Key Takeaways
Six years after COVID-19 disrupted global legal hiring, international opportunities for Australian lawyers have rebounded. Ricardo Paredes explains that demand has strengthened significantly in 2026, led by renewed interest from U.S. law firms seeking Australian-qualified banking & finance and private equity/M&A lawyers. While the U.S. currently offers some of the strongest opportunities, markets including London, the Middle East and key Asian financial centers remain active destinations for lawyers pursuing international careers.
- Demand from U.S. firms in New York, Texas and California has returned, particularly for banking & finance and private equity/M&A talent.
- London, the Middle East and major Asian financial centers continue to offer attractive opportunities for Australian lawyers.
- Recent hiring cycles demonstrate that international opportunities fluctuate, making timing and preparation critical.
- Lawyers should maintain up-to-date résumés and deal sheets, understand which markets align with their goals and seek guidance from trusted recruiters.
- The key takeaway for 2026: opportunity has returned, but candidates who prepare early will be best positioned to capitalize on it.
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote about the importance of staying prepared for international opportunities even as global borders closed, hiring slowed and uncertainty dominated the legal market. At the time, my message to Australian lawyers was simple: the disruption was temporary, demand would return and those who prepared early would be best positioned when the market recovered.
Six years later, many of those predictions have come to fruition.
Over the past several months, I have spoken with many lawyers across Australia who are curious about the current state of the international legal market and whether now is the right time to explore opportunities abroad.
The answer is yes.
After several years of fluctuating demand across global legal markets, international opportunities for Australian lawyers have strengthened considerably in 2026. While activity remains steady across several regions, the most notable development has been the renewed demand from U.S. law firms seeking Australian-qualified lawyers, particularly those with backgrounds in banking & finance and private equity/M&A.
For lawyers considering an international move, the message is once again clear: opportunities exist, but preparation remains critical.
Since 2020, the international legal market has moved through several distinct cycles. Demand for lateral recruits surged across 2021 and 2022, reaching record levels in many jurisdictions. During that period, U.S. firms, particularly those in New York, Texas and California, actively recruited Australian lawyers as they competed for talent amid unprecedented transactional activity. Banking & finance and private equity/M&A lawyers were especially sought after.
The market then entered a period of normalisation between 2023 and 2025. Hiring activity in the United States slowed from its peak levels, resulting in fewer opportunities for international candidates. Although select U.S. firms remained interested in top Australian talent during this period, overall movement was more limited. Meanwhile, London, the Middle East and Asia continued to provide opportunities for Australian lawyers seeking overseas experience.
Today, the market looks different once again.
In 2026, we are seeing a meaningful return of U.S. demand for Australian-qualified lawyers. Our team is currently working with a broad range of firms across New York, Texas and California that are actively exploring banking & finance and private equity/M&A talent from Australia. For many lawyers, this represents the strongest international opportunity set we have seen in several years.
At the same time, it is important not to overlook other key international markets.
London continues to be a highly attractive destination and experienced strong hiring activity throughout 2025, particularly as a number of U.S. firms expanded their presence and strengthened their teams. The Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh, remains active, while major Asian financial centres such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo continue to offer compelling opportunities for Australian lawyers looking to build international careers.
What has not changed is the importance of being prepared before opportunities arise.
Lawyers interested in relocating overseas should ensure their résumés and deal sheets accurately reflect their experience and accomplishments. More importantly, they should develop a clear understanding of which markets align with their professional goals and practice area expertise. Having informed conversations with a trusted legal recruiter can provide valuable insight into market conditions, hiring trends and the opportunities most likely to support long-term career objectives.
One of the lessons learned from the hiring cycles of recent years is that international opportunities rarely remain constant. Markets strengthen, cool and strengthen again. Candidates who wait until opportunities become widely discussed often find themselves competing with a much larger pool of applicants.
Those who prepare early are typically best positioned to capitalise when demand is at its highest.
If there are three things for Australian lawyers to remember about the international legal market in 2026, they are these:
- First, the U.S. legal market is currently experiencing strong demand for Australian-qualified lawyers, particularly in banking & finance and private equity/M&A.
- Second, windows of opportunity are rarely permanent. Market conditions can change quickly, making preparation and timing increasingly important.
- Third, partnering with an experienced legal recruiter can help candidates understand the nuances of global markets and identify opportunities that align with their career objectives.
In 2020, the message was to stay prepared while waiting for opportunity to return. In 2026, the message is different: opportunity has returned. For Australian lawyers considering an international move, now is the time to understand the market, position themselves effectively and be ready when the right opportunity arises. The lawyers who prepare today will be best positioned to take advantage of what comes next.
