New visa rules to complicate overseas hiring in the UK

UK law firms will find it increasingly difficult to recruit lawyers from outside the UK and Europe as a result of new rules being introduced by the Home Office and UK Border Agency. The changes mean partners and some senior lawyers would have to obtain a masters degree in order to qualify for a tier one - or highly-skilled - working visa, while positions for junior lawyers - who would normally fall under a tier two visa and require employer sponsorship - will now also have to be advertised in the UK.

March 05, 2009 at 12:33 AM

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Law firms face more hurdles to sponsor foreign lawyers in the UK

UK law firms will find it increasingly difficult to recruit lawyers from outside the UK and Europe as a result of new rules being introduced by the Home Office and UK Border Agency.

The changes mean partners and some senior lawyers would have to obtain a masters degree in order to qualify for a tier one – or highly-skilled – working visa, while positions for junior lawyers – who would normally fall under a tier two visa and require employer sponsorship – will now also have to be advertised in the UK.

The revamp of the points-based regime, which will come into effect on 31 March, will affect City firms such as Norton Rose, which recruit directly from countries such as India, Australia and Canada, by forcing them to advertise any job openings in the UK's JobCentre Plus.

The changes come after firms scrambled last year to meet a November deadline to apply for a licence allowing them to sponsor overseas workers; however, it is thought that all of the top 10 City firms have now been awarded licences to sponsor overseas employees to work in the UK.

Although most firms have significantly curbed overseas recruitment in response to the downturn, the changes will have an impact on future hiring.