Hello Everyone!

I am relatively new to Switzerland, and have used this site many times while transitioning. I have found many posts both helpful and comforting, so thank you. Now I am hoping to find some help once again.

As mentioned, I recently moved, and am living with my husband in the Zurich area. I am an American lawyer, and having difficulties with the job search. I recently passed the bar examination, and (after months of searching) am seeking any legal related opportunity. I am only fluent in English, although I am trying to learn German. I have tried all the most common avenues in my job search; I have applied to many jobs that I have found online, I have contacted recruiters, and both my husband and I have passed my CV along to people we have come to know since the move, and I have not had any luck.

I was wondering with all the well informed people on this site, if anyone had any out of the box suggestions on what I might try or personally knew of any opportunities for a relatively new American lawyer living in Zurich? I would really appreciate any insight!

Thanks for reading!

I am not 100% sure, but from friends' experiences, I do not think you can practice law in Switzerland with your US degree. So in addition to the language issue, I think you will face other issues of qualifications if you want to work in law here.

You did not mention any speciality, but presuming you have international corporate law or contract law, that may be useful to large multinational companies, which may have a need. (or banking law) But again you may have to be called an advisor or similar, not lawyer. If you have some other legal speciality linked to local issues such as criminality, prosecution, etc. I think it would be very difficult.

Other than the multinational companies, other organsiations or companies that have headquarters in Switzerland would probably be the best options, both for working in English and having a need for non-Swiss legal advice.

Runningdeer is correct... but.

You can do two things. One, is find a corporation needing legal advice. It can be a local subsidiary of an american flag, or the other way around, a Swiss corporation doing business in the US. Some sectors are more eager than others...

On the other hand, you can also get in touch with the consulate, and see what kind of legal work they need. There are lots of civil proceedings that require multi-national understanding, and even actions to be prepared. Think of divorces to be transcribed, succession to be prepared, followed up and plannned. I don't have experience with the US ambassy/consulate, but this type of services are offered by others.
If they are not... well you may have found a niche!

Good luck!

indeed scan the Big Four and international companies. The Big Four in particular would be a good place to check out......but you're wet behind the ears if you've just done the bar exam.

Are there any LLM equivalent tax course that you can do in Switzerland?

http://www.llm-guide.com/board/51725

Your law degree is almost useless. Hopefully you have a practical bachelors degree, and not something like american studies or underwater basket weaving. Or, maybe go to Geneva and get a job with the UN? Or, as has already been mentioned International corps, or ch corps who do business with any common-law countries (pretty much anywhere England has been).