years in London, you’ve likely picked up two things: an unhealthy reliance on terrible coffee, and a habitual need to over-apologise.
When Kiwi and Aussie lawyers based overseas start thinking about heading back across the equator (or pivoting to an offshore jurisdiction), they usually carry a quiet list of “concerns” about how they’ll fit back in.
If you’re drafting your mental exit strategy, here are the top 5 things returning lawyers constantly apologise for during interviews, and why your future Partners back home actually couldn’t care less.
1. “Sorry, my UK notice period is insanely long…”
- The Overseas Reality Check: “I’m locked into a 3-to-6-month notice period in London. No firm in Sydney, Auckland, or Brisbane is going to wait that long for me.”
- The Partner Reality Check: High-performing 3–7 PQE lawyers don’t grow on trees. ANZ partners routinely plan their headcount 6 to 9 months in advance. They are more than happy to wait out your London notice period, especially if it gives them time to lock in top-tier talent before the next financial quarter.
The Verdict: Stop worrying about the lag. Start the conversation early, sign the offer, and enjoy your 3-month victory lap in Europe while your transition home is already sorted.
2. “Sorry, I’m a bit rusty on local law/statutory updates…”
- The Overseas Reality Check: “I’ve been drafting UK/EU governing law contracts for 3 years. I don’t know the latest local case law updates back home!”
- The Partner Reality Check: Partners aren’t hiring you for your ability to rote-recite local statutes on day one. They are hiring City alumni for your international rigor, cross-border deal exposure, and high-volume transaction stamina.
The Verdict: You learned English law in five minutes when you arrived at Heathrow; you’ll pick up the local tweaks back home in a week. The core skills, commercial judgment, drafting, and client management, are universal.
3. “Sorry, I haven’t been networking with local clients recently.”
- The Overseas Reality Check: “I don’t have a local network or client book in Aus/NZ anymore.”
- The Partner Reality Check: Unless you are stepping directly into an Equity Partnership pitch, nobody expects a Senior Associate returning from Mayfair to bring a $2M portable book of business. What repatriates do bring is a fresh international network, relationships with London-based global firms, and a shiny CV that local clients love seeing on pitch documents.
4. “Sorry, I need a couple of weeks off before I start to relocate.”
- The Overseas Reality Check: “If I ask for time to pack up my UK life, travel through South East Asia, and unpack in Auckland/Sydney, I’ll look uncommitted.”
- The Partner Reality Check: Partners are human (mostly). They know moving across the globe is a massive logistical nightmare. They would much rather you take three weeks to decompress, get your jet lag out of the way, and start fresh, than show up on day one burnt out from a 24-hour flight.
5. “Sorry, I’m used to a different work-life dynamic now.”
- The Overseas Reality Check: “If I leave the City, will people think I couldn’t cut it, or that I’m looking for a ‘lazy’ job?”
- The Partner Reality Check: Moving home or offshore isn’t “stepping down”, it’s re-optimising your life. Returning to a top-tier ANZ firm or an offshore practice in Cayman/Jersey as cross-border talent still means doing elite, complex legal work. The difference? You get your weekends back, your commute drops from 50 minutes on the Northern Line to 15 minutes, and your billable hours actually leave room for a life outside the office.
The Bottom Line
Stop overthinking the logistics and apologising for things that are actually your biggest selling points. Your UK/overseas experience makes you a prime candidate, and the market back home is waiting for you.
Thinking about a move back to NZ, Australia, or an offshore haven?
Curious about what the market looks like for your PQE back home?
You don’t need a polished CV or a set departure date to start the conversation. Let’s benchmark your experience, talk timelines, and map out what an exit strategy looks like for you.
Drop me a message or connect with me here on LinkedIn to schedule a quick, off-the-record catch-up!
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: How far in advance should UK-based Aussie and Kiwi lawyers start applying for roles back home?
A: Ideally, start the conversation 6 to 9 months before your target start date. Law firms across Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Wellington routinely plan headcount in advance. Starting early allows ample time to navigate 3-to-6-month London notice periods, international interview rounds, and relocation logistics without rushing your transition.
Q2: Will a long UK notice period (3 to 6 months) hurt my chances of getting hired in Australia or New Zealand?
A: No. Hiring partners in ANZ expect 3-to-6-month notice periods for top-tier UK associates. Because 3–7 PQE lawyers are in high demand across corporate, litigation, and finance sectors, local firms are accustomed to waiting out London notice periods to secure high-caliber cross-border talent.
Q3: Do lawyers returning to NZ or Australia need to requalify before accepting a job offer?
A: No, you do not need to be admitted back home before applying or receiving an offer. Most major firms will hire you based on your UK and home qualifications, providing support or a grace period for administrative re-admission (e.g., via Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition for NZ/Aus practitioners) once you land.
Q4: How does UK practice experience benefit returning lawyers when applying to ANZ or Offshore law firms?
A: City experience is highly valued by ANZ and Offshore hiring partners. UK-trained lawyers bring proven exposure to high-yield cross-border deals, intense transaction stamina, and international commercial rigor. This experience often gives returning lawyers significant leverage for senior associate progression and competitive remuneration packages.
Q5: Is it essential to have a local client book to secure a Senior Associate role in NZ or Australia?
A: No. Unless you are applying directly for an Equity Partnership position, local firms do not expect returning UK associates to carry a portable client book. Partners hire returning alumni primarily for technical execution, drafting rigor, and global network connections that add credibility to pitch documents.
Q6: Should I take time off between leaving my UK role and starting my new legal job in ANZ or Offshore?
A: Yes, and hiring partners actively encourage it. Taking 2 to 4 weeks off allows you to manage long-haul relocation logistics, overcome jet lag, and reset mentally, ensuring you arrive on day one ready to perform rather than burnt out from travel.
Q7: What legal practice areas are currently in highest demand for returning lawyers to NZ & Australia?
A: Demand is consistently strong across Corporate/M&A, Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance, Renewable Energy, and Infrastructure/Construction. Mid-level associates (3–7 PQE) with Magic Circle, Silver Circle, or US firm experience in London are particularly sought after by top-tier and national firms in major ANZ hubs and offshore jurisdictions.