Solicitor Training in London vs Ireland

Joe567

Is there a significant career advantage training in a London Magic Circle ("MC") firm as opposed to a top 5 Irish corporate law firm?

In terms of post-qualification coming back to Ireland after training in a MC would you have any advantage over similar graduates who trained in Ireland ?

What is the major advantage of working and training in a MC when compared to an Irish counterpart, or are there any? Other than the LPC being quicker than the FE1s ..

LegallyAbroad

Much of muchness really. Post qualification the MC traineeship will transfer to Asia/US easier, but would not have a sufficiently large as to dictate your decision - if you're lucky enough to have top 5/MC contract you're going to be fairly sorted for international travel PQ anyway.

The main thing is where do you want to live for the next 3 years? Dublin or London. There's your answer.

Plenty of top 5 trained Sols turned down MC contracts, and there's plenty of top 5 trained working in MC firms. But if you're long term goal is to work in London, I can't see the advantage of Dublin, just start in London. You could always come back and work in the top 5 having been MC trained.

nuac

London training good for a commercial law etc career in one of the larger Dublin firms.

Not so useful if you plan general practice in smaller firms here

Uno my Uno.

Wherever you plan on having your career is where you should train, if you think you might want to take your career to the US or Singapore there might be an advantage to training with a n MC firm.

deadanonymau5

LegallyAbroad wrote: »

Much of muchness really. Post qualification the MC traineeship will transfer to Asia/US easier, but would not have a sufficiently large as to dictate your decision - if you're lucky enough to have top 5/MC contract you're going to be fairly sorted for international travel PQ anyway.

The main thing is where do you want to live for the next 3 years? Dublin or London. There's your answer.

Plenty of top 5 trained Sols turned down MC contracts, and there's plenty of top 5 trained working in MC firms. But if you're long term goal is to work in London, I can't see the advantage of Dublin, just start in London. You could always come back and work in the top 5 having been MC trained.

nuac wrote: »

London training good for a commercial law etc career in one of the larger Dublin firms.

Not so useful if you plan general practice in smaller firms here

Uno my Uno. wrote: »

Wherever you plan on having your career is where you should train, if you think you might want to take your career to the US or Singapore there might be an advantage to training with a n MC firm.

Are you all qualified solicitors or looking to qualify?

vincenthal

If the OP has an offer from MC and top 5 Irish, the best in terms of future career prospects within commercial industries is to take the MC firm. Securing a position is far more competitive because of this.

All 5 MC London firms work on international cross-border transactions as opposed to much of Irish work that is concentrated on international clients working within Ireland.

I agree with other posters to the extent that the reputation of MC firms will open up international opportunities should you decide to take another path, this I don't think is true to the same extent for Irish firms. The training in an Irish top 5 and a MC is not comparable IMO.