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Sara Enoch
Private Practice team
Dubai office
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are located in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They comprise two separate Bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey, but both are dependant on the British Crown. Jersey is the larger of the two islands, with a total area of some 45 square miles, whilst Guernsey comes in at nearer 30 square miles.
To read a first-hand account of life in Guernsey, click here
Law Firms
The legal markets in Jersey and Guernsey are dominated by a select number of firms.
They tend to focus on the financial services industry insofar as international common law lawyers are concerned. They do of course provide legal services for the local market, but for UK or other qualified lawyers looking for mid to long-term relocation, corporate or finance law are the key specialisations. The firms will generally hire good quality lawyers at all levels, although for more senior lawyers, certain issues in relation to re-qualification must be taken into consideration (see below).
The quality of work on offer and calibre of your potential peers is excellent. Most of the lawyers practising there have spent significant time abroad with leading City or international firms. The work will be of an international nature, and will stem from a world-wide client base. Channel Island firms tend to be involved in first rate financial and corporate matters, equivalent to the type of work available in London-based firms.
Principal Areas of Demand
- Corporate
- Banking & Finance
- Trusts
- Commercial Property
- Commercial Litigation
- Pensions
- Employment
Work Permits
Work permits for employment in the Channel Islands are generally not required for UK, EEA or Commonwealth citizens (if the Commonwealth citizen is subject to the “UK ancestry exemption”). Otherwise, lawyers will need a “Skilled Worker” permit (firms will normally arrange for any necessary work permits to be put in place).
Housing
Both locations have a ‘local’ and ‘open’ property market system. In Jersey, only locals or those who have been on the island for a significant number of years are eligible to buy the majority of the real estate on the island (those with the J-Cat licences described below can purchase from a limited housing stock). All others will rent. Some firms will provide access to the ‘local’ property market for their lawyers by applying for a ‘J Category’ licence. This entitles you to rent property which is otherwise reserved for the local market. Such properties tend to be greater in number and therefore priced accordingly. On the open market, the rent is usually slightly higher. The more senior the lawyer, the more likely it is that the firm will apply for – and succeed in obtaining – a ‘J-Cat’ (around two years’ PQE is the minimum). If you would be happy with a nice apartment with harbour views you will not need a ‘J-Cat’, due to the vast expansion of such developments,.
Accommodation in Guernsey is slightly different to that in Jersey. Non-locals will require a housing licence, which their employer obtains, to become eligible to buy and rent property on the ‘local’ market. Otherwise, you can buy and rent on the ‘open’ market, although there are few suitable properties to rent due to the limited housing stock available on the island. Housing licences are usually easily obtained by the law firms on the island.
In terms of buying costs, you should expect to pay London rates for apartments and free-standing houses (whether on the ‘local’ or ‘open’ market) in both locations. If you wish to buy real estate in Jersey but are not eligible to do so, a corporate structure can be put in place to purchase the legal interest in a property, leaving the equitable interest yours.
Re-Qualification
In relation to both Jersey and Guernsey, it is not possible for a lawyer to appear before the courts unless they are a Jersey or Guernsey qualified lawyer respectively. Litigators wishing to move to the Channel Islands and appear as advocates must therefore give serious consideration to the re-qualification process.
In both jurisdictions it is also not technically possible to become a partner in the Jersey or Guernsey based law firm unless you are a qualified Channel Islands lawyer. However, most law firms get round this problem by making the senior associate whom they wish to promote into a partner in their London office.
To re-qualify in Jersey, you must have been practising on the island for at least two years. Once you have done this, you will need to undertake a set of six exams from which you must obtain 14 units (it is important to note that one of the exams, Conveyancing, will be in French). The firms are generally very supportive of lawyers who wish to re-qualify, and all training for the exams is provided in-house on the island.
To re-qualify in Guernsey, you must have been practising on the island for at least three years. The exam process is then very similar to that described above, although it will involve a two to three-month residential stay in Caen (France) for part of the course.
Remuneration and Benefits
Salaries in the Channel Islands at the junior level tend to be slightly lower than in London in comparison to, say, the ‘Magic Circle’ rates – although the salaries are regularly commensurate with London City rates and sometimes higher for good lawyers. However at the more senior end (i.e. from about three years’ PQE), you can expect to have a very competitive level of remuneration. The following are approximate salaries for corporate or finance lawyers:-
3 PQE – around £60,000
4/5 PQE – £65,000 to £80,000
6 PQE – £80,000 to £90,000
Tax is significantly lower and is capped at 20%, with National Insurance contributions capped at well below the 10% payable in the UK. This low tax means that a position in the Channel Islands will usually be at least as financially favourable as a London-based role, and will generally involve a significantly better work/life balance.
Lifestyle
With around 90,000 people in Jersey and 65,000 in Guernsey, both islands have a serenity that cannot be found in bustling cities. Each has a good number of bars and restaurants, usually focused on the shorefront areas (which have been, and continue to be, redeveloped and expanded). Activities on the island are numerous, but tend to centre on outdoor pursuits and, in particular, water sports.
It is perhaps fair to say that both islands cater towards couples and young families rather than singles, although the bar scene has certainly become more vibrant in the last few years. The schooling on both islands is of the highest quality, with both private and state-funded options available.
One of the main selling points for working in the Channel Islands is the excellent work/life balance on offer. The working day is generally between 9am to 6pm, and most commutes to work will involve a simple beach-front stroll or bike ride. Billable targets also tend to be a lot less than in the City, and the firms try to generate a real sense of ‘family’ in the working environment.
Getting There
Daily flights connect the islands with London and most other mainland airports. There are also regular car ferry links to the UK and into France.
For further information on the legal market and job opportunities in the Channel Islands please contact your nearest Taylor Root office:
London:
Matthew Hall-Turner E: matthewhallturner@taylorroot.com T: 020 7415 2828
Dubai:
Shane Morton E: shanemorton@taylorroot.com T: +971 4 319 7601
Hong Kong:
Michael Luckett: michaelluckett@taylorroot.com.hk T: +852 2973 6333
Sydney:
Kiran Sangha E: kiransangha@taylorroot.com.au T: +61 (0)2 9236 9000
Melbourne:
Tim Fogarty E: timfogarty@taylorroot.com.au T: +61 (0)3 8610 8400