Abstract
Base pay at London’s top firms is well above top-tier Sydney pay for a lawyer at the same stage, provided they land at a Magic Circle or US firm. A newly qualified lawyer at a Magic Circle firm is on £150k, about A$285k at current rates, against A$105k for a Sydney top-tier lawyer with up to one year’s experience.
• Demand: London’s top firms actively recruit Australian lawyers, especially in transactional and finance work.
• Qualifying: the SQE is the route to becoming a solicitor of England and Wales, and qualified lawyers do not need qualifying work experience.
• Pay: Magic Circle NQ base salary is £150k; US firms mostly pay ~ £165k to £180k.
• Visas: the Youth Mobility Scheme lets Australians aged 18 to 35 work without a sponsor; Skilled Worker needs a sponsoring employer.
Why would a London firm be interested in an Australian lawyer?
Why do London firms hire Australian lawyers?
• Breadth and responsibility. Top London practices can be narrowly specialised, while Australian lawyers often work across a wider range of matters earlier in their careers.
• Adaptability and work ethic. Top UK and US firms look for both, along with the ability to take on responsibility early.
• Familiar foundations. Australia and England and Wales are both common law systems, so case-law method, drafting and deal management carry over.
Which practice areas are in demand?
Finance and private equity lead the way. Specific gaps include leveraged, structured, and real estate finance, restructuring, and private equity. Disputes experience is harder to transfer due to firms increasingly wanting lawyers with London court experience.
What level would I join at?
London firms often discount up to two years from an Australian lawyer’s experience, to line up with the two-year UK training contract. Market commentary suggests the best fit is a top-tier lawyer with two to six years’ experience advising large-listed companies.
Do I need to be qualified in England first?
No. London firms often hire Australian-qualified lawyers who are not qualified to practice in England, although litigators should consider admission. It is good to confirm this for your practice area with the SRA.
What will I need to learn?
An English-law layer on top of what you already do: English statute and court procedure, such as the Companies Act 2006 and the Civil Procedure Rules, and the English-law documents used in London-based deals.
What does qualifying in England and Wales involve?
Although it is not a necessity to qualify due to the fact an Australian lawyer can practice as an “Australian-Qualified” solicitor, it may be useful to know how.
How do I qualify as a solicitor?
Through the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination), which replaced the QLTS in September 2021 and is open to lawyers from any jurisdiction. It has two parts, SQE1 and SQE2, and the SRA says qualified lawyers do not need qualifying work experience.
Can I be exempt from any of it?
Possibly. Qualified lawyers can apply for exemption from SQE1, SQE2 or both, except for a part they have failed or are waiting on results for. The SRA lists agreed SQE2 exemptions by jurisdiction, so check your state or territory.
An Australian-qualified solicitor can apply for a SQE2 exemption, and in doing so would need to provide evidence of their qualification, a reference to show at least two years’ post-qualification experience, and proof of your referee(s) professional qualification.
What firms should I look out for in London?
Which firms hire Australian lawyers?
Magic Circle firms and leading US firms are the main recruiters of Australian lawyers mainly due to their deep benches of associates.
• Magic Circle: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters and Slaughter and May
• Silver Circle: Ashurst, BCLP, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Macfarlanes and Travers Smith
• Major US firms: including Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Davis Polk, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Simpson Thacher
• International firms: Such as Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper, Baker McKenzie, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
How much will I earn in London?
What do London firms pay newly qualified lawyers?
Base salaries from Legal Cheek’s September 2025 survey:
• Major US firms: ~ £165k to £180k
• Magic Circle: £150k
• Silver Circle: ~£115k to £145k
• Large international firms: ~£100k to £140k
How do they compare?
At about £1 = A$1.90 (July 2026), £150k is roughly A$285k. Because London firms often discount experience, read London pay against the level you would be hired at, not the level you are at in Australia.
What will living in London cost?
How much is rent?
Figures based on ONS data show a median of about £1,495 per month for a one-bedroom flat and £1,800 for a two-bedroom flat. Central districts tend to sit above the median, while much of Outer London sits below.
How much is the Tube?
Since March 2026, a Zone 1–2 single fare is £3.60 at peak and £3.10 off-peak, with daily and weekly caps of £8.90 and £44.70, respectively. These rates increase depending on the number of zones (16) you travel through.
What visa options do I have?
Can I move without a job offer?
Yes, on the Youth Mobility Scheme:
• Open to Australians aged 18 to 35 (inclusive) at application, with no sponsor needed, and almost any job allowed.
• Two years, with a third-year extension for Australians.
• £340 fee, £776 a year health surcharge, and £2,530 in savings held for 28 days.
• One use per lifetime, and no dependent children.
You can switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK once an employer sponsors you.
Can a London firm sponsor me?
Yes, through the Skilled Worker route. Australian citizens are exempt from the English language test that applies to most new applicants, and your employer must have a sponsor licence to produce the necessary certificate of sponsorship.
The standard fee ranges from £819 to £1,865 depending on circumstances, healthcare surcharge fees of usually £1,035 per year and a requirement to have savings of at least £1,270. These charges may be covered by the firm on a case-by-case basis.
Are there other routes?
• High Potential Individual: valid for graduates of listed universities within five years of graduating, who have not received a job offer or employer sponsorship. The 2025–26 list
includes ANU, Monash, Melbourne, UNSW, Queensland, and Sydney.
• Graduate visa: follows a UK degree, such as an LLM. For applications from 1 January 2027, it lasts 18 months, down from 24. You must be in the UK when you apply.
Could I settle in the UK permanently?
The standard qualifying period is currently five years. The government has proposed a 10-year baseline with reductions, under which a higher-skilled worker earning above £50,270 would qualify after five years and one earning above £125,140 after three, according to the House of Commons Library.
What should I do next?
1. Check the SRA’s SQE exemption list for your state or territory.
2. Choose a route: the Youth Mobility Scheme if you are 35 or under, or a sponsored role if a firm will back you.
3. If you graduated recently, check the High Potential Individual university list on gov.uk.
4. Talk to HIA Legal about which London firms and practice areas suit your experience.
About this pack
This pack was compiled in September 2026 from published sources. Salary figures are from the surveys named in each section and change often.
This should be seen as general information, not legal, tax, or immigration advice, please confirm the details for your own circumstances before you act.