There’s a widely held belief in the legal profession that once you’ve accumulated enough PQE, especially with international experience, your career options will naturally expand. But the reality for lawyers returning from overseas can be far more complex.

While overseas legal experience is viewed positively, lawyers who reach the 12+ year PQE range and have spent a large portion of their legal career overseas can unintentionally find themselves in a difficult position by being too experienced for the NZ legal market. Law firms hesitate to hire someone at that level when:

• experience overseas isn't transferable to the NZ legal market (e.g. when working in a highly specialised area of the law or a role that doesn't transfer well to the NZ legal market because NZ is a smaller market in comparison);

• lawyers are considered too expensive and senior for the NZ legal market and for those roles that are senior but not at pre-partnership level of senior; and/or

• a lack of client/industry connections and a portable clientele means a business case can't be made for a senior strategic hire. 

Contrast this with lawyers who return earlier in their legal careers. Those who return back from overseas in the 4-8 year PQE range often hit the market at a point where firms see them as having transferable skills, are adaptable, more affordable and having enough experience to hit the ground running. They still bring valuable international exposure, but they haven’t drifted so far from the local ecosystem that reintegration becomes a challenge.

At Colegal we see this pattern again and again, the longer the overseas stint, the harder the return can be in many practice areas, unless strategically planned.

This doesn’t mean lawyers shouldn’t go overseas experience. International experience can be career‑defining, personally enriching, and financially rewarding. But if returning home is part of the long‑term plan, timing matters more than many expect and it's important that you position yourself well. 

Thinking one or two years ahead can make a significant difference. Staying connected to your home market, understanding how your PQE will be perceived, and planning your re‑entry strategically can help ensure your experience abroad enhances your options rather than narrowing them.

Overseas work can open incredible doors, but coming home at the right moment can keep them open.