Returning home after working overseas is exciting — and disorienting.
Whether you’ve spent time in London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai, coming back to Australia often brings a mix of ambition and uncertainty. The market has shifted, your peers have been promoted, firms have restructured, key partners have moved on and opportunities seem unclear.
Many lawyers feel pressure to secure a permanent role immediately, but in reality the period right after repatriation is often the perfect time to take on a contract position.
You Re-Enter the Market Without Locking Yourself In
When you return from overseas, you are recalibrating:
- What type of firm do you want now?
- Are you still aligned with private practice?
- Would you prefer in-house?
- Has your lifestyle priority changed? You may now have a young family or have a new found perspective.
A contract role gives you immediate income and market re-entry — without forcing a long-term decision before you’re ready.
The Market Sees You as Available — Use That Momentum
There’s a window when you first return home where your overseas experience feels fresh and marketable. Firms are curious. Clients are interested. Recruiters are engaged.
A contract role lets you capitalise on that momentum immediately rather than spending months searching for the “perfect” permanent opportunity.
Importantly, contract roles in private practice and in-house teams often arise quickly — covering:
- Parental leave
- Project spikes
- Litigation surges
- Transactional peaks
- Regulatory investigations
You have no notice period and can start immediately making you very attractive for a contract position. It is always nice to take your time finding a permanent role and learn something new while you are getting paid big $$$$$.
You Rebuild Local Networks Quickly
Time overseas can weaken local professional networks.
A contract role reconnects you with the Australian legal market. Much better than staying at home gardening while it takes your months to find a permanent role. It also demonstrates recent local experience on your CV and gets your back into the city every day for networking and interviews.
Get Paid while you find your feet
Sydney is expensive. You might be surprised by the price of a coffee these days. $6 is becoming the norm in the city. Rents have gone up; transport and everyday living costs hits the belt hard.
A contract role provides financial stability while you make strategic career decisions. It shifts you from reactive job searching to considered career planning. It eases the pressure and affords you the space and time to make the right decision for your next career step.
Many Contract Roles Convert to Permanent
One of the biggest misconceptions is that contract work is “lesser” or purely temporary. That is old school thinking and the stigma around contracting has largely disappeared. The reality is that many contract lawyers become permanent hires as often the only way General Counsel can get approval for a new hire is on a contract basis. The plan is to always convert the contractor to permanent once they have proven their value to the business.
It is also a great way to try before you buy for both parties. Your notice period is often between 2-4 weeks so you are agile and if you decide to take on another opportunity at the end of the contract there are no hard feelings, no questions asked.
Moving back from overseas is not just a relocation — it’s a career pivot point.
Instead of rushing into the first permanent opportunity available, consider whether a contract role might give you:
- Income
- Exposure
- Flexibility
- Market credibility
- Strategic clarity
Sometimes the smartest long-term move begins with a short-term commitment.
