A career move abroad can freshen up your CV and place you on the fast track to partnership, but at what cost? Lynnsey McCall and Claire Stead report

One of the most significant trends in the international legal arena is the increasing number of lawyers who are moving overseas. Why the mass departures? Which are the most popular jurisdictions? And should you consider an overseas move for yourself?

To answer the first question, we borrow one of the slogans from former President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign: "It's the economy, stupid." The unravelling of financial markets and tightening of credit around the world has caused a slowdown of legal work in traditionally dynamic markets like London and New York, while emerging and growth markets continue to see lots of deals.