International firm moves (July 2019)

“Do international firms prefer overseas graduates over local graduates?” A look at the July moves – where all the movers studied at the Singapore local universities – would seem to dispel this notion. However, there are some underlying reasons why such a belief exists among lawyers.

Firstly, certain UK firms prefer to hire lateral ‘NQ’ associates who have accumulated at least 24 months of work experience (i.e. equivalent to completing a two-year training contract in the UK). This means that overseas graduates – who train for 12 months prior to being called to the Singapore Bar, compared to a shorter 6 months for local graduates – become eligible for a move earlier than their NUS/SMU counterparts. Taking as an example an associate called in August 2018, an overseas graduate would accumulate 24 months of work experience by August 2019 whereas a local graduate would only reach this milestone on February 2020. Amongst the younger lawyers, seeing the overseas graduates secure a move earlier contributes to the impression that there is a preference for candidates who studied overseas.

More pertinently, it may be that overseas graduates are seen as being more familiar with the international firm culture, having experienced a similar environment during their schooling years. At the risk of generalising, this refers to someone who is comfortable interacting with people of different nationalities and backgrounds on a daily basis (both professionally and socially), has an outgoing personality, is confident in expressing his/her views and ready to step outside one’s comfort zone.

Obviously, these are traits that one can have regardless of one’s academic background and it is important to convey this through your CV (e.g. your overseas exchange or extra-curricular activities) or during the interview (e.g. when explaining your role in a deal, or what you enjoy doing in your spare time). That is why our LexMatch team works hand in hand with you each time to make sure your CV and interview responses are targeted to showcase your fit for the role (while remaining honest and genuine). If you are considering taking the next step in your career, get in touch with us at hello@lexmatch.co.