The Overseas Experience Is Changing: Why More Lawyers Are Coming Home Sooner

​For decades, the overseas experience (OE) has been almost a rite of passage for New Zealand lawyers.

The formula was familiar.
Work a few years locally, head to London, gain international experience, travel Europe, and build your career inside global firms.

The plan was usually simple: stay for two years.

In reality, two years often became five.

But recently, something has shifted.

More lawyers are still leaving for overseas opportunities. That part hasn’t changed. What has changed is how long they’re staying away - and how quickly many are choosing to come home.

London Isn’t the Escape Plan It Once Was

Over the past year, I’ve been speaking to an increasing number of lawyers who are:

• Returning to New Zealand within 12–18 months

• Leaving but already questioning whether the move is worth it

• Choosing not to go at all, prioritising lifestyle, family, and balance over prestige

For years, London represented opportunity, scale, and career acceleration.

But today, the reality is more complex.

The cost of living is extraordinarily high, the working hours remain intense, and many lawyers are reassessing whether the trade-offs make sense.

At the same time, something positive is happening closer to home.

Career Progression at Home Is Improving

Many lawyers are realising that the opportunities available in New Zealand - are better than they expected.

Firms are growing.
Succession planning is becoming more important.
And lawyers are seeing clearer pathways to responsibility and progression earlier in their careers.

For some, the traditional assumption that you must leave to progress simply no longer holds true.

What This Means for Law Firms

For firms, the overseas experience will always remain part of the profession.

You will still lose talented mid-level lawyers to London or other international markets. That’s simply the nature of the OE cycle.

But the key difference now is this:

They may not be gone for as long as you think.

The window for return is getting shorter.

That raises important questions for firms:

• Are you staying in touch with lawyers who leave?

• Do you have clear re-entry pathways for returning alumni?

• Are you thinking long-term about the investment you’ve already made in their development?

Firms that maintain strong relationships with former team members often find those lawyers returning with valuable international experience - and a renewed commitment to building their careers at home.

What Lawyers Often Mean When They Say They’re “Thinking About London”

When lawyers tell me they’re considering moving overseas, the underlying motivation is often deeper than geography.

Sometimes what they’re really saying is:

• I’m ready for something different.

• I need a new challenge.

• I don’t feel seen or valued here anymore.

In those situations, the desire to leave isn’t always about London itself.

Sometimes it’s simply a sign they’ve outgrown their current environment.

A Different Conversation Worth Having

Before someone books the flight, it may be worth asking a different question:

What would make them want to stay?

Because while the overseas experience still has its appeal, it’s no longer the guaranteed career accelerator it once was.

Growth, leadership opportunities, and meaningful career progression at home are becoming increasingly powerful reasons to remain.

And for many lawyers today, those opportunities are exactly what they’re looking for.