I’m looking to escape - litigation is killing me. My wife’s a wanderlust whose work is 100% compatible with working from abroad, and she proposes we get a small home in a village on the Mediterranean. Any expat attorneys with success stories of working remotely abroad?

likehelpful
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Not abroad technically, but I moved to Hawaii and worked remotely for a couple of years. That 3 hour time difference from my firm's office/our clients was about as much as would have been feasible in my practice/for any semblance of a normal sleep schedule. That being said, it worked perfectly and nobody had any idea I wasn't in my firm's office unless I told them. It can be done.

likehelpful

No - I was in medium law when I moved out there and then switched to a boutique. I don't think anyone cares, really, but I was a bit concerned clients what clients would think. Those that found out didn't care.

What about limiting your practice to legal research and drafting memos? Can be done anywhere and is discreet projects. If you charge $100/hr you are a bargain and you are really skilled. If your priority is your marriage and a better life, there are solutions.

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I’ve heard of “freelance” lawyer work posting boards/sites, but my understanding is the work gets snapped up very quickly and is not very consistent.

Also looked at remote document review postings, but everything I see wants a 8-5p EST commitment and many specifically say they don’t want attorneys from out of state (impliedly: not working abroad). Seems arbitrary to say the least - why do I need to be in the same state and working at the same time to read contracts/discovery?

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Alternatively anyone who found some non-legal work that suited the expat life? I’ve got my student loans down below 100k, but nowhere near enough savings to either pay them off or quit working entirely. My thought is this is all unrealistic for me, but it’s a clear goal for my wife. I’m worried that with the strain on our relationship that the litigation work-life balance has already imposed, and her increasing desire to cut ties and start a new life abroad, I won’t be able to accommodate her desires. I’m certainly of the same mind as her and want the same thing, but need to know if it is even realistic for an attorney whose only skill is based on the American civil justice system.

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Very sorry to hear this! My husband is in Mexico. I want so badly to be there too but I have to make a viable living. I'd go if I didn't have school loans.

Fuck, I hate even saying that.

And for some reason I'm letting that dictate my life. So many others said eff it. I want to say eff it too. Sometimes I go the the "student loan defaulters" reddit page to get inspiration. Those folks threw up the middle finger and moved out the country.

Thinking this through..Wouldn’t you be 6-8 hours ahead at all times making the work/life balance be even worse given that you would essentially be working off hours in the local time zone? Feel like it wouldn’t be feasible unless the firm was on board with the fact that your availability will be less. Hawaii (3 Hours behind) seems easier to do.

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There is no safe path forward here. Have the conversation with your wife that you are willing to relocate and start a new life abroad but make sure she understands that you are most likely permanently handicapping your legal career and earning potential. The grass is always greener as they say and a dream of living in Greece will always be more captivating than the real thing. Today it’s Greece but tomorrow it’s somewhere else. Make sure she understands the consequences of that kind of decision as well as you do.

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As someone with OP's wife's idea in mind, "today it's Greece, tomorrow it's somewhere else" is precisely the point 😁

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Are you limiting your options to practicing as a litigator if you move abroad? I’m a former lawyer turned financial counselor and I specialize in helping Biglaw attorneys pursue their true passions, no matter the salary. So I help them figure out how the money will work out and I have career coaches, recruiters, and other professional contacts that can help you think through the other pieces of the puzzle. If you’re willing to go outside of the same thing you’re doing now, it’s very possible.

likehelpful

I’m absolutely open to something outside of litigation, but fear I’m pigeonholed as far as my specialization (med-mal and catastrophic PI). Be glad to discuss with you via DM if you think there’s hope for me.

JAG Corps. Awesome experience. Asia, Europe potential.

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Be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it.

Just don’t bring covid with you! Hawaii’s numbers have soared in the last week and I wonder if its due to people from the mainland who decided to work remotely there.

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