Why Australia Is Becoming the New OE for Lawyers

​For decades, the overseas experience for New Zealand lawyers followed a familiar path.

Work locally for a few years.
Move to London.
Gain international experience and build your career in a global firm.

But in the past few years, something has started to shift.

In conversations I’ve been having with lawyers considering the OE, one destination is coming up more and more often:

Australia.

More and more lawyers are choosing Australia as their first move overseas — and for good reason.

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Closer to Home

Since Covid, the idea of moving to the other side of the world has started to feel different for many lawyers.

London will always be attractive, but it’s also a long way from home.

Australia offers the opportunity to gain international experience while remaining much closer to New Zealand.

For many lawyers, it feels like a safer and more flexible first step overseas. If family commitments change or plans shift, it’s much easier to travel home.

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A Strong Legal Market

The Australian legal market is also extremely strong.

Cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane host many global firms and large national practices working on significant transactions and complex matters.

For lawyers coming from New Zealand, this can mean:

• exposure to larger deals
• more complex matters
• experience working within global firm structures

That experience can significantly strengthen your CV and broaden your career options internationally.

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Australia as a Gateway to London

Interestingly, Australia is also becoming a strategic pathway to London.

With the London legal market remaining somewhat volatile in recent years, some lawyers are choosing a different route.

Instead of moving directly to London, they:

• join a global firm in Australia
• build experience for a few years
• then transfer internally to London

For many firms, internal transfers are much easier than hiring externally.

For lawyers, this creates a smoother transition into the UK market while also gaining valuable experience along the way.

In effect, Australia is becoming something of a “back door” into London.

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Testing the Waters Overseas

For other lawyers, Australia simply provides a way to test the waters of working overseas.

It offers international exposure and career growth, without immediately committing to the distance and complexity of a London move.

Some lawyers eventually move on to London or other international markets.

Others discover that the Australian lifestyle and legal market suit them perfectly and stay long term.

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A Strategic Career Move

What’s becoming clear is that the overseas experience is evolving.

London will always remain an important destination for New Zealand lawyers.

But increasingly, Australia is becoming the first step in that journey.

It offers strong legal work, global firm experience, and the ability to build international credibility — all while remaining closer to home.

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Thinking About the Move?

If Australia is on your radar, it’s worth having a conversation before you start applying directly.

Through my work in the legal market, I partner with trusted legal recruiters across Australia who specialise in helping New Zealand lawyers make the transition into the right firms and teams.

Having the right introduction can make a significant difference — both in terms of the opportunities you see and the guidance you receive navigating the market.

If you’re considering Australia in the next 6–24 months, feel free to reach out for a confidential conversation.

Sometimes the best international moves start with the right introduction.