1.     Attorneys working abroad should possess the ability to change or adapt to change quickly. Living abroad will present many challenges and obstacles that no book or workshop can cover. The ability to adapt to these challenges and obstacles will be a valuable skill when working abroad.

2.     The ability to work across several disciplines will be a valuable asset to an attorney working abroad. Internationally stationed attorneys who can show that their skills and experiences cover multiple disciplines will be able to weather market fluctuations.  But it’s important to remember that while an attorney who is skilled in several disciplines is valuable, he/she must make sure that he is proficient enough in those disciplines to be considered good enough to get the job done and he/she must have a developed area of expertise.

3.     Attorneys working abroad must not only understand the issues impacting the region in which they are working but they must also understand the global issues and how they impact the country in in which they work.  Attorneys who have a solid understanding of global issues and how they impact the foreign country in which they work and the United States will be positioned to offer a lot of value to their employer.

4.     Cross cultural understanding is important for attorneys working abroad. While it is important to understand the language of the country in which you will work, it is not enough.  Language proficiency is only the beginning.  Valuable attorneys working abroad make sure that they understand the culture of the people in their host country. This type of knowledge cannot be mastered through books alone, you must go out and interact with the people of your host country.

Over the next few weeks we will explore several issues surrounding attorneys working abroad. How do you find work? How do you keep your job?  What are some special issues impacting certain regions?