Fleur(33)

After six years as a lawyer at a major firm in The Hague, specialised in international trade law, I was approached by a Magic Circle firm in London. The British legal market is the largest in Europe, and London is the centre for international arbitration and trade law. It was an opportunity I couldn't refuse.

As a Dutch lawyer you can't directly enter the English bar. I had to qualify as a solicitor via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). With my Dutch legal background and work experience I could get exemptions for certain parts. The process took six months, including the SQE2 exam. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) eventually registered me as a qualified solicitor.

The Skilled Worker visa was arranged by my firm. Magic Circle firms have extensive experience with sponsorship — they recruit talent from around the world. The starting salary as a mid-level associate is £120,000 plus bonus, which far exceeds the minimum salary requirement for the visa. The firm paid all visa costs including the IHS.

Notting Hill is a lovely area to live. Portobello Road on Saturdays, the pastel-coloured houses, the cosmopolitan character — it feels like a village in the heart of a world city. I pay £2,200 for a one-bedroom flat, which is ridiculous but fitting for the salary. The Tube takes me to the office in the City in twenty minutes.

Working in two legal systems is intellectually challenging. The English common law system is fundamentally different from Dutch civil law. Precedents are binding, proceedings are adversarial, and the legal culture is more formal. My added value lies in cross-border transactions where both systems are relevant — and there are many of those, despite Brexit.

After two years I feel established. I've built a professional network through the Law Society and the Dutch Business Association. The British legal market offers career opportunities that are unthinkable in the Netherlands — partnership at a Magic Circle firm is the pinnacle of the legal world. My advice: start SQE preparation early and network actively in London. It's competitive, but Dutch lawyers are valued for their analytical approach.