With conditions on the London Underground that would lead the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to prosecute a pet-owner for unnecessary cruelty, escaping to the regions crosses every City lawyer’s mind during the summer vacation.


Once seen as the last move of a retiring partner, the exodus is accelerating, fuelled partially by the large regional firms’ perceived resilience to recession.



Sussex and Kent have particular advantages for the London lawyer looking outwards, and equally for those looking from elsewhere in the country – contrary to popular opinion the south-east does not just comprise the City.



There are serious considerations, and compromising on quality of work and prospects are key. If you are considering moving to a smaller firm, you only have one opportunity to spend the valuable currency earned by qualification and experience at a City or national player.



However, you need only look as far as DMH’s environmental group, ASB’s Department of Trade and Industry insolvency practice, Davies Lavery’s insurance litigation and Cripps Harries Hall’s involvement in Lovells’ ‘Mexican Wave’ commercial property project to see firms that have nationally regarded reputations.



A further consideration is being cut off from the buzz and social life of your friends and colleagues in the City, but consider this: a lawyer living in Clapham and working in Brighton would have a commute of 50 minutes – the dream of some lawyers living in London – and because of the more friendly hours, it is possible to leave the office in Brighton and be ordering the first round as your City-based friends are leaving the office.



Money has to be a concern, and of course there has to be some give-and-take. However, regional firms do recognise that they have to offer attractive packages that will at least soften the blow of the move, and the trade-off for you will always be the ability to enjoy a work/life balance and not compromise on your quality of work.



Kent and Sussex clearly have a geographical advantage to the relocating lawyer, allowing them to not feel divorced from the cultural buzz of London – you do not have to move west of Bristol to live by the sea and still be able to get to the West End for curtain up.



However, a move into the regions is not to be taken lightly. Careful consideration has to be given to the attitude and ethos of the firm, to ensure that you are not merely funding existing partners’ exit strategy.



It is absolutely vital to talk to consultants with a complete picture of the local legal community, who can give you a clear objective view of firms’ development and the calibre of lawyers they have attracted in the past – you are after all moving through choice and not because you have to, and so time and the ability to choose are definitely on your side.



Jonathan Kay is divisional manager for London and the south-east at Search Legal