I am an SA in a transactions team at a T-1 firm and I am fed up of doing the same stuff over and over with no respite. I'd like to change my geography and work abroad.

Thankfully, in my current job, most times, I have a decent work-life balance (about 50-55 billable hours a week almost 80% of the year). I like the field of corporate law broadly and, while I'd be open to trying academics or working in house, my first preference would be to work in a foreign law firm for a few years. I'd like to be well paid, but at the same time, I am not overly ambitious and I don't aspire to become a partner one day.

I have been applying to jobs in the UAE/ Singapore using LinkedIn for sometime now, however, every time I apply, there is no response. This has led me to research on LLMs. Based on my research, a majority of the people doing these are at a relatively junior level and invariably end up coming back and working at a Tier-I here with a mountain of debt to clear (which I don't think is worth it for me at this stage).

I am open to taking a year off to study if my chances of getting a job overseas are increased. My current personal net worth is around Rs. 40L and, if absolutely necessary, I am okay to spend about Rs. 40-45L on my fees to study further. I have no EMIs, my wife works as a techie and it is relatively easier for her to move even internally within her company.

Looking for some general career advice on where I can move, what options I should consider etc. I would like to move out of India as soon as possible and by spending as little money as I can.

PS: Please do not suggest living off someone, driving Ubers etc.

"Which one of them is the easiest to get into?"
"I think you're asking me that because the easiest one to get into is whereI will have the best chance."
"The country which is the easiest to move into is where anybody would have the best chance."

Good luck!

Canada. The initial 1-2 year period will be hard but there is a clear pathway for a foreign lawyer to integrate within the Canadian legal industry. Look up NCA and articling. You can easily obtain a Canadian PR and then fees of LLM programmes will be cheaper as well (less than 15 lakhs in some cases). There is a large Indian community there and that is also another added bonus.

So stupid,

Many lawyers in Canada work in shady immigration clinics and law firms. It pays shit. If you have a decent life in India don't come to Canada.

People always compare US with Canada.

It's like comparing Maharashtra with Sikkim - not that Sikkim is bad. But there are no law firm jobs in Sikkim.

Same with canada - there is a dearth of quality law jobs.

In India you have a higher chance of making more money - Law firm hiring is increasing at 30% CAGR. Not the same in Canada.

People commenting Canada should keep in mind what are the type of jobs one would get (mostly) after clearing the NCA process. The jobs are mostly in family law and immigration clinics where you would lose the sense of being a corporate lawyer as such where the pay would be a fraction of what a person of similar PQE would get in a good law firm. Canada is easy no doubt but has its own drawbacks.
USA has firms which pay above 200 grands a year, and the number is increasing every year. If OP is ready to do an LLM I'd suggest getting one in the US and getting enrolled in the California or the NY Bar. Keeping in mind your 5 year corporate experience, an American LLM and bar qualification would give you quite a decent shot at a law firm job there. Cheers!

Unless you are high (after smoking up really crappy stuff) or living under the rock.

US has became an extremely anti - immigration country. Indians have stopped going even for MBA and MS.

Unless you have family sponsorship or girlfriend who is a US citizen.

US is a dangerous choice. As you can be kicked out any time. And getting an H1B is impossible.

LLLM grads may not even get OPT visa.

I'm @11
US Law Firms still look at you if you have a bar qualification and an American LLM. If the US office isn't able to take you in due to the visa issues they send you to their Singapore, Hong Kong or London office. Getting a US Law firm job is much easier than you think and with almost all of these firms being global you have a good chance to move back to the US office if you want after you've worked at their Singapore or London office as they'll be ready to sponsor the visa of an existing employee.

A fellow Linkedin member was seen on the platform literally Begging for a job after she had done her LLM from NYU and passed the NY bar. The reason was the incredibly unfriendly immigration policy which meant that she would have to leave the US after spending tens of Lakhs of rupees on her LLM and US trip. Seriously avoid the LLM Route Stateside. Canada is far better an option if you're willing to take a 40-50 percent pay cut.